Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

blogs.microsoft.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

181–190 of 251 posts

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#181

Post by oneeyedpigeon »

paulannesley wrote: post #116
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…

> 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. Has that ever happened on MacBook? It seems that better hardware and software, Apple has completely eliminated that issue.

Happens to me on latest MacBook pro from time to time. Note that it's a touch event rather than a click event, but I like having the touch event set up for any occasions where frequent clicking would be too noisy, for example. I've got used to it so I can avoid it more now but, especially at first, the sudden jumping of a cursor in a text editor whilst programming is very frustrating.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#182

Post by moe »

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 mice

Logitech G9x is the best mouse I've ever used.

I didn't even realize how good it is until I went on a quest to find an equally good wireless mouse. Let's just say I'm still wire-bound and still looking...

Precision is top-notch, mouse-wheel is great, weight is adjustable, and if you prefer narrow mice (I do) then you can remove the grip-cover[1].

I'd pay a pretty penny for a wireless version of it, but Logitech insists on using different (imho inferior) designs for their wireless mice.

[1] http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FodVs0sQQkQ/TcvJKMXYuaI/AAAAAAAAAK...

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#183

Post by peeters »

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…

As far as the noise factor goes, the type of Cherry MX switches you get makes a big difference. Blues have the most tactile feedback but are loud. But I use Browns at work and they have good feedback while not being much louder than a "normal" keyboard.

I use the Ultimate (no key labels) of this DAS model: http://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-professional/. It's a fantastic keyboard, but yes it's more expensive. I found it was easily worth the price.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#184

Post by bane »

sitkack wrote: post #133
bane wrote: post #69

I never underestimate Microsoft hardware, it's usually among the best in the business. This looks fabulous. In fact, with my big Android phone (note 3), an X Server, a Terminal app and Servers Ultimate Pro, I can basically bring everything I do at work with me in my pocket. In fact I should give this a try http://linuxonandroid.org/ and be done with the whole mess. Though this will get you pretty far http://kevinboon…

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.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#185

Post by notauser »

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 recently bought an EC Technology foldable keyboard. It folds in three sections so I think it is smaller than the Microsoft one.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00QRQZQR8?psc=1&redirect...

When folded it is about the same size as my Note 4, and I use it with the phone plus a Bluetooth mouse as a much more capable tablet alternative.

The actual keyboard is pretty good - better than some laptops - and the fact you can run two apps in split screen on a Note 4 makes it pretty practical for a lot of tasks. Plus I can fit the whole setup into my jeans or a jacket so I don't have to take a bag.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#186

Post by equoid »

josteink wrote: post #165
byuu wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No kidding. Reinvented? "Microsoft made yet another folding keyboard." Here I was half-excited, half-terrified about seeing something with no buttons; or one without the standard letter keys. Still, if it's comfortable for typing, and if the battery really lasts that long, that'd be kinda neat. But I doubt either will be true.

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?

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#187

Post by Shank »

brettatoms wrote: post #22

Coincidentally saw this on Kickstarter today about a guy with a cool idea to reinvent typing altogether: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/forrestmaready/crosstap...

Every software replacement keyboard has the same problem in lacking familiarity and having a high learning curve that makes it difficult for new users to pick up. The only exception is qwerty on mobile.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#188

Post by anonbanker »

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…

> 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]

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#189

Post by michaelcampbell »

JetSpiegel wrote: post #88
joshuapants wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is all the required software onboard the device itself? I thought it was using some kind of paired application to handle processing the input. edit: >With the TextBlade, WayTools can deliver over-the-air updates to keep firmware up to date, something that's not possible with most keyboards. The TextBlade will have more functions six months after it's released than it does today. For example, one upcoming update will…

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.
Post reply on HN