deskthority

My ideal keyboard would support both Bluetooth wireless connection and detachable cable USB/PS2 connection (charging batteries while connected with USB/PS2 cable). This would give us the best of both worlds. Do you think we will ever see such keyboard from Filco or Archiss/Leopold?

I know Filco once had Bluetooth keyboard, but it didn't support cable connection, and it was available in full-size version only (no tenkeyless). Perhaps these limitations contributed to the lack of interest and were the reason it was eventually discontinued?

I think the Bluetooth model stopped due to licensing issues or something. It was actually not made by Costar, but instead by Datacomp. Also it did not get approved by the FCC which resulted in it being never exported. As far as I know, that was the only board ever made. Besides some guy who built one on his own from an old WYSE terminal board.

Chances are Datacomp still is able to make OEM orders from the old "Filco". Maybe we should attempt to buy some!

sixty wrote:Chances are Datacomp still is able to make OEM orders from the old "Filco". Maybe we should attempt to buy some!

That would be something! DeskThority branded?

I'll send them a mail and see what happens. I'm pretty sure the keyboards are not exclusive to Filco, since Datacomp showcased them on conventions. Or at least I believe they did. Webwit has pics of that, somewhere...

Filco Majestouch Wireless (discontinued)

Found the Datacomp showcase:



Including a never released(?) Filco bluetooth mouse.

A Bluetooth keyboard would be nice, but i'm sure I would notice the tiny amount of lag when i'm gaming.

I always had horrible problems with bluetooth keyboards. Mice seemed to work alright, but the keyboards would always start typing crazy letters and other things over time.

Man, I would love one of these... and a detachable cable would be perfect.

Wireless mechanical? Sign me up.

sixty wrote:I'll send them a mail and see what happens. I'm pretty sure the keyboards are not exclusive to Filco, since Datacomp showcased them on conventions. Or at least I believe they did. Webwit has pics of that, somewhere...

This is great. Please get back to us when you hear from Datacomp. Assuming Datacomp can make them, what do you suppose the minimum order would be and proximate price per unit?

By the way, how much Diatec was selling them for? And when exactly were they introduced and discontinued?

I wouldnt trust this when gaming haha

I would like one for my iPhone or if I get an IPad in the future. Also if I get around to building that HTTPC in the living room, a mechanical board that can stay on the couch table would be cool...

xshnoopy wrote:I wouldnt trust this when gaming haha

I know what you mean.

When I had rubber domes Belkin tried to fob me off about their crappy wireless keyboard. It used to stop working randomly. Turned out that the wireless mouse interfered with it.

Then I tried a Microsoft Wireless keyboard and it still was not right, not sure but I think it did not have 6NKRO or something since my old old PS/2 one seemed better/more control in game - could run and run directional, reload and jump at the same time. The wireless could not.

Although I guess it would be useful for Corland and xshnoopy's purposes but for me personally, wireless = never again lol

xshnoopy wrote:I wouldnt trust this when gaming haha

I don't think anything wireless is trusted for "competitive" gaming. Would be pretty sweet to have a wireless mechanical keyboard, though.

A wireless mechanical keyboard would be nice. Wonder how long the batteries would last though.

While you're talking with them Sixty, ask them if they'll make a mechanical switch keyboard for Mac that doesn't use sodding Alps switches.

get the leopold, you'll be pleased.

espritsc wrote:

xshnoopy wrote:I wouldnt trust this when gaming haha

I don't think anything wireless is trusted for "competitive" gaming. Would be pretty sweet to have a wireless mechanical keyboard, though.

Yeah always sucks in middle of game when charge gets low and you are scrambling for batteries. Although something like the logitech mice where it is wireless but you can plug in a usb cable to charge rechargeable batteries would be cool.

Zykos wrote:A wireless mechanical keyboard would be nice. Wonder how long the batteries would last though.

or make activating the switch charge a battery somehow. The more you type the bigger charge you get.

or make activating the switch charge a battery somehow. The more you type the bigger charge you get.

now that would be something sign me up if that's ever available

I can imagine using bluetooth mechanical for typing, therefore cherry MX blues would be a solid choice. However it is a big no-no for gaming, atleast from my experience. I have used a wireless mouse before and it was a nightmare..

That's interesting...a full size keyboard and an extra numpad? Were they going to make a tenkeyless version too, or do people just like having two numpads? :S

Broncosoozie wrote:That's interesting...a full size keyboard and an extra numpad? Were they going to make a tenkeyless version too, or do people just like having two numpads? :S

Actually the current generation of Filco numpads is still made by Datacomp too. The one shown there might not be actually a wireless one but rather missing the cable for demo purposes.

If it is indeed wireless, then it was never released.

never see a wireless mechanical keyboard before.

sixty wrote:I'll send them a mail and see what happens. I'm pretty sure the keyboards are not exclusive to Filco, since Datacomp showcased them on conventions. Or at least I believe they did. Webwit has pics of that, somewhere...

Sixty, did you hear from Datacomp yet?

Nope.

Anyone with decent soldering skills could potentially install a mini Bluetooth keyboard into a full size mechanical and bridge the contacts so that the switches activate the keys on the Bluetooth board. Most mini Bluetooth keyboards these days also charge via USB, so providing power won't be a problem. It'd be a really messy and time-consuming mod, and you would probably end up destroying a perfectly good PCB, but if wireless is your thing then it's better than having to wait for Filco to bring back their wireless keyboards. I suppose the Xarmor U9W is also an option, though the old style RF is somewhat less reliable.

Now for gaming, my personal experience has shown Bluetooth to be very reliable. Ever since it was discovered that the PS3 and Wii controllers use Bluetooth, people have tested these and other Bluetooth peripherals hundreds of times and posted their results, and the general consensus has been that the difference in response time between Bluetooth and USB is negligible for all games running up to 60 frames per second. Aside from that, as long as you stay within range of the transmitter and keep the battery charged, you won't likely experience connection issues.

Just joined today so I could input my two cents.

http://www.amazon.com/XArmor-U9W-wirele ... 230&sr=1-4

Anyone know anything about that?

Still crappy layout...

Wireless Tenkeyless Mod here:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title= ... t=wireless

or Bluetooth Model M here:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title= ... t=wireless

I'd stay away from Xarmor. Phaedrus likes that brand.

You don't want to be associated with a douchebag do you?