Portable keyboards

[tchuladdiass]

I am looking for a mini keyboard recommendation.  I've tried several folding keyboards that were designed for pda's, but none of them are conducive to touch typing / coding work.

I currently have in my possession an old Apple Newton keyboard with rs232 interface.  I originally bought it many years ago for use with my Palm Pilot Professional (required wiring an adapter cable).  This keyboard happens to be the perfect size, key feel, and weight I need.  But since it is serial I can't directly use it on anything else currently.

I'm looking for something about the same size & feel, but in a Bluetooth version.  If that can't be found, then maybe a USB one would do.  I got burned on the last generic "ultra mini" USB keyboard I got, as the key spacing was just a bit too tight.  The Newton keyboard is about 90% the spacing of a Model M, so that is probably about the smallest I can go.  I also require a standard layout (i.e., regular space bar and numbers in the proper position at the top -- the Belken folding keyboard had the number keys scrunched towards the left side & undersized).

To give a perspective on size of the Newton keyboard, when I hold it up to my Model M it is almost exactly the size of the M's main alpha/numeric key section.

Thanks for any advice.

[Rajagra]

To give a perspective on size of the Newton keyboard, when I hold it up to my Model M it is almost exactly the size of the M's main alpha/numeric key section.

Much like the Cherry ML4100.



These have 18mm key spacing, 95% of the normal 19mm.

[Shawn Stanford]

Cherry ML4100

What are the switches in these?

[roadblock2thesun]

cherry ml's. They are short throw, surface mounted switches. I find them kind of stiff and don't really like the board. It is a good size though...

[tchuladdiass]

That Cherry keyboard would be perfect if it didn't have the function keys across the top -- that makes the board a bit too tall to slip in my coat pocket.  Also the Model M space saver -- same thing, and I don't need the keypads on the right.

The thing I like about the Newton keyboard is it has full size control key, for example, and any other key that you have to "reach" for is over-sized without making the keyboard too big.  What I was thinking of doing is hooking it up to a usb->serial adapter (so it would show up as a serial device on Linux), then writing my own kernel module to make it look like a regular keyboard.

[lowpoly]

Or replace the controller. Or build a converter with a Teensy.

[majestouch]

That Cherry keyboard would be perfect if it didn't have the function keys across the top -- that makes the board a bit too tall to slip in my coat pocket.  Also the Model M space saver -- same thing, and I don't need the keypads on the right.

The thing I like about the Newton keyboard is it has full size control key, for example, and any other key that you have to "reach" for is over-sized without making the keyboard too big.  What I was thinking of doing is hooking it up to a usb->serial adapter (so it would show up as a serial device on Linux), then writing my own kernel module to make it look like a regular keyboard.

Stop "reaching," swap Ctrl and CapsLock today!

It'll take you a couple days to get used to, but it's worth it (imnsho).