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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: chimera15 on Sat, 13 June 2009, 02:36:12

Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: chimera15 on Sat, 13 June 2009, 02:36:12
(http://www.notestation.com/dsigear/images/KB-MODMAC-U-CLICK-1.JPG)

$159.  Looks sweet.  Wish they'd trim those sides off though.  

linear:
http://cgi.ebay.com/DSI-Black-Customizable-Mac-Keyboard-Mechanical-Keys_W0QQitemZ380122621429QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item588112e5f5&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A16|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

tactile:

http://cgi.ebay.com/DSI-Black-Modular-Mac-Keyboard-Mechanical-Tactile-Keys_W0QQitemZ190305952418QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item2c4f1e62a2&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301%3A1|293%3A2|294%3A30

clicky version:

http://cgi.ebay.com/DSI-Black-Expandable-Mac-Keyboard-Mechanical-Click-Keys_W0QQitemZ190305952411QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item2c4f1e629b&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301%3A1|293%3A2|294%3A30

How hard is it to print a couple windows keys too and make a windows version?

"Optional modules for keyboard sold separately (trackball and gamepad)"

There's a dsi trackball??  hmm

Ah, saw it on their site, interesting.
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: IBI on Sat, 13 June 2009, 05:17:18
DSI had a windows version on their stand at Computex this month.
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: chimera15 on Sat, 13 June 2009, 11:43:59
Quote from: IBI;95928
DSI had a windows version on their stand at Computex this month.

Sweet

I wonder how difficult it would be to saw the sides off that board. lol
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: wellington1869 on Sat, 13 June 2009, 11:51:25
ya when I emailed them last time they said windows versions were coming out soon.

love the modularity and it does look sweet.  too bad I dont like cherries much.
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Sat, 13 June 2009, 11:52:19
Quote from: chimera15;95993
Sweet

I wonder how difficult it would be to saw the sides off that board. lol


lol the sides are only taking up like what, an in ch on each side? =P
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: chimera15 on Sat, 13 June 2009, 12:51:26
Awe, that's sad..hmm.   Still, an almost compact black clicky keyboard looks pretty sweet.


As far as the 2 inches on the side, still too much for me.  My siig's barely fit on my little patch of space I have on my desk as it is. lol
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: wellington1869 on Sat, 13 June 2009, 13:27:45
Quote from: chimera15;96016
My siig's barely fit on my little patch of space I have on my desk as it is. lol



i'm running out of space on my desk too, my keyboard is getting hemmed in by my collection of book holders...
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: o2dazone on Sat, 13 June 2009, 14:01:42
Am I missing something here? $160 for space-saver Cherry switches? Also why the extended power adapter?
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: wellington1869 on Sat, 13 June 2009, 14:25:11
Quote from: o2dazone;96033
Am I missing something here? $160 for space-saver Cherry switches? Also why the extended power adapter?


$160 for modular design (they sell modules to attach to either side - numpad, trackball, gamepad, touchpad, i think even an arrow cluster, is what they've planned (or has been mentioned). Of these some are available now and some are in the works. At $160 its comparable with filco cherry tenkeyless boards (which lack the modularity option).
The power adapter is to power the usb hub which is built in (I dont think filco tenkeyless has that, either, right?). Also this usb hub is 'true 2.0' and has that optional power adapter. Which may be important for those (gamers etc) who like the usb hub built into the keyboard.
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: o2dazone on Sat, 13 June 2009, 14:27:32
ahhh gotcha, that's what the Modular means, thanks for the clarification
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: wellington1869 on Sat, 13 June 2009, 14:35:08
Quote from: o2dazone;96047
ahhh gotcha, that's what the Modular means, thanks for the clarification


np.  

I just wish unicomp could take a page from this kind of creativity. :) (pipe dream, I know).

So long as I'm dreaming, imagine a unicomp BS board like this but more --made like kinesis freestyle (split halves, attached by cable) AND WITH the DSI's modularity (modules attach to either keyboard-half). (Actually anyone could attempt that, not just unicomp)

(so who wants to photoshop a mock up? :D )

Yea, I also like to envision peace on earth. ;)
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: xsphat on Sun, 14 June 2009, 01:06:07
Yeah, I have one. Took 3 or so months to get a working model, I ordered one in white, now I have one in black. I gave it to my wife, and then I let her have the keyboard (haha). Anyway, she likes it because it works and could give two sh!ts about modular design. 3 USB ports is nice though.
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 15 June 2009, 08:31:33
Quote from: watduzhkstand4;95997
lol the sides are only taking up like what, an in ch on each side? =P

It's like that to handle the elctronics and support system for the optional add-ons (numpad, trackpad, etc.)
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: chimera15 on Mon, 15 June 2009, 08:59:16
Quote from: itlnstln;96404
It's like that to handle the elctronics and support system for the optional add-ons (numpad, trackpad, etc.)


