High Quality swap-in keyboards for laptops?

[Dihedral]

I often see replacement keyboards for laptops on ebay, and have often wondered if one could not just replace, but also upgrade their keyboard this way. However, these keyboards always seem very thin. Would it be possible to have an ML switch replacement board for a laptop or would the height of mechanical switches kill this from the outset? Alternatively, could we develop a high quality scissor switch board?

[ideus]

Laptop keyboards are not standard, each one fits a particular design, even the models of the same brand cannot swap keyboards, besides the height of an actual mechanical keyboard is 2 or 3 times the height of a scissor based keyboard.

[tannerman917]

And this is why we have the MSI GT80 Titan.   :D

[Dihedral]

And this is why we have the MSI GT80 Titan.   

With free heated tea tray

(Attachment Link)

[Dihedral]

Laptop keyboards are not standard, each one fits a particular design, even the models of the same brand cannot swap keyboards, besides the height of an actual mechanical keyboard is 2 or 3 times the height of a scissor based keyboard.

OK then... another idea I considered... could we, as a community, develop a high quality scissor switch, not unlike that of ThinkPads or the like.

[jacobolus]

OK then... another idea I considered... could we, as a community, develop a high quality scissor switch, not unlike that of ThinkPads or the like.

You want to build a new laptop from scratch? Or you want to build replacement keyboards for some specific existing laptop, or what?

[ideus]

Just get a lenovo usb keyboard, the old version.

[Dihedral]

OK then... another idea I considered... could we, as a community, develop a high quality scissor switch, not unlike that of ThinkPads or the like.

You want to build a new laptop from scratch? Or you want to build replacement keyboards for some specific existing laptop, or what?

Second one. I'm in a bit of a 'throwing stupid ideas at the wall to see if any of them have any merit' stage, and besides a thinkpad laptop keyboards are kinda terrible. I think we should put some effort into trying to improve them.

[jacobolus]

Okay, well, I don’t think this will happen as a “community project” since making a prototype even is going to cost a pile of money and a few dozen hours of work at least, and I think it’s close to impossible to productize in any reasonable way.

But if you want to take the job on, I’m sure we’ll all be happy to cheer from the sidelines.

[Dihedral]

Okay, well, I don’t think this will happen as a “community project” since making a prototype even is going to cost a pile of money and a few dozen hours of work at least, and I think it’s close to impossible to productize in any reasonable way.

But if you want to take the job on, I’m sure we’ll all be happy to cheer from the sidelines.

I have an old laptop hanging around, so I might have a look at that... if anything happens I'll keep you guys posted.

[IvanIvanovich]

Forget laptops, get tablet and plug in keyboard of choice. Otherwise, I think the only way it would be at all feasible would be swapping the laptop guts into a whole new body so everything could be accommodated. Or maybe just swapping in the modern guts to a 1980's laptop that already had an ML, low profile Alps, or whatever decent keyboard.

[engicoder]

Forget laptops, get tablet and plug in keyboard of choice. Otherwise, I think the only way it would be at all feasible would be swapping the laptop guts into a whole new body so everything could be accommodated. Or maybe just swapping in the modern guts to a 1980's laptop that already had an ML, low profile Alps, or whatever decent keyboard.

This is were the newer tablets like the Surface 3 Pro are getting my attention. Hoping the prices come down a bit.

[DrHubblePhD]

I was considering creating a GIF of me slaming my 360c onto my laptop and giving a solid thumbs up  then decided.... eh

[hwood34]

Forget laptops, get tablet and plug in keyboard of choice. Otherwise, I think the only way it would be at all feasible would be swapping the laptop guts into a whole new body so everything could be accommodated. Or maybe just swapping in the modern guts to a 1980's laptop that already had an ML, low profile Alps, or whatever decent keyboard.

This is were the newer tablets like the Surface 3 Pro are getting my attention. Hoping the prices come down a bit.

Galaxy Tab S ftw