There's almost no keyboard around that allows you to program it's layout. Unicomp makes purpose-built Dvorak keyboards on request. These keyboards are, however, big and loud.
For the purpose you want, I'd recommend a HHKB because they are compact and quiet. Quite expensive though...
Since yer in computer science, build your own.Computer Science != Electrical Engineer. Only the very basics of circuits are touched upon in a CS degree. You're not going to get into diodes, resistors, etc. Typically you'll have a brief bit on logic gateways and such, but nothing too substantial. Of course, anybody can learn about the stuff needed if they desire, but it really has nothing to do with CS.
Also some of the models have the ability to switch between QWERTY and Dvorak so it might be possible to change to some custom layout.The Contoured line from Kinesis is totally programmable and macroable. They're hardly portable though. Well maybe if you go around with a hiking bag... ;)
Computer Science != Science.
What is it you guys do again? Whatever it is engineers do it better.
Computer Science != Science.Having seen the programming abilities of a number of engineers myself... I question that statement. ;P Quite useful to team up with them though in robotics and such.
What is it you guys do again? Whatever it is engineers do it better.
I looked at kinesis, I can't verify if I can configure every key, but it is definitely overkill. Incredibly unportable and non clicky.Outside of the program key, every other key is programmable. And it *is* clicky - kind of. Cherry browns aren't clicky in and of themselves, but the keyboard has a built in speaker which allows it to mimic a click every time a key is pressed. This is more than good enough for me when I want the auditory feedback, and I can easily turn it off if I want it to be silent. Best of both worlds!
Computer Science != Science.
What is it you guys do again? Whatever it is engineers do it better.
It's not like a keyboard is a mainframe. Everything you need to build from scratch or hack your own is in the mod section of this board. It's not that complex. You don't need a computer science or engineer degree to do it. Keyboards contain programming and hardware, so you can come at it from either side. It's not like he has to build a chip. Buy an ardiuno(sp?) or a teensy++ or something, program, wire the matrix(you can even get fancy about it and make your own pcb), get some switches, fashion a case/holder for the switches, use some basic soldering skills and you're done. You'll end up with something you can be proud of in the computer science world, everyone will ogle over, probably even girls, and it'll cost you a fraction of what a hhkb will cost you.
Okay lets go with that. Say I got $300 USD for equipment and parts.
I want a keyboard with blue switches
it would have a volume rocker,
it would be wireless,
it would hold its own receiver in a usb port,
and would shut down once the usb receiver is docked.
The batteries would recharge via a retractable 1ft micro usb.
The reciever would include a micro usb port.
it would have a internal micro sd card memory bellow the battery.
two user configurations could be saved and switched on the fly
come preloaded with Dvorak and QWERTY user conf's.
Key speaker that rotates to change keyboard typing volume.
I would design my own layout to be around 48 keys.
that would take me optimistically a week to design and a month to build.
Edits: (crazy talk)
Automatic leveling via lasers, with motorized feet.
it would project an LED style display to your left with current config.
Say DROID once you plug the usb back in.
have pullies on all the keys so that macros are typed out mechanically and visibly.
Have a touch sensitive keys so that you can use all the keys as one lage track pad.
all the keys will be covered with Electroluminescent sheets, thus making them backlit.
have a red panic button with ballistic key ejection that blows up the keyboard in 5 seconds.
It would have wireless power from the usb conector
It would have dual helicopter pads on the bottom, so that it would float as you type.
In order to start the keyboard the enter key must be pressed, which is also a finger print detector
One of the keys could pop out and act as a mouse... booyah.
Computer Science != Science.
What is it you guys do again? Whatever it is engineers do it better.
Mathematicians start from basic principles, form complete theories and prove them conclusively.
Physicists observe a phenomenon ten times, conclude it always happens, then concoct whatever crazy theory supports that belief.
Engineers use rudimentary tools like hammers and screwdrivers to take things apart.
nice avatar.
Final veredict, I am getting an IBM space saver for a couple hundred (the guy thats selling them on ebay has a lot and is making a killing).
