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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mouse.the.lucky.dog on Mon, 09 June 2014, 14:18:24

Title: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: mouse.the.lucky.dog on Mon, 09 June 2014, 14:18:24
Gottcha. No they don't make one, but if they did would you buy it?

If Microsoft made a mechanical keyboard what would it be like.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 09 June 2014, 14:20:16
Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 with mechanical switches. And the little slider in the middle would be a trackball instead.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: mouse.the.lucky.dog on Mon, 09 June 2014, 14:23:11
Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 with mechanical switches. And the little slider in the middle would be a trackball instead.

What kind of switches?
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 09 June 2014, 14:25:36
In fantasy world, buckling spring. In actually has happened world, Lanx put MX Browns in his modded 4k so I'd put 65g MX Blues.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 09 June 2014, 14:26:41
https://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/typehoverswipe/
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: bueller on Mon, 09 June 2014, 14:28:11
Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 with mechanical switches. And the little slider in the middle would be a trackball instead.

CPT know's whats up. I loved that keyboard before I moved to mechs.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: Lastpilot on Mon, 09 June 2014, 14:29:22
https://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/typehoverswipe/
LOL, at first I thought this was that april fools swipe keyboard technology. But it's actually there?! Whoddathunkit.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 09 June 2014, 14:39:01
CPT know's whats up. I loved that keyboard before I moved to mechs.

I actually still have it and use it at work for when I forget my Filco at home. It's still my favorite RD keyboard. Although I think the DT35 could unseat the 4k if I ever get my hands on one.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: newchemicals on Mon, 09 June 2014, 16:40:50
Gottcha. No they don't make one, but if they did would you buy it?

If Microsoft made a mechanical keyboard what would it be like.

It would come down to two things.

1. How good is it?
2. How much does it cost?

Buckling Springs would be the best choice of course. However, I would expect if Microsoft made one it would use Kailh switches and it would sell for $219.   
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: blackbox on Mon, 09 June 2014, 17:39:31
I think they would have something with a ML switches since their latest keybosrds are very slim.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 09 June 2014, 17:47:54
I like the BIG curved space bar..  Everything else arn't really that novel...(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/smoking1-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862520)
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: Pacifist on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:06:20
In fantasy world, buckling spring. In actually has happened world, Lanx put MX Browns in his modded 4k so I'd put 65g MX Blues.

Pics of the modded 4k?
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: jwaz on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:08:48
I think the Microsoft Natural Elite has a big enough following that they could make a killing on a high-end mechanical version. So many people love that board.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: hashbaz on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:39:15
In fantasy world, buckling spring. In actually has happened world, Lanx put MX Browns in his modded 4k so I'd put 65g MX Blues.

Pics of the modded 4k?

I believe this is the thread (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=12439.0), though many of the image attachments are lost to the r00tworm.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: Pacifist on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:55:03
In fantasy world, buckling spring. In actually has happened world, Lanx put MX Browns in his modded 4k so I'd put 65g MX Blues.

Pics of the modded 4k?

I believe this is the thread (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=12439.0), though many of the image attachments are lost to the r00tworm.

 :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

r00tworm WHYYYYYY
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 09 June 2014, 19:07:20
I believe this is the thread (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=12439.0), though many of the image attachments are lost to the r00tworm.

That's the one hashbaz. I love that thread, even with the missing pictures.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: 0100010 on Mon, 09 June 2014, 22:58:17
A coworker of mine recently brought from home a (old) NIB MS Natural keyboard, to replace the one he had on his desk (which he suspected the F1 key of going bad due to PC POST errors).  Asked him how many he had, which he responded with 3 more NIB at home, besides the 2 at work and another on his home PC.  He likes the ergo shape.  He also enjoys the feel of the keys on my Unicomp - but hates the noise.

