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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: SamirD on Wed, 16 December 2015, 12:46:32

Title: Lenovo Helix Folio Keyboard?
Post by: SamirD on Wed, 16 December 2015, 12:46:32

Lenovo Part# 4X30J32021

Ran into this in the CDW Outlet and the specs on both Lenovo's and CDW's site say that the switches are mechanical.  Anyone able to confirm this?

Seems like an interesting board for a portable mech setup.

Title: Re: Lenovo Helix Folio Keyboard?
Post by: ctm on Fri, 18 December 2015, 17:04:50

I am quite sure it's a rubber dome keyboard like regular laptop keyboards. It's just a different interpretation of the term "mechanical keyboard". (MicroSoft also claims their Surface keyboard to be "mechanical"). It's not the same things as "mechanical keyboard" defined by keyboard enthusiasts. It just mean each key has a moving part and not something like a touch sensitive membrane (like the the Touch cover with 1st gen Surface).

Title: Re: Lenovo Helix Folio Keyboard?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Fri, 18 December 2015, 22:24:55

I own a Helix with the crappy keyboard the comes with it and the Pro keyboard, which is not all that great either.  The folio keyboard is basically the Pro keyboard without the battery built in. Scissor switches, which since it contains moving parts they think they can call it "mechanical."  It is not, and has almost no travel, like any other modern Lenovo product.  Their current keyboards aren't even as nice as Thinkpad keyboards of old, much less mechanical.

Title: Re: Lenovo Helix Folio Keyboard?
Post by: SamirD on Sat, 19 December 2015, 11:04:30

Thank you so much for the replies!  Such a 'marketing' way of using the word 'mechanical'.  Looks like we'll have to define 'mechanical' further like 'mechanical 2-piece' indicating a keycap and a switch vs a scissor or some other contraption.

Title: Re: Lenovo Helix Folio Keyboard?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Sat, 19 December 2015, 11:20:18

I've asked my Microsoft rep if they could make a mech KB for the Surface line. He got back to me and said they kicked around the idea for it but in the end it would add too much thickness, and thinness is one of their core features. However they are trying to make the keyboards with more and more travel, unlike Apple. So they do care some, just not as much as we do. :-/

Title: Re: Lenovo Helix Folio Keyboard?
Post by: SamirD on Mon, 21 December 2015, 00:53:29

Quote from: heedpantsnow on Sat, 19 December 2015, 11:20:18

I've asked my Microsoft rep if they could make a mech KB for the Surface line. He got back to me and said they kicked around the idea for it but in the end it would add too much thickness, and thinness is one of their core features. However they are trying to make the keyboards with more and more travel, unlike Apple. So they do care some, just not as much as we do. :-/

Interesting.  Good to know since I own Microsoft stock, lol.