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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Jordan Grant Friedman on Wed, 25 April 2012, 13:58:24
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seems like the xarmor u9w (browns) is the only one out there. I am coming from the awesome (IMHO) Das Professional but as much as I love it, I'm OCD and hate the big wire on my desk.
I know xarmor was snapped up by iOne and they have a new version of the u9w (u27 bundle) that seems to have Cherry red's (which i like since they are in my Das).
any other wireless mechanical's I'm missing?
thanks!!
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You can always make one. :) But I don't know of any that can do NKRO, maybe doing a hybrid SPI to Bluetooth via Teensy using Soarer's NKRO program? Or even using a Wireless USB Interface? (I've got one from IOGear and it works "OK" for a standard usb keyboard.)
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the amazing thing is I almost understand what you are talking about. Proud of my nerdness. I wonder how much I use NKRO. maybe in gaming...not sure.
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Is the wire that much of a deal ?
Wireless has a lot of drawbacks (power, interference, possible health issues, etc). And if you have to make huge compromises on the keyboard you choose just to not see a wire, heh.
Maybe arrange your desk otherwise or just put something above the wire so you don't see it?
Or buy a custom made one so it looks pretty? :D
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Neo Zelia 87, though the wireless seems to be unreliable, and there is a bluetooth Filco model, but in JIS layout only. But I agree, unless you intend to use it with an htpc from the sofa or something, wireless has too many drawbacks.
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heh, it's just a personal preference. I had wireless keyboards and mice all my life and recently went with the Das and a SteelSeries Sensei mouse. both are the best devices I've ever used but I hate the wires! just makes the desk look ugly.
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Weird, I hate mice that DON'T have a wire. Too heavy IMO.
FOr the keyboard, really, why would you need a wireless keyboard?
Unless you are using your keyboard from your sofa, in which case you can go for a cheap logitech, and it wont really matter, because you will hardly be typing anything.
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heh, it's just a personal preference. I had wireless keyboards and mice all my life and recently went with the Das and a SteelSeries Sensei mouse. both are the best devices I've ever used but I hate the wires! just makes the desk look ugly.
Oo I'm super young and even I had a serial port mouse...for the better part of 6 years.
2 wires :P you should see my desk xD
2 keyboards, 1 mouse, 1 headset, wires from crap pc case, xbox controller :D
Honestly for the best devices ever I'd give some leeway :p...
But yea custom cables and a custom cable routing system (with enough give for your mouse) can make things more structured.
On this subject is there really need for putting stuff infront of your monitor?
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I saw a filco on the great finds section that was wireless. I think the only drawback was that the legends were in japanese?
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Yeah, I also believe you cable managment skills need improved :D Really, it isnt all that hard to do.
Wireless stuff always requires batteries, that need changed from time to time, you might get interferences, a bit more latency if the wireless system used isnt all that good.
Really,you can get a lot of problems, ,just to cut down on 1 wire ... Plus, keyboards users dont often want to have a wireless keyboard, so not many keyboards are available .
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I'm of the opinion that if someone wants to try something, we should accomodate their wish, rather than belittle or argue their mode of thinking. Let them be the ones to decide if they'd rather have wireless or wired. To be honest, I too would love a wireless TKL MKB, but I've yet to see any decent execution, also, as frequently as I change systems, wireless in my situation is not very efficient. However, I could see someone who just wants the feel and sound of a clicky in a cordless solution. Without being worried about how the performance will be.
If I ever get the time to finish my keyboard, I would look into doing a dual mode that is selectable. Wireless or wired. It's not very hard to implement, from a technical standpoint.
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I'm of the opinion that if someone wants to try something, we should accomodate their wish, rather than belittle or argue their mode of thinking. Let them be the ones to decide if they'd rather have wireless or wired. To be honest, I too would love a wireless TKL MKB, but I've yet to see any decent execution, also, as frequently as I change systems, wireless in my situation is not very efficient. However, I could see someone who just wants the feel and sound of a clicky in a cordless solution. Without being worried about how the performance will be.
If I ever get the time to finish my keyboard, I would look into doing a dual mode that is selectable. Wireless or wired. It's not very hard to implement, from a technical standpoint.
Neo Zelia(sometimes known as Zeba here) 87 fit all you asked for.