Its so strange that there are no programmable ps2 adapters, that would for example, hold macros and key configurations.
I might just shove a ps2 querty-dvorak controller into the spac saver.
As for the noise issue, there are different levels in the library, and rooms. Last time I checked there isn't a no typing policy. Screw the world.
You can get the Unicomp Spacesaver for $69 brand new...Unicomp bought the rights and equipment from IBM and has been producing them exactly how they were before. I've never heard a quality complaint about them personally.
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html
Plus, there's an option for black and gray, which looks badass.
You can get the Unicomp Spacesaver for $69 brand new...Unicomp bought the rights and equipment from IBM and has been producing them exactly how they were before. I've never heard a quality complaint about them personally.
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html
Plus, there's an option for black and gray, which looks badass.
Thats what I thought. But they screwed up big time in the process. This is the real space saverShow Image(http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/7/2/5/4/9/6/webimg/381168378_o.jpg)
and this is unicomps bad copy:Show Image(http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/pckeyboards_2097_690566)
Interestingly enough, IBM made a space saver II keyboard with a nipple and membrane switches in 2001.
I guess not. Its just the numpad different I see, really. I wouldn't give up my numpad for anything in the world. Having had to do statistics in college which included data entry in classes where I have to put hard data into cells for hours on end. Plus it works pretty well for gaming and other general uses.
"Space saving" <> "Space saver"
When you get tired of that one, or get tired of the hole it put in your wallet, or get tired of getting thrown out of the library, come back and build something that does what you actually want it to do. lol
Seriously though, you'd be better to go with a geekhack minitouch. They cost almost half as much, are much quieter, and will be much easier to transport than that model m, which is still fairly large. Plus you can always mod them to different types of switches if you get tired of clickies.
You can program any key to do anything you want with autohotkey, sharpkeys and other script/software, on any keyboard, so any keyboard is programmable in reality.
Just get one of these:
http://5k177.com/more/
It's the best buy right now for what you're looking for. Either that or go with a classic cherry ml switch compact, which can be found on ebay for $50 or less usually. Those are ultra portable, and linear so they'll be quiet, but they relatively feel like crap to type on.
An overpriced one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/CHERRY-SLIM-LINE-COMPACT-G84-4100PTAUS-POS-KEYBOARD-/360121128527?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item53d8e4564f
Here's one without a housing for $40 lol
http://cgi.ebay.com/Cherry-G84-4100QXAUS-PS-2-Keyboard-without-Housing-/390198933809?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item5ad9ab3931
Here $25, buy this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Cherry-ML4100-CYA-Slim-Line-83-Key-POS-PS-2-PC-Keyboard-/200483722790?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eadc2d626
Almost everyone on this board that likes compacts started with this board I think. It's a not horrible mechanical linear compact for $25.
The difference is that such modifications are software side, while the CVT Avant Prime and the Kinesis advantage do things hardware side. This would be fantastic if they were portable, since I have a custom layout at home which I have to download and install from an FTP server.
My university has about 3000 terminals in a microsoft network which load your preferences, not sure if it loads your layout. Anyways, I have yet to see a small programmable, portable keyboard. without membrane switches.
I have yet to see a small programmable, portable keyboard. without membrane switches.
What I really want to know is if these keyboards are programmable like the new models (that is assuming that I can change the function of each key on the new models). This would be my second kb then.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Kinesis-Model-KB130-Ergonomic-Keyboard-New-/260618534680?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item3cae133f18
Kinesis Model KB130 Ergonomic Keyboard "New"Show Image(http://i.ebayimg.com/21/!BveQVkQ!2k~$(KGrHqIOKjwEvoNJi1bJBMEuD9Dmu!~~0_12.JPG)
I guess not. Its just the numpad different I see, really. I wouldn't give up my numpad for anything in the world.
I have a Spacesaver II, it is really terrible to type on. They just used the name -it is as comparable to the original Spacesaver as a Rolls Royce is to a Ford.