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Keyboards from my collection (2023)

aresluna.org

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Re: Keyboards from my collection (2023)

#12

Post by afandian »

donatj wrote: post #6

> And here’s the most modern version of a practice keyboard I know of – itself a small computer. The author should check out the AlphaSmart line of devices made into the early 2000s, especially the early pre-PalmOS devices! I was kind of surprised not to see any on the list. My Neo2 is basically a very simple buffer you can type into and dump into a computer later. It transmits to computer by emulating a USB keyboard…

I've had an AlphaSmart 3000 apart and it's nice to see some personality expressed on the silkscreen.

And a fun easter egg if you type 1 + 1 in the calculator.

Re: Keyboards from my collection (2023)

#15

Post by OhMeadhbh »

Of course I'm going to focus in on the one thing I was involved with. The Nintendo PowerGlove should be compared with devices of its class from its own time rather than modern cherry key keyboards. Yes.. the membrane keyboard was bad when compared to a modern keyboard. But you know what else it was? Affordable. The whole power-glove cost only slightly more (in 2025 dollars) than the last keyboard I bought. And it hooks up to a NES and lets you point at stuff using your hand.

I love my keychron, but last I checked I could not use it to point at virtual squash balls on my TV.

Which is to say, if the only comment you can come up with about the PowerGlove is "This keypad... is so bad," then you seriously missed the point.

[ And while I'm here and b*ching about things... how does the Olivetti Praxis 48 use the same palette as the NeXT ADB Keyboard? ]

[ And I can't stop... Yes, the Canon Cat keyboard is awesome. But it's somewhat weird to use as you don't have arrow keys, just creep/leap forward/backwards. It takes a little getting used to and the keys themselves don't have the best feel. I've been thinking about replacing the key mechanisms with something modern. ]

Re: Keyboards from my collection (2023)

#16

Post by PAPPPmAc »

D13Fd wrote: post #7

It’s a shame the book doesn’t seem to be available.

I have a copy from the kickstarter, it's the best and most expensive ($175) thing I've ever gone in on crowdfunding for.

Absolutely beautiful books. Great photography, they even worked up their own typefaces and do fun typographic things all over the place. Well written and deeply _deeply_ researched.

I have very few complaints, maybe the section on chorders is a little thinner than I'd like, but that's a pet interest of mine and I've chased down a bunch of material so my perspective is weird.

From the kickstarter updates, the original run were an ordeal to make, but I really do hope there is enough interest for a second printing at some point.

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