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Wireless has a lot of drawbacks (power, interference, possible health issues, etc)
If it's sitting on his desk within a few feet of his pc there shouldn't be any problems in most cases, and BT puts out about 1/100 of the radiation of a standard cordeless phone. I used an Apple BT keyboard for years and it served me well - even with neighbors close by using 2.4GHz everywhere. Batteries were replaced about every 4 months with moderate/heavy usage. The only substantial drawback I see with BT keyboards in gerneral is the security risk. Even though the connection is encrypted the cypher is typically weak and easily broken. I would take this into consideration if you are traveling with the board.
hate the big wire on my desk
That's what drew me to the Apple board in the first place.
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I had wireless keyboards and mice all my life
Whoa, this really makes me feel old.
I would say try to go the custom route if you must have wireless. Getting more wires might also help. I've currently got six keyboards, two mice, and two trackballs plugged into the computer I'm typing this from, and they account for less than a third of the wires at this desk. Eventually the wires just become a part of you.
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It's not all the difficult to make a custom wireless keyboard. There are plenty DIY's depicting how to wire the switches, and just as many on how to program an MCU (mostly AVR), your biggest problem would be deciding what kind of wireless protocol you want. You can do Zigbee, Bluetooth, irda, hell even wifi with a serial to wifi-Ethernet adapter (wi-port). Especially with the onset of Arduino and it's plethora of iterations, it has made hardware creation much more accessible. All you need are some basic solder skills, a semi-decent iron, and patience.
So, find the wired mechanical keyboard you like (preferably one with a backing plate) and stuff it to the hilt.
Edit: but please, if you do use Arduino, I beg you, take the extra bit of time and learn proper C and how to use avrgcc. It will have much more benefit to you in the long run. It's one thing to use Arduino, its another to use it as a stepping stone to the real McCoy, that being the ability to take any AVR chip and extend your knowledge and abilities into new and untapped potential. Never stop learning.
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Much more important than the question "which wireless is a mechanical one" is the question "which wireless is a secure one."
Security comes first, after that, all the other things.
And that's a big problem, even modern 2,4 GHz wireless keyboards with propritary protocolls are insecure.
Especially the ones from Logitech and Microsoft.
Here's a proof of hacking them:
http://www.remote-exploit.org/articles/keykeriki_v2_0__8211_2_4ghz/index.html
The same proof as a video (unfortunately in german)
I don't know how other keyboard manufactors with their own propritary protocols solved that.
Is Cherry better in this?
Bluetooth keyboards have an advantage here, bluetooth is a standard and the main security problem about BT devices is the pairing of a connection.
They are quite secure if the devices are already paired and the pairing wasn't hacked.
But you should use a BT keyboard that uses BT >= version 2.0.
BT 1.x is considered unsafe.
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any other wireless mechanical's I'm missing?
http://www.matias.ca/laptoppro/mac/
Bluetooth, quiet-ALPS (which, as you already know, is not exactly quiet---especially given the somewhat loose keycap fittings on this keyboard)
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KB Talking Pro
http://techkeys.us/collections/keyboards/products/kbtalking-pro-v1-1
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That was a lot of scrolling... but alas! someone finally mentioned it ^
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While I like the freedom of a wireless keyboard, I just don't like to have to deal with batteries! I know some keyboards can last long with batteries, but to me that is an extra chore with money to spend on having to buy batteries. I guess it's nice to have them for traveling like my thin wireless Apple keyboard.
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Plum 96
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Shipping-PC-Accessories-Plum-96-wired-wireless-dual-mode-mechanical-keyboard-cherry-shaft-black-shaft/684267998.html
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Did anyone mention this yet?
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43173.0
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I know OP does not want to see wire, but if it is tolerable, then this is another USB-to-Bluetooth adaptor I know of. This one even has mouse support.
(The other one has been mentioned in the link about: http://handheldsci.com/kb)
http://www.aten.com/products/KVM-Switches/Wireless-Switches/Tap-(USB-to-Bluetooth-KM-Switch)-Tap-your-desktop-keyboard-into-an-iPhone%C2%AE-or-iPad%C2%AE!~CS533.html
EDIT: I just realize that Aten products are sold as IOGEAR in the US. Here is the manual, for example:
http://www.iogear.com/support/manual/GKMB01_QSG.pdf
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Did anyone mention this yet?
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43173.0
Yes, you just did.