Microsoft's new foldable keyboard • Hacker News Board

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#171

Post by smcl » Sun, Mar 15, 2015, 12:24 PM UTC

joshuapants wrote: post #24

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…

The TextBlade looks fascinating. There were only demos of it running on iOS and Android devices, but I hope it can be compatible with OSX, Windows, and Linux too.

The name "TextBlade" is eerily reminiscent of the phone from Nathan Barley (the Wasp T12 Speechtool: http://www.trashbat.co.ck/t12/index.html)

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#172

Post by scholia » Sun, Mar 15, 2015, 12:33 PM UTC

ishadua wrote: post #145

SwellJoe wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Netbooks are being subsumed by laptops, as laptops get smaller. Several of the "ultrabooks" are thinner and lighter than my old Dell Mini 9. The 11" models are perfectly acceptable "netbooks", they just don't call them netbooks anymore because that was an indicator that it was kind of a crappy computer, but was small and cheap and good enough for browsing the web. The cost is getting closer to netbooks, as well, thou…

But even the 11" models cant replace tablets. Imagine a scenario, you are travelling in a train or a bus-you cant open the 11" laptop/netbook, while traveeling. And as far as the debate about tablets replacing desktop goes, that might be possible when tablets get stronger/better processors

There are plenty of 2-in-1 Windows laptops where the tablet is completely detachable from the keyboard. Some are very popular, like the Asus Transformer T100 wiht a 10.1inch screen. (Yes, Asus launched an Android version years ago.)

There are other Windows laptops where the screen folds back to provide a slightly heavier tablet, like the Lenovo Yoga 2 series and the HP11 x360.

Windows 8.1 tablets can support USB keyboards and full-size screens. Hook them up to a expanison hub and they can support multiple screens. I wouldn't recommend one as a desktop replacement, but then, I wouldn't recommend a MacBook Air as a desktop replacement either.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#173

Post by 7952 » Sun, Mar 15, 2015, 12:34 PM UTC

melling wrote: post #54

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…

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…

Does "post PC era" even have a meaning to anyone other than tech pundits? Is tablet hardware really better, or do people just prefer the software experience? In a world of commodity hardware that distinction is quite important. People will buy an IPad because it is easy to use and will reject the Windows 8 laptop because it is hard to use and ignore the practicality of the hardware.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#174

Post by scholia » Sun, Mar 15, 2015, 12:36 PM UTC

deckiedan wrote: post #107

JetSpiegel wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Tablets are going to replace desktops for most people, once we figure out how to attach better input devices. That already exists, it's a netbook. Or worst case scenario, one of those netbooks with detachable screen.

I don't think so - my mum was trying to get a cheap-ish new replacement for her 5 year old 10" netbook last month. It's very very hard to do. Certainly when you compare the spec:price ratio of anything on the market today compared to a tablet + bluetooth keyboard.

Why is an HP Stream (for example) not a cheap replacement for a 10-inch netbook? It's a lot faster, has better graphics, has a better screen resolution, and actually costs less.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#175

Post by 7952 » Sun, Mar 15, 2015, 12:37 PM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #20

Since every single comment[0] at the time of me writing mine is negative, let me make a positive one. I do really like the concept and would buy a high-quality Bluetooth keyboard. I care about ergonomics and probably wouldn't want to code all day on such one, but sure as hell I would use it to reply to e-mails during my commute or write stuff wherever I happen to be at the moment. I actually bought a cheap BT keyboar…

I wonder if a small handheld keyboard could work? So that you could prop up the tablet and then lean back to type.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#176

Post by scholia » Sun, Mar 15, 2015, 12:49 PM UTC

easyd wrote: post #33

Seems cool, but the order they list the supported devices (iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows) tells everything about their current self-esteem.

It tells you nothing about their self esteem, it's about offering products people want to buy. Does selling Microsoft Office for OS X show a lack of esteem? (Hint: the basic Office programs appeared first on the Mac.)

In any case, Microsoft already launched a Universal Bluetooth Keyboard (works with Windows, Android, iOS) last year. It would be a surprise if they went backwards from that.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#177

Post by scholia » Sun, Mar 15, 2015, 12:56 PM UTC

frik wrote: post #151

cr3ative wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not harder to buy "traditional high quality" in the keyboard sense - to me, that means buckling spring, and there's a huge market for it at the moment. It is expensive though. Have a search for "Cherry MX" keyboards. Big manufacturers like Corsair have recently launched several traditionally shaped keyboards with these switches.

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?

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#178

Post by louhike » Sun, Mar 15, 2015, 1:03 PM UTC

blumkvist wrote: post #154

frik wrote: post #146

It's getting harder and harder to buy traditional high quality mouse and keyboards for PC. Microsoft and Logitech used to produce them. But the look at the current portfolio of Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/mice and http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/keyboards No traditional keyboard with cable and normal key-layout, no normal mouse like the IntelliMouse or Comfort Mouse 6000 (discontinued b…

>What traditional cable based keyboards Das, Corsair. >What traditional cable based mices Corsair

Cherry is pretty great for keyboards too, even outside their mechanicals ones.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#179

Post by ColinWright » Sun, Mar 15, 2015, 1:07 PM UTC

I've had one of these for decades:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Palm+V+folding+keyboard

I've been using a Palm V as my diary, and use it as a text input device when travelling extremely light. I then transfer the raw text to my main machine(s), tidy, and publish. Extremely useful, and I've never found a system to replace it that lets me travel with only what I can carry in my pockets.

And this new keyboard? It's bigger than the one I already use, and looks like it's not as tactile. I'd like to try one, but I'm not hopeful.

EDIT: Here's a USB modern version:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00L487QKO/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1...

Although thicker, it's a more compact version than this "new" offering.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#180

Post by izolate » Sun, Mar 15, 2015, 1:24 PM UTC

WalterBright wrote: post #112

I hate laptop keyboards. The problem is the touch pad in front of it. Inevitably, my palm will brush against it, and the software will assume I'm clicking on something, and something random will happen. It's not just me, others will sometimes ask me what the hell happened, I was typing away, and the window disappeared (or some other random thing happened), and I say "you brushed against the touchpad". It's so bad tha…

This is the single reason why I refuse to buy anything but MacBooks. I suggest you give them a try, because this problem is eliminated on the Apple ecosystem.