Sad Fingers Today :(

[osi]

This morning, I managed to dislodge the USB connector on my keyboard. The best part about it is that I did exactly what I DIDN'T want to do while trying to mitigate it.

Been taking my keyboard home from work and playing with various ways to make it easy to pick up and go. My final setup was just to have a USB extension cable close by so I could just plug in and easily unplug. Previously, I had been doing this with dongles and male to male USB cables.

Was making the final transition from dongle back to original USB cable when I heard the disheartening little snap/click of the dislodging. Luckily I am under warranty and should have it cleared up fairly quickly.

For the meantime, back to my dell quietkey rubberdome. Ughhh

[Belfong]

Sorry to hear that. I read that the WASD mini USB locks on the cable too hard and therefore I didn't really want to plug/unplug mine too frequently.

[fohat.digs]

I hate mini-USB. I hate detachable cables in general, they are just problems waiting to happen.

[osi]

The next cable will definitely be more of a permanent fixture for sure.

[Belfong]

I hate mini-USB. I hate detachable cables in general, they are just problems waiting to happen.

But I also hate permanent cable. They are such a chore to manage and transport!

[ynrozturk]

Sorry to hear that. I too had to type on a rubber dome the other day and I wasn't too happy about it.

[fohat.digs]

I hate mini-USB. I hate detachable cables in general, they are just problems waiting to happen.

But I also hate permanent cable. They are such a chore to manage and transport!

I hate Apple and consider it to be one of the most "evil" companies in the entire computer industry, but the magnetic attachment for charging cables is one of the most brilliant and monumental inventions of the past decade.

Presumably, the reason that every keyboard manufacturer is not using a similar system is to avoid paying royalties.

[AuRinBei]

This is my biggest fear with my FC660c. That mini-USB is just waiting to snap off, and if it does, there is no way to fix it. Now I just keep it at work and keep a Poker at home. I can’t carry either around without risk since neither has a recessed USB slot. They’re just sitting out in the open.

[ahmadmzak]

This is why I want to have 2-3 mechanical keyboards. They should just use standard usb instead of mini usb. I don't like non-removable cables, such a turn off especially on something like a RF 87u 

[osi]

This is why I want to have 2-3 mechanical keyboards. They should just use standard usb instead of mini usb. I don't like non-removable cables, such a turn off especially on something like a RF 87u 

Currently working up building my collection so that I have spares. In fact, my next purchase will be tomorrow!

[yasuo]

maybe you should opened the faceplate,and play with solder

[SpAmRaY]

maybe you should opened the faceplate,and play with solder

That would void the warranty!

[yasuo]

maybe you should opened the faceplate,and play with solder

That would void the warranty!

yeah,but somitimes people GH don't care warranty!,because they can  fix it yourself  )

[osi]

maybe you should opened the faceplate,and play with solder

That would void the warranty!

yeah,but somitimes people GH don't care warranty!,because they can  fix it yourself  )

Would have no problem tinkering on it myself but I''l just play by the book on this one. Why not since I have the warranty right??

[yasuo]

maybe you should opened the faceplate,and play with solder

That would void the warranty!

yeah,but somitimes people GH don't care warranty!,because they can  fix it yourself  )

Would have no problem tinkering on it myself but I''l just play by the book on this one. Why not since I have the warranty right??

yeah,try warranty now! if can't play with solder!

[ynrozturk]

I hate mini-USB. I hate detachable cables in general, they are just problems waiting to happen.

But I also hate permanent cable. They are such a chore to manage and transport!

I hate Apple and consider it to be one of the most "evil" companies in the entire computer industry, but the magnetic attachment for charging cables is one of the most brilliant and monumental inventions of the past decade.

Presumably, the reason that every keyboard manufacturer is not using a similar system is to avoid paying royalties.

Too bad that's not an Apple invention. They were just smart and patented it. That technology was being used in Asia for years.

[eth0s]

This is why I want to have 2-3 mechanical keyboards. They should just use standard usb instead of mini usb. I don't like non-removable cables, such a turn off especially on something like a RF 87u 

Currently working up building my collection so that I have spares. In fact, my next purchase will be tomorrow!

Yes.  This is the best plan.  Buying another keyboard from someplace other than WASD, was going to be my suggested solution as well.

[Phagocytosis]

I have to be really careful when unplugging mine because I can already tell that the USB mini is bending and ready to be set free

are any of the cables made by GH users of higher quality in regards to the USB? or is it just a leopold/USB mini issue

[osi]

This is why I want to have 2-3 mechanical keyboards. They should just use standard usb instead of mini usb. I don't like non-removable cables, such a turn off especially on something like a RF 87u 

Currently working up building my collection so that I have spares. In fact, my next purchase will be tomorrow!

