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tlarkworthy

put a trackball in the middle near the thumbs, that switch to mouse control from keyboard kills me

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That's what the Maltron does. I don't find it all that comfortable.

I've actually got something better up my sleeve, but I'm still working on sourcing the parts.

Is 'up my sleeve' also a hint about where the pointing-device interfaces with the body?

Heh. Thankfully, no.

I was really hopeful that the Leap Motion was going to be 'the right thing', but I'm pretty sure that anything that requires you to move your wrist to use is going to be a lose.

I'm not 100% sure we're going to get a pointing device into the v1 product. I'd rather ship a good keyboard than not ship a better keyboard.

Old school IBM nipple mouse?

Not sayin', but you're getting warmer.

This line has me more excited over everything else. I can't wait for a mechanical keyboard with a trackpoint like device.

I'm a big fan of Thinkpad keyboards and have a few USB versions, but finally switched to mechanical keyboards 6 months ago. I still miss the Trackpoint daily though...

I've seen a trackpoint- (or some equivalent eraserhead pointer thingy) bearing keyboard with cherry (blue?) switches in the store, but it was a bit too "maximal" for my taste (numpad, lots of function keys etc).

Really? Do you remember which store or which brand? I can't think of any current keyboard with Cherry switches and a trackpoint.

Thanks for the link to LABI. I've never been there. I'll have to check it out next time I'm in Tokyo.

what you got so far looks pretty hot. I await in anticipation!

Thanks! I'm pretty excited.

Which switches do you plan to use? Really like the sounds of this (I read your entire page, sorry to hear about your printer catching on fire!).

I looked for an ergo mechanical keyboard but couldn't find one to my liking so ended up with a Filco Majestouch 2 with Cherry Blue switches. Really love it except for the whole lack of ergonomics thing. The Cherry Blues are fantastic.

I have the exact same keyboard (Majestouch, with Cherry Blues). Been using it for the past few years, and I love it.

Do ergonomic keyboards allow you to type faster? Or do they just let you rest your hands more naturally?

That is a matter of some debate. Even in the scientific literature. But I do know that when it hurts less for me to type, I can type for longer stretches. And that's way more important to me than typing faster.

I have bad elbow issues and ergo keyboards help somewhat.

It'll be Cherry switches. Depending on who we end up with for a manufacturing partner, we may be able to offer a wide variety of switch options. If we can only pick one, I'd probably run with Cherry Browns. They feel a lot like the Blues, but won't piss off the people sitting around you.

What do you think about low force microswitches? Would you consider them for a future model?

http://mykeyboard.co.uk/microswitch/

Heh. I've considered it. "Maybe"

There are some other switch technologies I'd want to try first. But fabbing our own switches gets expensive fast.

unicomp sell the endurapro, basically a model m with a trackpoint.

OMG. I've been waiting for them to do this for forever. I've got a pair of M13s, neither of which is totally functional anymore. I never realized how much I used the trackpoint until I had to switch to the one where it wasn't working.

I've had mine for a couple years. The trackpoint is not as good as the one on my lenovo, but it works and saves me from reaching for the trackball 95% of the time.

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