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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: xfocus on Tue, 06 October 2009, 16:31:34

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: xfocus on Tue, 06 October 2009, 16:31:34

I'm looking at getting a keyboard that I can take with me to work.  I do software consulting so I'm usually at a client site which can change on any given day.  This means that I can't just leave a keyboard at a client's office.  I travel with a messenger laptop bag along with all my necessities (meeting binder, mp3 player, portable hdd, etc) which doesn't leave much room for anything near full sized board or even tenkeyless.

I'm wondering if the HHK is my only option in terms of extreme portability.  If so, is it feasible to carry it around in a laptop bag or is it too fat?  Elitekeyboards lists it at 1.6".  Anyone have any experience with this scenario?

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 06 October 2009, 16:34:00

Quote from: xfocus;123521

I'm looking at getting a keyboard that I can take with me to work. I do software consulting so I'm usually at a client site which can change on any given day. This means that I can't just leave a keyboard at a client's office. I travel with a messenger laptop bag along with all my necessities (meeting binder, mp3 player, portable hdd, etc) which doesn't leave much room for anything near full sized board or even tenkeyless.
 
I'm wondering if the HHK is my only option in terms of extreme portability. If so, is it feasible to carry it around in a laptop bag or is it too fat? Elitekeyboards lists it at 1.6". Anyone have any experience with this scenario?

Lot's of folks here tote around their HHKBs.  I, personally, carry a Cherry ML4100 with me.  In any case, I don't use an external keyboard unless I am doing a lot of typing for a long period of time.  My laptop keyboard doesn't suck enough to regularly use an external keyboard often.

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: AndrewZorn on Tue, 06 October 2009, 16:45:20

the hhkb is pretty thick

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 06 October 2009, 17:16:33

The M4-1 is an interesting one if you have to carry a mouse with you, but if you can get a HHKB, I'd veer towards that.

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: effnish on Tue, 06 October 2009, 18:44:33

I would rummage through the house and see if you can find a piece of foam or something that you can cut to the approximate size of a HHKB.  Stuff it in your bag and see how things fit.

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: chimera15 on Tue, 06 October 2009, 19:45:48

I think you need to get a siig minitouch, or a cherry  if you don't care about it being a clicky.


The cherries are probably the thinnest mechanical full sized compacts, and pretty much I would expect everyone on this board has one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/G84-4100PTMUS-Cherry-G84-4100-Keyboard-USB-86_W0QQitemZ250503104357QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a53260765

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: timw4mail on Tue, 06 October 2009, 19:55:37

I did have one, but those keys easily lift the switch assemblies with them, just a word of warning.

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: rdjack21 on Tue, 06 October 2009, 21:14:29

The HHKB Pro is not all that bad to haul around mostly because it is very light. Yes it is a little thick but it is very small. Think the size of the alpha section of your 87U with half the weight due to the lack of the plate mounting. But with almost exactly the same key feel. And because the HHKB Pro uses a fairly standard cable you can get a really short one for attaching it to your laptop. I have one that is only about 1 foot long that works great. Depending on your laptop bag it may or may not fit but it will only add maybe a pound to the weight if it does fit.

Personally if I'm going to haul around an extra keyboard for use when traveling then I want to haul around something I'm at least going to enjoy typing on and the only keyboard that fits that is the HHKB Pro. I got lucky when I got mine because I also got the HHKB Pro carry bag as well and the wrist rest so I not only carry the keyboard but the wrist rest as well as a long and short cable.

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: AndrewZorn on Tue, 06 October 2009, 21:59:08

still looking for a good bag
i thought that a 2x1 cd wallet would work great but its too short

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: Mercen_505 on Wed, 07 October 2009, 06:33:23

For portability, I've had decent success with both the ML-4100 as well as the M4. Neither are USB, but you can carry an adapter.

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: rdjack21 on Wed, 07 October 2009, 08:59:59

Quote from: AndrewZorn;123614

still looking for a good bag
i thought that a 2x1 cd wallet would work great but its too short

Try a money bag. You can get them at Office Depot. The HHKB bag I have looks just like one of those but is made of a different material.

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: wellington1869 on Wed, 07 October 2009, 09:04:55

Quote from: rdjack21;123656

Try a money bag. You can get them at Office Depot. The HHKB bag I have looks just like one of those but is made of a different material.

those vinyl money bags (aka bank bags) are awesome for transporting small gadgets. I have a bunch of those. You can get them on ebay fairly cheap too (like a few bucks each).

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 07 October 2009, 09:29:09

Quote from: wellington1869;123658

those vinyl money bags (aka bank bags) are awesome for transporting small gadgets. I have a bunch of those. You can get them on ebay fairly cheap too (like a few bucks each).

Now, if you could only get those with a bunch of money already in them.

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: AndrewZorn on Wed, 07 October 2009, 09:46:59

i will, sounds good

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: lowpoly on Wed, 07 October 2009, 11:29:20

There are also these evening style handbags for women. They're called 'clutch':

(http://www.design-3000.de/showpic.php?type=xtralarge&lang=0&imageName=1/clutch_flex_gruen_1_p1.jpg)

Most won't work for design reasons though.

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 07 October 2009, 12:18:27

Quote from: lowpoly;123718

Most won't work for design reasons though.

What, like looking like woman's purse?

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: lowpoly on Wed, 07 October 2009, 12:39:25

My wording was more PC. :-)

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: AndrewZorn on Wed, 07 October 2009, 12:46:53

pfffft
i thought it looked like a neoprene netbook sleeve
i thought also you were meaning it didnt quite fit
ill get one of those if i see one

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: xfocus on Wed, 07 October 2009, 13:06:28

Quote from: itlnstln;123725

What, like looking like woman's purse?

I'm not exactly sure that's a woman.  Look at those killer man-hands

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: bitflipper on Wed, 07 October 2009, 13:16:41

yep

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: majestouch on Wed, 07 October 2009, 14:06:25

Quote from: xfocus;123736

I'm not exactly sure that's a woman.  Look at those killer man-hands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSL4cmFW_GU

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: rdjack21 on Wed, 07 October 2009, 14:21:48

Quote from: majestouch;123753

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSL4cmFW_GU

:rofl:

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: o2dazone on Wed, 07 October 2009, 19:49:03

Mine fits in my messenger bag, along with a 15" MBP. Not a problem. I put the roof on it and use an elastic velcro strap to keep it on there. That way I can tote it around without the keys getting pressed

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: hyperlinked on Thu, 08 October 2009, 01:29:31

Quote from: itlnstln;123725

What, like looking like woman's purse?

I think you'll be more in danger of looking like a high school student with a padded notebook than a purse toting geek.

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: Rajagra on Thu, 08 October 2009, 03:34:13

Quote from: majestouch;123753

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSL4cmFW_GU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOEehh_i_v8

Title: Portable Bliss
Post by: majestouch on Thu, 08 October 2009, 13:38:06

Aghhhh...i wager this thread will ne'er be on-topic again