Yeah I don't need any of that junk, can I chop it off? lol
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Mon, 15 June 2009, 09:01:46
I want to know what the power is for.
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: wheel83 on Mon, 15 June 2009, 09:09:24
probably for full usb 2.0 powered hub. thats my guess anyway.
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 15 June 2009, 09:13:54
Quote from: watduzhkstand4;96408
I want to know what the power is for.

...
Quote
Originally Posted by itlnstln
Show Image
(http://geekhack.org/techforums/buttons/viewpost.gif) (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?p=96404#post96404)

It's like that to handle the elctronics and support system for the optional add-ons (numpad, trackpad, etc.)
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Mon, 15 June 2009, 09:30:01
Quote from: itlnstln;96411
...


I never knew they need power for a USB hub...

The USB hub I got doesn't need power to operate and it's from dealextreme
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 15 June 2009, 09:38:57
Quote from: watduzhkstand4;96418
I never knew they need power for a USB hub...
 
The USB hub I got doesn't need power to operate and it's from dealextreme

Good USB hubs have an external power source to supplement the power from the PC.  Otherwise, you could have many devices running on the meager power from the PC.  Bad things happen in that situation.  If your just plugging in a thumb drive or something, that's OK, but when you start adding a mouse, external HD, keyboard, etc., it starts to tax the power that comes from the USB port.
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Mon, 15 June 2009, 09:40:06
Quote from: itlnstln;96420
Good USB hubs have an external power source to supplement the power from the PC.  Otherwise, you could have many devices running on the meager power from the PC.  Bad things happen in that situation.  If your just plugging in a thumb drive or something, that's OK, but when you start adding a mouse, external HD, keyboard, etc., it starts to tax the power that comes from the USB port.


gotcha. I guess I need to get a new one before I break something. thanks!
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: IBI on Mon, 15 June 2009, 11:27:28
Quote from: itlnstln;96420
Good USB hubs have an external power source to supplement the power from the PC.  Otherwise, you could have many devices running on the meager power from the PC.  Bad things happen in that situation.  If your just plugging in a thumb drive or something, that's OK, but when you start adding a mouse, external HD, keyboard, etc., it starts to tax the power that comes from the USB port.


I wouldn't say it's a case of good and bad.

USB doesn't provide any facility for providing extra power for a hub down a USB cable, so the devices on an unpowered hub can draw no more power than that which can be provided by a single USB port. This isn't a problem if you're only using low powered devices like mice and keyboards. A powered hub uses an extra power cable to provide full power to each port.

Unpowered hubs have the advantages if having less cables, not taking up a mains socket and being lighter as they won't have a heavy plug or transformer so they're ideal for use on the move. If your USB hub mostly stays in the same place then you might like to get a powered one instead for the extra flexibility.
Title: dsi smk-88 modular mac black!
Post by: talis on Mon, 15 June 2009, 13:39:39
Quote from: watduzhkstand4;96421
gotcha. I guess I need to get a new one before I break something. thanks!

It's not that you will break anything rather :

Any USB port must be able to supply 100mA of current to any device connected to it (at powerup).  Any device can then attempt to negotiate more power, up to a maximum of 500mA.

A non powered USB hub can only draw 500mA from the port it is connected to, and therefore can only supply a maximum of 500mA total to all devices attached to it.  If you have 4 devices trying to ask for more power, they will not be able to negotiate for more, the hub also needs to reserve at least 100mA for each port even if nothing is connected to them.  Drawing more power then the 500mA total won't damage anything (since every device needs to be able to operate on 100mA, then ask for more power), you'll just get a popup saying "This port cannot provide power to all devices attached to it".

With an external power supply, the hub can provide the full 500mA to each of the ports (as it can draw the extra power needed from the wall socket, rather then needing to derive all of its power from the single port its connected to).

If you only attach lower power devices to the hub (keyboards, mice etc) you'll likely never hit the 500mA max.  If you use a lot of higher power devices (external USB powered hard drives, some flash drives etc) you'll hit that max pretty quickly.