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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: DamienG on Wed, 30 January 2013, 01:56:14

Title: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: DamienG on Wed, 30 January 2013, 01:56:14
Has anyone else tried the Surface Type keyboard?

Not to be confused with the Surface Touch keyboard that is just a pressure mat, the Type keyboard uses scissor switches.

I don't know what's different about it but it's definitely the best scissor switch keyboard I've used. The keys themselves feel nice but the main thing is that it requires a bit more force than the various laptops I've used and snaps quite nicely for each key.

Anyone else tried it?

[)amien
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: daerid on Wed, 30 January 2013, 02:26:10
Yeah, it's pretty sweet. Got to spend some time on one at the local Best Buy. It's actually really, really good. Definitely picking one up when I get my Surface Pro.
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: rootwyrm on Wed, 30 January 2013, 22:57:33
All you need to know about the Surface Touch keyboard in just two sentences:
My gods, they tried to copy classic ThinkPad! And they got really close!
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: BlindRAGE606 on Wed, 30 January 2013, 23:01:12
My god, I hate that pressure mat.
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 30 January 2013, 23:04:48
All you need to know about the Surface Touch keyboard in just two sentences:
My gods, they tried to copy classic ThinkPad! And they got really close!

I thought that "new" ibm "chiclet" was suppose to be better?
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: Rafen on Wed, 30 January 2013, 23:26:38
My god, I hate that pressure mat.

Reminds me of those roll up keyboards that you can get from Xoxide.com.
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: daerid on Thu, 31 January 2013, 02:24:25
The Surface Touch Cover is a complete and utter POS.

The Surface Type Cover is a joy to type on. One of the best low-profile typing experiences I've ever had.
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: rootwyrm on Thu, 31 January 2013, 02:40:42
The Surface Touch Cover is a complete and utter POS.

The Surface Type Cover is a joy to type on. One of the best low-profile typing experiences I've ever had.

Whoops, sorry. Yes, I meant Type not Touch. Touch is the crap pressure mat one, Type is the scissor switch. I keep mixing them up.
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: PointyFox on Thu, 31 January 2013, 11:41:15
I tried using the Surface Touch cover in the store and it registered like 40% of my key presses.  :mad:
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: DamienG on Thu, 31 January 2013, 11:47:24
Let's keep the conversation as per the subject - the awesome Type keyboard. Not the awful Touch.

[)amien
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: Tempest790 on Fri, 01 February 2013, 11:16:04
Definitely will go with the type keyboard.  I'll be ordering a Surface Pro hopefully day one (Feb 9) with the type cover.  I even made a list of accessories I'll be ordering from Amazon when it's time.  The Surface Pro will be a perfect fit for my use.  Can't wait to get it.
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: daerid on Fri, 01 February 2013, 11:19:18
^^^^ same here. It's actually more powerful than the dev machines at my office, so I'm going to be moving all my work over to it when I get mine :)
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: Tempest790 on Mon, 18 February 2013, 23:05:53
Playing with my Surface Pro all weekend!  The keyboard came today though.  I must say the Type Cover is the best feeling laptop/slim keyboard I've ever tried.  Very mechanical feel to it with a nice feedback.  I wish all laptop computers had a keyboard this good.  If they could add backlighting, it would be perfect.

Surface Pro works great.  I installed Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDraw, full Office 2010 and it runs fast.  I find using a combination of the touch screen and touch pad works good for me since the touch pad is somewhat small, but gestures do work good on it.

I can expand this out into full computer.  I have an external slim monitor (HP 22" 1920x1080) using the displayport.  I have a 64gb microSDXC card for extra storage, USB 3.0 four port hub, USB card reader, mouse, external hard drive (1TB), and extra cables.

I'm looking at getting a slim backlit keyboard for traveling as well.

The screen is crisp and bright and all touch gestures work good on it although I find Windows Phone 8 tile movements are easier than Windows 8.  Battery life is about 4-5 hours which isn't great but for such a small package, I'm satisfied with it.  I also purchased an extra charger to keep handy at home.

This is the 128gb version which I purchases right after midnight, so I lucked out before they sold out the initial stock.  It had 89.5gb free when I first booted up.  Now have about 58gb free with a lot of software on it.  My microSDXC card had about 30gb left on it as well.

This is the first computer I ever had (beside building one from scratch) that had no additional software/bloatware added.  Good show for Microsoft on this.  Too bad HP, Dell, etc can't figure this one out.

I love the form factor, and will probably pick up a used RT for home use and keep the Pro for traveling.  I purchased both a sleeve and a laptop case.  The sleeve holds the Pro and power supply.  The sleeve then slips into the laptop case which holds everything else.  That way I can choose to travel light if I want.
Title: Re: Microsoft Surface type keyboard
Post by: rootwyrm on Tue, 19 February 2013, 01:20:24
^^^^ same here. It's actually more powerful than the dev machines at my office, so I'm going to be moving all my work over to it when I get mine :)

... if a Surface Pro is more powerful than your dev machines, your IT department deserves a savage beating followed up with being consigned to a Packard Bell with the original keyboard for the rest of their lives.