Yes.  This is the best plan.  Buying another keyboard from someplace other than WASD, was going to be my suggested solution as well.

It's possible that another WASD could make it to my collection in the future. I do love the board but for my next, I'll be going hard mode with a type-s blank.

[Aer Fixus]

I hate mini-USB. I hate detachable cables in general, they are just problems waiting to happen.

But I also hate permanent cable. They are such a chore to manage and transport!

I hate Apple and consider it to be one of the most "evil" companies in the entire computer industry, but the magnetic attachment for charging cables is one of the most brilliant and monumental inventions of the past decade.

Presumably, the reason that every keyboard manufacturer is not using a similar system is to avoid paying royalties.

While that connector is great, it would have to be rather large if it were to follow the Apple design of being able to be plugged in either direction (which of course it wouldn't have to). It also would mean another proprietary cable that would need to be purchased if the old one was lost or broken. That said, many companies do this already, just not for keyboards.

Also, why not have a permanent mounted cable that's very short and has a female [insert USB type here] connector that's clipped into the case. Under ideal circumstances, it would stay clipped into the case and act as a stationary mount, but under too much stress, it pops out and would act as a cable connector so it won't break.

[Linkbane]

I hate mini-USB. I hate detachable cables in general, they are just problems waiting to happen.

But I also hate permanent cable. They are such a chore to manage and transport!

I hate Apple and consider it to be one of the most "evil" companies in the entire computer industry, but the magnetic attachment for charging cables is one of the most brilliant and monumental inventions of the past decade.

Presumably, the reason that every keyboard manufacturer is not using a similar system is to avoid paying royalties.

It's nice, I just wish it had some extra, even elementary basic mechanical lock because they fall out far too easily. I'm imagining that the voltage transferred isn't great, either.

[Belfong]

What I am really worried, is the $200 HHKB - I don't know what I'd do if the mini USB broke!
Since I bought it from Japan, the warranty will only be valid in Japan, meaning I am **** out of luck.
What's worse is the thought that these mech keyboards these days don't last > 10 years unlike the older IBM Model M keyboards. What's happening to this world?

[Linkbane]

What I am really worried, is the $200 HHKB - I don't know what I'd do if the mini USB broke!
Since I bought it from Japan, the warranty will only be valid in Japan, meaning I am SOL.
What's worse is the thought that these mech keyboards these days don't last > 10 years unlike the older IBM Model M keyboards. What's happening to this world?

What's wrong with you? These keyboards should last well over ten years. Just that things happen in ten years, a significant period in one's life, and things break.

[tuxsavvy]

What I am really worried, is the $200 HHKB - I don't know what I'd do if the mini USB broke!
Since I bought it from Japan, the warranty will only be valid in Japan, meaning I am SOL.
What's worse is the thought that these mech keyboards these days don't last > 10 years unlike the older IBM Model M keyboards. What's happening to this world?

What's wrong with you? These keyboards should last well over ten years. Just that things happen in ten years, a significant period in one's life, and things break.

I agree, besides keyboards like every other technology are built by humans. My teacher once said to me (which I will forever remember the quote) that it is "built by humans, for humans". Keyboards were not built by god or some very high deities. They were built by machines if not by humans but who built the machines in the first place? the humans!

Just as we are imperfect, so too can we must not expect things that we make are perfect (even though we try to nonetheless).

HHKB is expensive, the warranty is valid only in Japan (unless maybe you bought it from elitekeyboards) but you can't expect the said device to last you a long time. Sure, one paid a hefty price for it but that does not me the said product did not go through QC for instance. It just means that over time with every other man made technology, they will wear and tear gradually.

Seriously if and when the said components do break and/or falls off/out. It is not like one cannot either hire someone else or do it themself rework the connection. Yes the keyboard is pricey but who cares if your warranty is no longer valid but you have this product which is now broken in your hands.

I am sure plenty of other HHKB owners not residing in Japan wouldn't probably fuss over such a trivial deal really. If it breaks, fix it. It is not the end of the world.

[Belfong]

Well, you gotta admit that these days things don't last as long as the same stuff used by our parents. Something about captalism and mass producing stuff that made many manufacturers used cheaper components. While we may have made more money these days compare to the older times, our things broke faster so we are equally as poor.

It is not end of the world, true, and it didn't really bother me. I'm making an observation of how poor quality stuff are these days.

Cheer up

[terran5992]

To have to put up with a dell rubber dome.

