Let's slap some NAND and a quad-core cpu on it!
Gosh, I would love but whom would pay for it?
But srsly, i was thinking "let's make it modular." That way, you could plug-in an F-row and/or a TK/home/arrow-cluster-pad, and upon doing so, it "automagically" changes to a profile that includes the connected component.
Modular is my motto however the price is a huge influence! Don't forget that the most important thing is to get the project working!
As for "usb hub impossible," what would be required to make it possible? I don't quite understand the brief explanation given about why it's impossible (4 I/O lines from microcontroller, usb lines to expansion board first...).
If a USB "hub" is impossible, what about a single "pass-through port?" I realize that would require a different connector and a fancy twin-cable... but is it even possible?
I wouldn't say impossible, I would say harder (out of my league right now - USB is actually an tough subject ).
Do you have any schematic for this "simple pass-through port" idea? I would love to hear it ...
And, if wireless is to be developed, would there be USB-charging? Would there be LED indicators of charging/battery/connectivity status?
Yes, USB charging is there. Take a look at the GH60 BT project link at my signature below.
I actually said "single" usb passthrough. "Simple" implies that i know some sort of magic that would make such a thing not-difficult, which, unfortunately, i cannot truthfully profess to possess. It was just an idea: a place to plug a usb device, to use instead of a back-of-pc port, which would essentially be just a usb extension from the pc to the kb, with the port on the kb. The idea is simple, but i'm guessing implementation would be beyond the scope of my very absent capabilities. lol.
I also had another idea: a built-in KVM switch? (the right one would have high cost, but wouldn't it be awesome to have a wireless, programmable, 60% board, and just press a key-chord to swap between machines?)
And in the spirit of my previous comment about NAND: "Let's slap a raspberry pi on it! And an LCD!" (i bet you could totally make a tiny "laptop" this way, but... the term "sub-optimal" comes to mind)
That idea lead me to discovering the existence of other such similar devices, like the beaglebone and cubieboard.
So, wireless, kvm switch, modular "addon/extension" connector, perhaps... but I think the important thing to remember here is that "it's just a keyboard." Maybe there should be some other companion device conceived for it, in order to add special or techie, useful functionality, in a small and power-efficient format... but not actually be connected to or integrated with the actual keyboard.
Idk, was just thinking, figured i'd share.