Modding netbook keyboard

[olethros]

My eee pc (1001)'s keyboard has started to become badly worn out. Frequently, keypresses won't register, plus one key's plastic scissors got borked when I removed it for cleaning under it.

I would really be interested in somehow getting a cherry ML replacement for the built-in keyboard. Perhaps there is somebody somewhere selling a keyboard in an appopriate form factor. Any ideas ? Has anybody ever tried hacking mechanical switches onto a netbook/laptop ?

[What is X?]

ML keyboards are very rare... only one i've ever seen came with a commercial printer/photocopier

ed: oh and they don't feel much better than a scissor

[Oqsy]

Very rare?  I have 4.

[Soarer]

Aside from the regular ones (G84-4100, G84-4400 etc), there are also bare versions for laptops. You may not want 20, or GB layout, but this auction does at least show the dimensions so you can see if it might fit.

edit: Of course, there's no controller on that one, and the wiring is unlikely to be compatible... it would be a 'project' if you went that route.
Removing the guts from a USB G84-4100 might be an easier route to take (and they're more common), the dimensions would be very similar I think.

[keyboardlover]

ML keyboards are very rare... only one i've ever seen came with a commercial printer/photocopier

ROFL, are you kidding??

[woody]

He probably meant ML keyboards for laptops, like the one Soarer posted.

[keyboardlover]

Oh ok.

[Findecanor]

Even if it fits, it won't be easy.

In laptops, the keyboard controller is most often on the motherboard, not as part of the keyboard. The keyboard matrices are likely to be completely different, which means that you would need some extra circuitry that converts it. I think that the easiest solution would involve a full controller connected to one of the USB ports.

[Soarer]

Heh... I hadn't seen your post before I edited mine :-)

[The Solutor]

My eee pc (1001)'s keyboard has started to become badly worn out. Frequently, keypresses won't register, plus one key's plastic scissors got borked when I removed it for cleaning under it.

I would really be interested in somehow getting a cherry ML replacement for the built-in keyboard. Perhaps there is somebody somewhere selling a keyboard in an appopriate form factor. Any ideas ? Has anybody ever tried hacking mechanical switches onto a netbook/laptop ?

 
You can get a replacement keyboard for the eeepc for 8$ or so, from gemwon or similar sites.

Then, if you still want a mech keyboard just use a g84 connected via usb.

[olethros]

Thanks, I'll look into getting a replacement. I was already thinking of just getting a small USB keyboard, though then space becomes an issue. Perhaps one of those new-fangled tablet things would be the answer.