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Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

blogs.microsoft.com

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Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#191

Post by michaelcampbell »

eertami wrote: post #155
frik wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mean the 70s/80s IBM keyboard typewriter/console/keyboard - very good quality but with a noise factor. For me the 90s keyboard/mice quality would be enough - as known from the old Microsoft Hardware department, the old Switzerland based Logitech company and IBM Thinkpad keyboards. The 90s/early 2000s hardware has a MTTF of about 10 years. The current 2010s hardware don't fit my needs at all, are overpriced (gamin…

Very low product quality? I have a Filco Majestouch that I'm pretty sure is going to outlast every peripheral and piece of tech at my desk and survive longer than 10 years. The switches are rated for 50m actuation and the body is fantastically sturdy. I'd even say it is of a higher overall quality than the IBM Model M. Sure, there are lot of shitty overpriced gaming keyboards but if you avoid those brands and get a F…

I had a Model M until quite recently (and still have some buckling spring Unicomps), and have switched to blues at work. They're quieter than the M, but not by a lot.

A couple guys at work are big mech KB fans too and one bought a Topre based KB - I'm thinking of switching to that. It's nice and worth checking out, even if you end up not liking it.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#192

Post by michaelcampbell »

equoid wrote: post #186
josteink wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If Apple got away with "reinvented" folders , then I'm pretty much OK with Microsoft "reinventing" this and anyone else reinventing any wheel they may find. I'm not saying you are wrong per se, but at least lets try to keep our standards consistent.

So, do you have any actual proof of this allegation or is it just another gratuitous accusation from an Apple hater?

Those are the only 2 choices?

How about patenting this http://goo.gl/9KApy7, then?

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#193

Post by jwoah12 »

I find myself getting excited by Microsoft's new vision of fully-capable computing anywhere. If the HoloLens actually winds up being able to substitute for a desktop monitor, you could fire up a full desktop experience with just a smartphone, bluetooth mouse, and one of these keyboards.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#194

Post by sitkack »

bane wrote: post #184
sitkack wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have always been interested in the HDMI output on Android phones and using it for basic desktop stuff. Does that actually work? Will it render out to 1920 x 1080 ?

I've yet to get the adapter for my phone, but my Shield tablet has a built-in hdmi port and works amazingly well.

And you can hookup a BT or wired keyboard and mouse? Ever run something like emacs ? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zielm.emac...

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#196

Post by JetSpiegel »

michaelcampbell wrote: post #189
JetSpiegel wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would a keyboard need firmware updates? This is like the NSA wet dream, more pointless "IoT".

Bug fixes? If something needs a firmware to begin with, it probably needs firmware upgrades.

It's a keyboard.

It's not rocket science, how hard can it be to make a bug-free keyboard firmware? It's not this is virgin ground either, keyboards have been built for decades which had no bugs.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#197

Post by frik »

scholia wrote: post #177
frik wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mean the 70s/80s IBM keyboard typewriter/console/keyboard - very good quality but with a noise factor. For me the 90s keyboard/mice quality would be enough - as known from the old Microsoft Hardware department, the old Switzerland based Logitech company and IBM Thinkpad keyboards. The 90s/early 2000s hardware has a MTTF of about 10 years. The current 2010s hardware don't fit my needs at all, are overpriced (gamin…

Please define overpriced. Maybe you earn your living with a keyboard and use it for 8+ hours a day. How much is that worth? Maybe you spend $1,000 a year on a mobile phone + contract when you could get something that does the same job for half the price or less. Maybe you spend $1,000 a year on Starbucks ;-) Is a $100 to $200 mechanical keyboard actually overpriced if it works well for 5 to 10 years or even more?

> Please define overpriced.

I wrote "overpriced (gaming devices)". If I need a 90s/2000s style traditional office PC mouse (and keyboard) one has more or less resort to what's called PC gaming mouse/keyboard or keyboard with IBM/Cherry springs. The former is usually overpriced and often even of low quality (short life time) than the older generation of products. Example: a gaming mouse that costs $100 and has a crappy mouse-wheel and has a short lifetime of 2 years is of course worse than a good old Microsoft IntelliMouse or Logitech MX518 that used to cost $30 and has a lifetime of up to 10 years.

Also it's incredible hard to find a new notebook with non-soft-keys keyboard. If I would like to replace my Lenovo Thinkpad T410/T420, there is simply non from Lenovo, HP or Apple. I would pay up to $1000 more if Lenovo/HP/Apple would produce a new T4xx series with a good keyboard and case again.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#198

Post by moron4hire »

anonbanker wrote: post #188
melling wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Smartphones and tablets are at least 15 years old too. Bill Gates used to run around CES telling everyone that tablets were the future. Anyway, for the "Post PC era" to truly take off, we're going to need portable wireless keyboards that "just work". Tablets are going to replace desktops for most people, once we figure out how to attach better input devices. The Microsoft keyboard does appear to be a big step in the…

> Smartphones and tablets are at least 15 years old too. Bill Gates used to run around CES telling everyone that tablets were the future. [citation needed]

Respectfully, I don't think you'll find much sympathy here on HN with a reply in that vein, even from people who would agree with you.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#199

Post by melling »

anonbanker wrote: post #188
melling wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Smartphones and tablets are at least 15 years old too. Bill Gates used to run around CES telling everyone that tablets were the future. Anyway, for the "Post PC era" to truly take off, we're going to need portable wireless keyboards that "just work". Tablets are going to replace desktops for most people, once we figure out how to attach better input devices. The Microsoft keyboard does appear to be a big step in the…

> Smartphones and tablets are at least 15 years old too. Bill Gates used to run around CES telling everyone that tablets were the future. [citation needed]

It was COMDEX in Las Vegas. He gave the keynote.

http://news.cnet.com/Gates-defends-PC-at-Comdex,-unveils-new...

http://news.microsoft.com/2001/11/11/gates-showcases-tablet-...

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#200

Post by code_duck »

ZeroCoin wrote: post #129
jacobolus wrote: post #5

Reinvented is pretty strong language here, this idea is far from new. I think this new keyboard looks convenient enough for those needing extreme portability, but also probably a pretty mediocre typing experience. In any case, this time.com post is just blogspam. Here’s Microsoft’s page that all the content comes from: http://blogs.microsoft.com/firehose/2015/03/02/get-more-done... And here’s another third party page…

>probably a pretty mediocre typing experience. It's obviously no mechanical keyboard, but it's a full sized keyboard none the less, and it allows you to enter large amounts of text into your smartphone much easier than what was previously offered. I would call that a major improvement in the keyboard arena, not a mediocre typing experience. The limited rate of data entry was what pulled me away from owning a smartpho…

I know what you mean, I have tried to code on my phone far too often!

Wireless keyboard for smart phones aren't new, though. This one is convenient, but you can use existing wireless keyboard with just about any iOS device: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202041

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