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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: xDezor on Thu, 17 January 2013, 19:30:16

Title: Keyboards for kids - Datadesk LF-2500
Post by: xDezor on Thu, 17 January 2013, 19:30:16

Anyone else have one of these (or another keyboard made for children)? It is a Datadesk LittleFingers 2500 keyboard. Whatcha think?

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8390194705_a804031bd7.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29341285@N00/8390194705/)

I found this nifty little thing at a yard sale. It's a really, really small keyboard made for kids and comes with a trackball. I don't really know much about it. When I first saw it for sale I noticed that the keys felt much nicer than the generic Microsoft membrane keyboard I was using at the time. At $4 I decided I might as well buy it. This is the first keyboard I bought "just because".

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8391276914_c8560a3bee.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29341285@N00/8391276914/)


I tried typing on it for a while, but my finger is actually bigger than an entire keycap. To give you an idea, If I spread my fingers out on my hand to make a star, the distance from my pinky to my thumb is the same width of the keys (from caps lock to enter). The manual says that the entire width of the case is 12.5". It also brings up a good point; large keyboards force children to search and peck, but a more appropriately sized keyboard allows them to start learning how to type properly at a much younger age. I think I'll keep it for when my kids get their first PC.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8390194547_8d885cbc1f.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29341285@N00/8390194547/)


I don't really know anything about the switches, other than that they're not square like the Cherry ones in my Quick Fire Rapid. They sound different too. The little datadesk keys are actually louder than my QFR, but it is a different tone. The important thing is that it is very pleasant to type on, even if it is just another membrane keyboard. This same company makes another keyboard (that is full sized) that lists "long life tactile-feedback mechanical key switches for faster and easier typing" as a feature. They look similar (http://www.datadesktech.com/desktop_tb.html). I wonder if this small keyboard is the same.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8048/8390194427_2c6f956f35.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29341285@N00/8390194427/)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8466/8391276660_6bbd91d918.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29341285@N00/8391276660/)

Title: Re: Keyboards for kids - Datadesk LF-2500
Post by: AKIMbO on Thu, 17 January 2013, 19:35:08

Look like old school RDs..the good kind though.  That's an awesome find.  After a few beers, I'd have a blast trying to type on that.

Title: Re: Keyboards for kids - Datadesk LF-2500
Post by: McWilloughby on Fri, 18 January 2013, 06:02:52

I think I'd feel like a giant if I got to type on one of those..

Title: Re: Keyboards for kids - Datadesk LF-2500
Post by: Glissant on Fri, 18 January 2013, 06:05:07

Excellent find, my friend! The keyboard actually made me daydream about how to get my future children into mechanical keyboards :)). I hang out here way too little ;).

Title: Re: Keyboards for kids - Datadesk LF-2500
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 18 January 2013, 07:16:15

Funny, a year ago we had a long thread about a Milton-Bradley keyboard that I was selling.

It was marketed to kids but had GIANT colored keys. Everybody ridiculed it even though it had nice clicky white Alps.

Eventually I sold it on ebay to a guy who bought it for his ancient grandmother with macular degeneration and arthritis, and she absolutely loves it.

Title: Re: Keyboards for kids - Datadesk LF-2500
Post by: jkercado on Fri, 18 January 2013, 07:48:41

That looks pretty awesome!

Title: Re: Keyboards for kids - Datadesk LF-2500
Post by: xDezor on Fri, 18 January 2013, 14:12:20

Thanks for the comments guys.

Title: Re: Keyboards for kids - Datadesk LF-2500
Post by: uJalled on Fri, 18 January 2013, 17:58:09

Cute, lol. And I would love to try typing on one of those.