geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mashby on Fri, 25 January 2013, 13:19:40
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I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this question, but at the risk of looking like an idiot I'll throw it out there none-the-less.
Are there any mechanical switches available smaller that could talk a half-width key cap?
Why I'm Asking
As a Mac user, I grew accustomed to Apple's BT/Wired and laptop membrane form factors, like the one featured at the bottom of this post. I'm now on a KBT Pure and like it a lot, but when I jump on my laptop, I'm always reminded of the former layout.
Since Apple uses membrane keys, they have the ability to create 1/4" keys and squeeze in the function town and the arrow keys. When I look at the Cherry MX switches I have, I can't see how a smaller key cap could be used to fit in another row simply because the footprint of the switch is too large.
So I thought, well, maybe there is a Cherry XS key, or an Alps, or something else that I've simply never run into that might allow for something this custom and difficult to make that no one would probably ever buy. :'(
Thanks in advance!
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someone posted a keyboard made for kids that had small keys and switches. i'd link it to you but i dont remember which site it was on. it was some weird rare thing though. but it does prove your idea possible. the keys were about a third of the size of normal ones.
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(http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/ae356/hoggyboard/DSC_0209_zps45089a82.jpg)
This one has smaller keycaps. It's cherry mx brown throughout. A little bigger than half width, though.
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There were some Alps low profile boards, in some mid-late 80's laptops with half height keys like you are talking about.
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You may have a look at the datalux keyboards with MEI-switches.