Must be a real bad day

DDDDDDDDD:

[yasuo]

It is not end of the world, true, and it didn't really bother me. I'm making an observation of how poor quality stuff are these days.

Cheer up

I think that's true,product these day bad than product 70-90s that is really the built and so solid though rubber dome

[PointyFox]

They need to use a better connector.  Like something large with strain relief with a female USB connecter well attached to it.

[Beca]

Sorry to hear that. I too had to type on a rubber dome the other day and I wasn't too happy about it.

I have to type on scissor switches every day at work. And I can't bring my own keyboard in

[ynrozturk]

Well, you gotta admit that these days things don't last as long as the same stuff used by our parents. Something about captalism and mass producing stuff that made many manufacturers used cheaper components. While we may have made more money these days compare to the older times, our things broke faster so we are equally as poor.

It is not end of the world, true, and it didn't really bother me. I'm making an observation of how poor quality stuff are these days.

Cheer up

That's very true. Things simply aren't designed to last a long time anymore. They're designed to expire, so people will just go on consuming and consuming.

[osi]

They need to use a better connector.  Like something large with strain relief with a female USB connecter well attached to it.

I agree with the better connector. Needs to be more rigid and resistant.

Already have the replacement part on the way to bring her back to life. Now I also get to practice soldering the previous one back together

[SpAmRaY]

What I am really worried, is the $200 HHKB - I don't know what I'd do if the mini USB broke!
Since I bought it from Japan, the warranty will only be valid in Japan, meaning I am **** out of luck.
What's worse is the thought that these mech keyboards these days don't last > 10 years unlike the older IBM Model M keyboards. What's happening to this world?

Then you just replace the controller board!

[tuxsavvy]

Well, you gotta admit that these days things don't last as long as the same stuff used by our parents. Something about captalism and mass producing stuff that made many manufacturers used cheaper components. While we may have made more money these days compare to the older times, our things broke faster so we are equally as poor.

It is not end of the world, true, and it didn't really bother me. I'm making an observation of how poor quality stuff are these days.

Cheer up

It is true that quality has sort of gone out the window when it comes to cheap(er) items. Though sometimes paying a large sum of money for a certain things may also signify that the product was made with quality. Definitely that same statement is not always true when it comes certain products but PFU has been around for quite a bit meaning that if they were going to for instance make their products as poor as say for instance a poorly cloned variant whilst charging the same sort of price. I am sure there will be some people that may "kick up a stink" about it.

There are no real true measurements of good quality products can be easily measured by the price tag it wears. It also seems that just because there are companies that have chose to have their products manufactured in where cheaper labour are abundant - the products would also be of poor workmanship. Personally I also like diecast model cars, most of the cheap ones have very low quality (detail-wise, some has missing basic features). However I have got a diecast model car which I paid a reasonably high price for it, the "Made in XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" was fairly surprising but at the same time the amount of detail that went into that particular diecast model car was done really well. For curious sake the diecast car in question I have paid roughly four times the amount over some really cheap diecast car.

Anyway, HHKB is labelled as "Made in Japan". Obviously labour for instance comes from those countries are usually expensive and they may pay more closer attention to detail when it comes through quality control. I personally would not know if HHKB was actually really made in Japan but I am sure if for instance my HHKB didn't seem to last as long as I hoped (for instance it worked for a few months then it died). I would not simply say "oh well, such is life" and not do anything about it. I am sure other HHKB would more or less do the same as well.

Quality these days may not have been as what they once were, that I can partly agree but there is also a saying that you get what you pay for. That is really the bottom line.

I wasn't angry with you or anything for your iniformation. I just thought that if I put my spin on your point of view you might hopefully think otherwise.

[osi]

Back in business on my v2!

Now, looking for suggestions on how to make this sturdier. Can it be done??

The red circle denotes where it is attached to the board. Same on the other side of the connector.

[regack]

Back in business on my v2!

Now, looking for suggestions on how to make this sturdier. Can it be done??

The red circle denotes where it is attached to the board. Same on the other side of the connector.

Design a replacement PCB that uses a usb connector with through-hole supports? 

edit : or something that could fit one of these mid-mount USB connectors, 6 points of contact seem like they would be extra sturdy:

[osi]

Back in business on my v2!

Now, looking for suggestions on how to make this sturdier. Can it be done??

The red circle denotes where it is attached to the board. Same on the other side of the connector.

Design a replacement PCB that uses a usb connector with through-hole supports? 

edit : or something that could fit one of these mid-mount USB connectors, 6 points of contact seem like they would be extra sturdy:

Show Image

Excellent. Will be added to all my other backburner projects!