So apparently Dell very recently came out with a new keyboard design for their laptops they're calling 'maglev'. From the looks of it it's basically a scissor switch mechanism to hold the key in place only instead of a rubber dome or a spring to provide the return force they actually put small rare earth magnets on every key that I guess is repelling a similar magnet in the base. This was done mainly for space reasons as it's being used for very low-profile keyboards competing with the likes of the MBP. However the design at least promises a bit more travel (though don't expect too much) in a similarly slim machine.
It's kind of an intriguing idea. In addition to the space issue consider that the force between two magnets is--unlike a spring--inherently non-linear so it ought to affect the key feel in...some way. The press I've seen about this keyboard design has been positive but lacking any real in-depth discussion so I don't really know what it's like.
As far as I know the only laptop they're currently selling with this keyboard is the new XPS 15 2-in-1, though I'm sure they'll add more eventually. But it just so happens that I'm thinking about buying that very machine (it's also one of the first laptops to have Kaby Lake G, the Intel-AMD collaboration processor with integrated GPU that offers some pretty compelling performance in a small package) and when I was researching it I obviously got interested in this new keyboard design too. Unfortunately seeing how Dell mainly does mail order I don't know of anywhere I could actually try this thing in person. It has been shown at trade shows I guess but it's not like I go to those...
So I thought I would at least ask here if there's anyone who's tried it. It does sound...neat at least.
