Talons Keyboard (Kickstarter)

[wesleyh]

Anyone seen this keyboard?

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1624347034/talons-programmable-computer-keyboard-with-integra

What are your thoughts on it? Doesn't look like it will succeed though, almost no backers and a very high goal to reach...

[tp4tissue]

Anyone seen this keyboard?

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1624347034/talons-programmable-computer-keyboard-with-integra

What are your thoughts on it? Doesn't look like it will succeed though, almost no backers and a very high goal to reach...

very cool..

is the staggered layout set in stone..

[wesleyh]

Here's part of a message I got from the creator:

The Talons you see in the pictures is the prototype designed to test the functionality and concept feasibility. Basically it gets all of the right parts in the right place and working. It is production ready but the Beta Test will help us iron out the finer cosmetic points of the design; some Feng Shui if you will.

The production Talons will have a more modern feel that includes all of the feedback from the Beta Testers and supporters such as yourself.

Your feedback about using a softer material for the hand rest areas is a great idea and we have received similar feedback from our Alpha Testers. This is something that will definitely be included in the final production Talons.

The layout is essentially that of a standard keyboard right now. As funds become available we will add options and support for additional layouts and languages. Until then the units can be programmed to accommodate almost any user's needs through the use of one of the 3 onboard profiles. In the standard operating mode it will act just like any other keyboard so the MS languages and alternative keyboard functions that are normally available in MS will work with Talons as well.

[tp4tissue]

Here's part of a message I got from the creator:

The Talons you see in the pictures is the prototype designed to test the functionality and concept feasibility. Basically it gets all of the right parts in the right place and working. It is production ready but the Beta Test will help us iron out the finer cosmetic points of the design; some Feng Shui if you will.

The production Talons will have a more modern feel that includes all of the feedback from the Beta Testers and supporters such as yourself.

Your feedback about using a softer material for the hand rest areas is a great idea and we have received similar feedback from our Alpha Testers. This is something that will definitely be included in the final production Talons.

The layout is essentially that of a standard keyboard right now. As funds become available we will add options and support for additional layouts and languages. Until then the units can be programmed to accommodate almost any user's needs through the use of one of the 3 onboard profiles. In the standard operating mode it will act just like any other keyboard so the MS languages and alternative keyboard functions that are normally available in MS will work with Talons as well.

very interested in the trackball.

eyes out, hopeing for successor to EDx

[SpAmRaY]

Whoa....$700,000 that's a lot of money, don't see this getting there. But good to see people are trying different things.

[insilica]

very cool..

is the staggered layout set in stone..

It's definitely cool, especially with the prospect of having additional layouts. As it stands the wrist rest look wrong, just picturing my wrist on those rests feels awkward, I will struggle to hit the lower row keys.

The ErgoDox definitely looks superior w.r.t layout.

[kaiserreich]

He took all this trouble to design this keyboard and forgot all about getting a proper key switch?

[CPTBadAss]

It's definitely cool, especially with the prospect of having additional layouts. As it stands the wrist rest look wrong, just picturing my wrist on those rests feels awkward, I will struggle to hit the lower row keys.

I had the same thought. The rests seem to make it very hard to hit the lower rows. I have the same issue on the Razer Orbweaver. If the rest isn't adjustable, it makes it very awkward to hit the bottom row of keys.

He took all this trouble to design this keyboard and forgot all about getting a proper key switch?

I had the same thought as well haha.

[hoggy]

It's a good start, but you'll be better off looking at this one...

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=44940.0

[Larken]

At a glance, there's too many problems with the design. Staggered layout, weird position of buttons, non-mechanical switches, and an awkward looking wristrest that looks too high, and would appear to even slightly hinder the depressing of the spacebar. That trackball looks like a nightmare for those with thumb issues. The D-pad on the other hand, is pretty interesting. Though it is something that I could do without either.

Might have looked like a good idea a few years ago, but with the alternatives we have today, it seems more than a little behind the curve; for gaming purposes, I'd just use a orbweaver with my right hand on the mouse. For work, the ergodox/the upcoming ergogp. With enough preparation on layout planning, its pretty much the same thing for gaming.

[Xaviz]

$700,000

[jackstar7]

Always nice to see that kind of ambition, but that's a lofty goal.

Personally, I'm not wild about wireless, though I get the intention here. Curious to see how this does.  I'm almost thinking that his goal is just to let him gauge the audience for the product with minimal risk that he'd actually have to produce something... and worst case scenario for him is getting all the money and making all the promised products.

[daerid]

That makes me really interested in getting in on ErgoDox #4 and making a custom case with a d-pad and some analog sticks

[tricheboars]

is this freaking rubber dome?  what switches are used?

also i dont think you could find dorkier people then the supporters on that video. wow.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

You know, There's definitely issues with this, and I think there is a market for it, but I agree he's going about it all wrong. 700k? Sorry dude, wont happen. Rubber domes? There's no way that's a good idea.