If there was a linear MX MS ergo board available, I'm sure he''d be all over it.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Tue, 10 June 2014, 01:41:02
They should be novel and go with matias switches. Or reinvent some other dead switch type. Because I like to pretend that MX-style isn't the only thing ever.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: davkol on Tue, 10 June 2014, 04:24:27
It's Microsoft. Embrace. Extend. Extenguish. They'd start with MX-compatible switches, but make them incompatible eventually. In the process, I suppose they'd do something like what they did to Nokia.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: blackbox on Wed, 11 June 2014, 00:23:32
It's Microsoft. Embrace. Extend. Extenguish. They'd start with MX-compatible switches, but make them incompatible eventually. In the process, I suppose they'd do something like what they did to Nokia.
We should all be glad Microsoft do not make mechanical keyboards then. :) As you said we have seen what they did to nokia.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 11 June 2014, 01:08:37
Microsoft made some reasonably good mouses though.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: davkol on Wed, 11 June 2014, 01:11:30
Yup. About a decade ago.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: Pacifist on Wed, 11 June 2014, 01:14:31
Now I want to go butcher my old logitech wave and direct wire it with cherry switches
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: blackbox on Wed, 11 June 2014, 01:18:32
Now I want to go butcher my old logitech wave and direct wire it with cherry switches
Go ahead please do it!  :)
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: Dragowing193 on Wed, 11 June 2014, 03:48:01
A mechanical sidewinder keyboard would be pretty awesome.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: davkol on Wed, 11 June 2014, 03:55:42
Now I want to go butcher my old logitech wave and direct wire it with cherry switches
Wouldn't work, because the important part of the Wave design is awkward key spacing and keycaps' shape. It might be interesting to try a Kinesis-like keyset on a flat keyboard though.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: vivalarevolución on Wed, 11 June 2014, 10:53:46
Even if it had mechanical switches,  I bet it would be a cheap piece of garbage that prioritized styling over actual function.  That is what their recent keyboard designs seem to be, anyways. 

Their scissor switches feel nice, though.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: Lanx on Wed, 11 June 2014, 13:07:07
oh nos, damn you rootworm! and i thought imgshack would have been good 4 years ago, eh theres still archive web and they're holding about 80% of the missing pics, *sigh* i don't keep hard drive copies of pics... i thought the cloud was secure!
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: Findecanor on Wed, 11 June 2014, 13:19:36
A Microsoft keyboard would probably use cheap switches like Kailh, but like Corsair's early mechanical keyboards they would probably not be used on the entire keyboard. The plate would not be exposed, but composed of sunken parts of the plastic case.
Function keys and several keys with media functions, launching Internet Explorer and various Windows 8-features such as the Charms Bar etc., would probably be short-throw rubber dome keys on the sides. Some of the keys would be painted silver.
Curved or not, ergo or not, the keycaps would be their own cheap thin low-profile style. The case would have a built-in wrist rest and really wide really soft blobby edges, as if a cup of black tar had been poured onto the desk.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: blackbox on Wed, 11 June 2014, 16:34:54
A Microsoft keyboard would probably use cheap switches like Kailh, but like Corsair's early mechanical keyboards they would probably not be used on the entire keyboard. The plate would not be exposed, but composed of sunken parts of the plastic case.
Function keys and several keys with media functions, launching Internet Explorer and various Windows 8-features such as the Charms Bar etc., would probably be short-throw rubber dome keys on the sides. Some of the keys would be painted silver.
Curved or not, ergo or not, the keycaps would be their own cheap thin low-profile style. The case would have a built-in wrist rest and really wide really soft blobby edges, as if a cup of black tar had been poured onto the desk.

That must be the perfect description of an mechanical microsoft keyboard. Probably a extra button to open onedrive or something too. It would also come bundled with a Crappy(IMO ofc) mouse like the arc touch.
(http://cdn.redmondpie.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/atmafrontcurvedfy111.jpg)
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: daerid on Wed, 11 June 2014, 20:51:43
Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 with mechanical switches. And the little slider in the middle would be a trackball instead.

This.... so much this. I would kill for a natural with Clears and a trackball in the center.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: barihunk on Thu, 12 June 2014, 22:55:07
Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 with mechanical switches. And the little slider in the middle would be a trackball instead.

This.... so much this. I would kill for a natural with Clears and a trackball in the center.
(http://www.northwestfirearms.com/attachments/shut-up-and-take-my-money-jpg.87571/)
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: Lanx on Fri, 13 June 2014, 03:27:19
clears are so hard on the fingers, ergo-clears worked well for me however, but as always it's subjective.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: bueller on Fri, 13 June 2014, 04:26:05
I wish I had the know how to design a pcb and get a project off the ground for this. I made plate designs ages ago but I'm not so good with the EE side of things. Would be great to see a cross between this and the Ergodox. Kind of like the Ergoduck but without the weird extra columns and awful bottom row.
Title: Re: The Microsoft Mechanical
Post by: dante on Fri, 13 June 2014, 12:47:37
MS4K w/ Chinese MX Clone switches-> mass produce at $39.99 a keyboard -> Profit!