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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: shmibs on Sun, 21 July 2013, 00:57:20

Title: n-key rollover with chiclet style?
Post by: shmibs on Sun, 21 July 2013, 00:57:20
i know most people think of them as being cheap, but i actually prefer the low-profile and overall feel of chiclet-style keyboards. i want to start using plover for some things, though, and the built-in keyboard on my laptop:
(http://withg.org/shmibs/compact-keyboard.jpg)
obviously doesn't have high-enough rollover for steno. does this sort of thing (a compact, chiclet-style keyboard with sufficient key rollover for stenography) even exist?

oh, and i'm new here, by the way. this question has been bugging me for a while now, and, when i stumbled across this forum, it seemed like the right place to ask, so hi! =)
Title: Re: n-key rollover with chiclet style?
Post by: Findecanor on Sun, 21 July 2013, 02:11:48
All scissor switch/chiclet keyboards I know of have rubber dome/membrane switches, and it is difficult to engineer n-key rollover with membranes.

The only membrane keyboard I know of that has anything approaching n-key rollover is the Sidewinder X4 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=15318.0). It is not low-profile and it is not compact.
Title: Re: n-key rollover with chiclet style?
Post by: shmibs on Sun, 21 July 2013, 02:57:14
alrighty, i guess that's that. thanks =)

do you have any suggestions for mechanical options, then?
Title: Re: n-key rollover with chiclet style?
Post by: davkol on Sun, 21 July 2013, 07:17:15
SideWinder's keys have rather low profile—they're like Cherry to OEM profile.

I believe Logitech K800 has at least 6KRO. I haven't heard of anything better (except X4 w/ 17KRO mentioned above).
Title: Re: n-key rollover with chiclet style?
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 21 July 2013, 08:48:42
Quote from: davkol on Sun, 21 July 2013, 07:17:15
SideWinder's keys have rather low profile—they're like Cherry to OEM profile.

I believe Logitech K800 has at least 6KRO. I haven't heard of anything better (except X4 w/ 17KRO mentioned above).

I've got a rubberdome coming in the mail, with a capacitive PCB that is NKRO (Alphametirc patented this in the 1970's it seems). Also, I believe there exists a very early RD over PCB with diodes.

If the OP is interested in DIY, the cherry ML switch found in their G84 series is low profile, and mechanical. IT can be made NKRO with a new PCB and diodes as (sadly) all the G84's that I know of are 2KRO.

Another option is to reduce the travel of a mechanical keyswitch through modifications such as o rings.
Title: Re: n-key rollover with chiclet style?
Post by: wetto on Sun, 21 July 2013, 08:53:37
Quote from: davkol on Sun, 21 July 2013, 07:17:15
SideWinder's keys have rather low profile—they're like Cherry to OEM profile.

I believe Logitech K800 has at least 6KRO. I haven't heard of anything better (except X4 w/ 17KRO mentioned above).

Nope it doesn't. Besides, there's a bit of delay as well and feels cheap as hell.

Oh, and by the way, Razer Deathstalker only has anti-ghosting on WASD.