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Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

sonderdesign.com

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Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#181

Post by SonderDesign »

y80 wrote: post #125
SonderDesign wrote: post #82

Hi HN, I'm one of the engineers working on the project, if you have any questions please ask.

It says on the site that all your configurations are saved automatically to the cloud. How exactly do you go about achieving this? Is there any way to disable this functionality?

Best analogy is like dropbox, I have files stored on my terminal, but if I want I can back it up online and download new files to my machine. It's just an option that creative design professionals constantly request so it had to be included in the scope.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#182

Post by SonderDesign »

anexprogrammer wrote: post #144
mmanfrin wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The 'cloud connected' stuff is an obnoxious gimmick, but Das's upcoming 5q is pretty close to what you're looking for: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1229573443/das-keyboard...

Interesting idea. I can think of a couple of uses I'd put that to. If it wasn't cloud config I'd back it enough to get one.

Appreciate the feedback, it's just an option; if the user just wants to rely on the mappings stored on flash they can.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#183

Post by SonderDesign »

TheOtherHobbes wrote: post #46
persimmon_b wrote: post #20

Can't help but feel like people are only thinking about programming with this. For someone who speaks multiple languages, being able to switch between configurations as easily as you can on a phone seems like it would be super useful.

Languages, app hot keys, emoji, game controls, custom performance options for laptop DJs, musicians, VJs, etc... Many applications. This looks really interesting. Yes/no depends on key feel. I wasn't convinced by the Apple chiclet keyboard when I saw it, but I've lived with one for a year and a half now, and I'm completely comfortable with it. If this has a similar feel I'll be seriously tempted.

This.

P.s I hate this comment on reddit but I couldn't help myself. The mech is also manufactured to the spec for a standard laptop spec, it should feel pretty familiar.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#184

Post by mclightning »

SonderDesign wrote: post #163
Animats wrote: post #120

"With Sonder all your settings are saved automatically to the cloud." Just what we need. Computer peripherals slaved to some external cloud server. You have a computer right there, able to store stuff. Run programs, even. You don't want to be tied to some here-today, gone-tomorrow service. Also, how do you know it isn't sending your keystrokes somewhere? An API would make more sense. Programs which change the meaning…

Great feedback Animats, the cloud is something mostly editors had requested where they move from studio to studio, it's an option to simply download the their specific work flow to that terminal; it's optional; it's just a stored profile a user can elect to download to the keyboards flash. It's not like an IoT product logging keys; instead we have an API on the client which communicates with stored mappings on flash.…

Is there any chance you could bring price down to $99 to $120 range?

Get it manufactured in China, Do some business investment magic, economy of scale things. I dont know :D It is really cool keyboard, but price is above of what most people are willing to pay for a keyboard.

By the way, another use-case is using it with games with complex controls like Elite Dangerous, Star Citizen, Kerbal Space Program.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#185

Post by SonderDesign »

tarikjn wrote: post #133
SonderDesign wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi, appreciate the feedback; I'm one of the engineers working on the project at Sonder. Our CEO actually has a Model M and an Apple Extended Keyboard II as reference designs in the office; they're probably the pinnacle of good keyboard design and construction however the product you're asking for (a mech switch display keyboard) already exists and it costs $1500. The reality is, that approach is not optimised for mas…

Please consider split keyboards with raisers for future advanced models, I have a Kinesis Freestyle 2 with VIP3 kit, and this is the best keyboard I've ever used as far as ergonomics -- and it doesn't have to have such a large footprint or long travel keys to be ergonomic, though the riser and the wrist rests are almost indispensable. The Goldtouch Go!2 tried to go in the direction of an ergonomic mobile keyboard, bu…

I agree with your points on ergo design, we did a survey with the thousands on community members and only like 4% would buy an ergo design which was lower than expected. It's important for us to address from a design perspective but we want to do incremental keyboard revision, otherwise consumers won't be able to adapt to the massive transition in a dynamic and ergo design.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#188

Post by SmellyGeekBoy »

gambiting wrote: post #161
Animats wrote: post #120

"With Sonder all your settings are saved automatically to the cloud." Just what we need. Computer peripherals slaved to some external cloud server. You have a computer right there, able to store stuff. Run programs, even. You don't want to be tied to some here-today, gone-tomorrow service. Also, how do you know it isn't sending your keystrokes somewhere? An API would make more sense. Programs which change the meaning…

You already can't use your Razor mouse(not to the fullest, anyway) without signing in with your Razor account. And recently, Nvidia started requiring that you create an Nvidia account to use their GeForce Experience application. Super annoying.

I thought I'd had to sign up for some kind of account to upgrade my graphics drivers a couple of weeks back but I'd convinced myself it was just a bad dream... Agreed it is indeed annoying - not to mention that the GeForce Experience "optimal" settings nearly always seem to be far from optimal on my hardware.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#189

Post by lixquid »

SonderDesign wrote: post #82

Hi HN, I'm one of the engineers working on the project, if you have any questions please ask.

Probably a long, long shot, but do you have any plans to create ISO layout boards in the future?

Since most ISO boards only differ in keycap and not layout, it would theoretically be possible to create a massive number of configurations with just one layout, which would be amazing!

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#190

Post by Quequau »

SonderDesign wrote: post #165
cesnja wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you considered just storing the settings and configuration in the keyboard itself?

Haha, of course, we have an API on the client which comms with the on board flash; the cloud is just a back up of a user profile so if an editor is at a new studio they can dl their profile quickly. It's an option that creative design demographic constantly ask for.

So the keyboard works fine, including all other features, without connecting to the "cloud"?
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