I will say that the issues people are bringing up, however, like certain keys being harder to reach, I would argue that the goal is gaming. You could type with those, but that's not the intent. And if you need to jump, or use space for another reason with regularity, it would be simple to map to a key within reach.
I can really see myself hanging out in my recliner with a set of these, and that's simply a draw. A big draw. Personally, I'm more likely to use an Orbweaver/Mouse combo, but I'd be interested to try these out. Too bad they'll never be realized through this avenue.

[TrueOP]

i think the concept is great!  I see people talking about how the razer orb weaver already exists to fill this niche but they're dead wrong...  as it looks like you can't properly type on the orb weaver.

This person is coming from mmo gaming and in my experience being able to type what you wanna say is key there.  Especially if you dealing with a lot of diff people that don't understand English and don't wanna speak, and especially if you doing something with say 30 to 100+ people coordinating, in that situation you don't/can't rely on voice chat and you need to type.

+1 to all the ppl saying should get some mechanical keys.  Also however "ergonomic" this may be your hands will look like claws after a few weeks if you are clutching the "F" keys like mad in some game w/e.

The vid was really bad, really really bad.  I like the concept and if this guy's patent is tight enough i hope he can sell it or somehow make it himself w/e so it ends up a decent product.

[TheSoulhunter]

Uhm, the video looks contrived and fake to me...
Getting better K/D in FPS by using a trackball instead of a mouse?

[majnu]

Should have been marketed for disabled gamers.

[TheQsanity]

How does kickstarter work? do you get anything out of it? 700k is a lot.

[Neal]

How does kickstarter work? do you get anything out of it? 700k is a lot.

You pledge money at a promise, there are  multiple tiers of what you could get in return (right side of the page).
But if a product doesn't turn out well and fails, your money is gone obviously.

[Turkishrambo]

How does kickstarter work? do you get anything out of it? 700k is a lot.

You pledge money at a promise, there are  multiple tiers of what you could get in return (right side of the page).
But if a product doesn't turn out well and fails, your money is gone obviously.

isnt it refunded?

[Neal]

How does kickstarter work? do you get anything out of it? 700k is a lot.

You pledge money at a promise, there are  multiple tiers of what you could get in return (right side of the page).
But if a product doesn't turn out well and fails, your money is gone obviously.

isnt it refunded?

No.
As you can imagine, money gets used in making the product, marketing, paying employees, prototyping etc.
If a product fails to launch or bad decisions are made by the people making it, it could just fail. Money doesn't just sit in a bank account, it gets used.

[TheQsanity]

Or giving false promises and using up the money on one's self...

[wesleyh]

actually if the goal isn't reached ($700,000) then no money ever gets handed over. you only get charged when after the campaign has finished AND reached it's goal.

[Turkishrambo]

How does kickstarter work? do you get anything out of it? 700k is a lot.

You pledge money at a promise, there are  multiple tiers of what you could get in return (right side of the page).
But if a product doesn't turn out well and fails, your money is gone obviously.

isnt it refunded?

No.
As you can imagine, money gets used in making the product, marketing, paying employees, prototyping etc.
If a product fails to launch or bad decisions are made by the people making it, it could just fail. Money doesn't just sit in a bank account, it gets used.

pretty sure you are wrong.

[Neal]

How does kickstarter work? do you get anything out of it? 700k is a lot.

You pledge money at a promise, there are  multiple tiers of what you could get in return (right side of the page).
But if a product doesn't turn out well and fails, your money is gone obviously.

isnt it refunded?

No.
As you can imagine, money gets used in making the product, marketing, paying employees, prototyping etc.
If a product fails to launch or bad decisions are made by the people making it, it could just fail. Money doesn't just sit in a bank account, it gets used.

pretty sure you are wrong.

Ok let me rephrase, if the goal gets reached and the product does not come out. Your money is gone.
Take a look at the game 'The Doom That Came To Atlantic City!'
Same thing happend. $122k out of $35k goal reached, product failed to launch.

[TheQsanity]

So do you get charged? or not?

Back to Talons... If you pledge 125 dollars and they don't reach their goal of 700k do you still get your "controller"? (Does that mean whole thing?)

and 125 for who know's what switches is kinda ehhhh...

[alaricljs]

It's a rubber dome, just look at the pics.  And if it doesn't reach goal you never get charged and you never get anything from the project.  If it reaches goal then you get charged.  If they fail miserably in attempting to produce the product, you get apologies for your money.

[TheQsanity]

Sounds risky. If I ever decide to get it, I'd just wait for it to come out if ever.

[FoxWolf1]

So it's domes, and it's wireless. Even if I were a fan of split keyboards-- which I'm not-- I think I'd pass on this one.