The Microsoft Mechanical

[mouse.the.lucky.dog]

Gottcha. No they don't make one, but if they did would you buy it?

If Microsoft made a mechanical keyboard what would it be like.

[CPTBadAss]

Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 with mechanical switches. And the little slider in the middle would be a trackball instead.

[mouse.the.lucky.dog]

Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 with mechanical switches. And the little slider in the middle would be a trackball instead.

What kind of switches?

[CPTBadAss]

In fantasy world, buckling spring. In actually has happened world, Lanx put MX Browns in his modded 4k so I'd put 65g MX Blues.

[SpAmRaY]

https://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/typehoverswipe/

[bueller]

Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 with mechanical switches. And the little slider in the middle would be a trackball instead.

CPT know's whats up. I loved that keyboard before I moved to mechs.

[Lastpilot]

https://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/typehoverswipe/

LOL, at first I thought this was that april fools swipe keyboard technology. But it's actually there?! Whoddathunkit.

[CPTBadAss]

CPT know's whats up. I loved that keyboard before I moved to mechs.

I actually still have it and use it at work for when I forget my Filco at home. It's still my favorite RD keyboard. Although I think the DT35 could unseat the 4k if I ever get my hands on one.

[newchemicals]

Gottcha. No they don't make one, but if they did would you buy it?

If Microsoft made a mechanical keyboard what would it be like.

It would come down to two things.

1. How good is it?
2. How much does it cost?

Buckling Springs would be the best choice of course. However, I would expect if Microsoft made one it would use Kailh switches and it would sell for $219.   

[blackbox]

I think they would have something with a ML switches since their latest keybosrds are very slim.

[tp4tissue]

I like the BIG curved space bar..  Everything else arn't really that novel...

[Pacifist]

In fantasy world, buckling spring. In actually has happened world, Lanx put MX Browns in his modded 4k so I'd put 65g MX Blues.

Pics of the modded 4k?

[jwaz]

I think the Microsoft Natural Elite has a big enough following that they could make a killing on a high-end mechanical version. So many people love that board.

[hashbaz]

In fantasy world, buckling spring. In actually has happened world, Lanx put MX Browns in his modded 4k so I'd put 65g MX Blues.

Pics of the modded 4k?

I believe this is the thread, though many of the image attachments are lost to the r00tworm.

[Pacifist]

In fantasy world, buckling spring. In actually has happened world, Lanx put MX Browns in his modded 4k so I'd put 65g MX Blues.

Pics of the modded 4k?

I believe this is the thread, though many of the image attachments are lost to the r00tworm.

 

r00tworm WHYYYYYY

[CPTBadAss]

I believe this is the thread, though many of the image attachments are lost to the r00tworm.

That's the one hashbaz. I love that thread, even with the missing pictures.

[0100010]

A coworker of mine recently brought from home a (old) NIB MS Natural keyboard, to replace the one he had on his desk (which he suspected the F1 key of going bad due to PC POST errors).  Asked him how many he had, which he responded with 3 more NIB at home, besides the 2 at work and another on his home PC.  He likes the ergo shape.  He also enjoys the feel of the keys on my Unicomp - but hates the noise.

If there was a linear MX MS ergo board available, I'm sure he''d be all over it.

[False_Dmitry_II]

They should be novel and go with matias switches. Or reinvent some other dead switch type. Because I like to pretend that MX-style isn't the only thing ever.

[davkol]

It's Microsoft. Embrace. Extend. Extenguish. They'd start with MX-compatible switches, but make them incompatible eventually. In the process, I suppose they'd do something like what they did to Nokia.

[blackbox]

It's Microsoft. Embrace. Extend. Extenguish. They'd start with MX-compatible switches, but make them incompatible eventually. In the process, I suppose they'd do something like what they did to Nokia.

We should all be glad Microsoft do not make mechanical keyboards then. As you said we have seen what they did to nokia.

[rowdy]

Microsoft made some reasonably good mouses though.

[davkol]

Yup. About a decade ago.

[Pacifist]

Now I want to go butcher my old logitech wave and direct wire it with cherry switches

[blackbox]

Now I want to go butcher my old logitech wave and direct wire it with cherry switches

Go ahead please do it! 

[Dragowing193]

A mechanical sidewinder keyboard would be pretty awesome.

[davkol]

Now I want to go butcher my old logitech wave and direct wire it with cherry switches

Wouldn't work, because the important part of the Wave design is awkward key spacing and keycaps' shape. It might be interesting to try a Kinesis-like keyset on a flat keyboard though.

[vivalarevolución]

Even if it had mechanical switches,  I bet it would be a cheap piece of garbage that prioritized styling over actual function.  That is what their recent keyboard designs seem to be, anyways. 

Their scissor switches feel nice, though.

[Lanx]

oh nos, damn you rootworm! and i thought imgshack would have been good 4 years ago, eh theres still archive web and they're holding about 80% of the missing pics, *sigh* i don't keep hard drive copies of pics... i thought the cloud was secure!

[Findecanor]

A Microsoft keyboard would probably use cheap switches like Kailh, but like Corsair's early mechanical keyboards they would probably not be used on the entire keyboard. The plate would not be exposed, but composed of sunken parts of the plastic case.
Function keys and several keys with media functions, launching Internet Explorer and various Windows 8-features such as the Charms Bar etc., would probably be short-throw rubber dome keys on the sides. Some of the keys would be painted silver.
Curved or not, ergo or not, the keycaps would be their own cheap thin low-profile style. The case would have a built-in wrist rest and really wide really soft blobby edges, as if a cup of black tar had been poured onto the desk.

[blackbox]

A Microsoft keyboard would probably use cheap switches like Kailh, but like Corsair's early mechanical keyboards they would probably not be used on the entire keyboard. The plate would not be exposed, but composed of sunken parts of the plastic case.
Function keys and several keys with media functions, launching Internet Explorer and various Windows 8-features such as the Charms Bar etc., would probably be short-throw rubber dome keys on the sides. Some of the keys would be painted silver.
Curved or not, ergo or not, the keycaps would be their own cheap thin low-profile style. The case would have a built-in wrist rest and really wide really soft blobby edges, as if a cup of black tar had been poured onto the desk.

That must be the perfect description of an mechanical microsoft keyboard. Probably a extra button to open onedrive or something too. It would also come bundled with a Crappy(IMO ofc) mouse like the arc touch.

[daerid]

Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 with mechanical switches. And the little slider in the middle would be a trackball instead.

This.... so much this. I would kill for a natural with Clears and a trackball in the center.

[barihunk]

Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 with mechanical switches. And the little slider in the middle would be a trackball instead.

This.... so much this. I would kill for a natural with Clears and a trackball in the center.

[Lanx]

clears are so hard on the fingers, ergo-clears worked well for me however, but as always it's subjective.

[bueller]

I wish I had the know how to design a pcb and get a project off the ground for this. I made plate designs ages ago but I'm not so good with the EE side of things. Would be great to see a cross between this and the Ergodox. Kind of like the Ergoduck but without the weird extra columns and awful bottom row.

[dante]

MS4K w/ Chinese MX Clone switches-> mass produce at $39.99 a keyboard -> Profit!