Pocket Computer Keyboard

[blazing_grey]

So, I'm building a pocket computer - *not* a tablet, I want real linux instead of Android and the fact that I'm posting *here* tells you what I think about typing on a touchscreen - around a 7" lcd, which means the keyboard has about that much space to live in, minus room for gamepads (I plan to pretty much steal the layout from the http://openpandora.org/, but the qwerty portion scaled up).

Why don't I just buy an openpandora and thereby support a great project? Well...

1. Because I can.

2. 4.3" is a tiny screen, and I'm a huge guy (6'4", ~300lb). I can use my wife's Galaxy Tab 7 the way most people hold an iPhone, complete with it fitting comfortably in my pocket. So I want a device that fits me.

My question specifically for the deskthority community, is does anyone around here know of a keyswitch that would be suitable for this and superior to the usual rubber dome nonsense used in portable devices? I'm obviously not Googling the right things. Something feeling like the old blackberry keyboards, with a good tactile click but not the crazy high actuation force you get on modern qwerty phones?

Thanks folks. I'll post back with a progress log when I get this thing off the ground...

[woody]

Check Cherry ML, but it could still be too big.

[Maarten]

Check Cherry ML, but it could still be too big.

LOL, google pocket computer, there's no way in heck you want something as huge as am ML on one of those. I think hes looking for SMD switches....

[Maarten]

BTW, alps makes plenty of this kind of stuff;
http://www.alps.com/WebObjects/catalog. ... list1.html

Something like these could be perfect for your application.
http://www.alps.com/WebObjects/catalog. ... AE010.html

[ripster]

Notice folks how Alps Electronics continues to BRAND their switches as ALPS!

http://deskthority.net/wiki/File:Img1728q.jpg

[woody]

Check Cherry ML, but it could still be too big.

LOL, google pocket computer, there's no way in heck you want something as huge as am ML on one of those. I think hes looking for SMD switches....

ML is the smallest I am sure is good for typing and has OK force curve. Below that size are microswitches that are ok for punching few characters, but not for typing. Not that I am expert on switches.

[ripster]

You know I used to have one of those...8.9" so a tad bigger...

Fujitsu F1510d...

FLA_9838.jpg (585.63 KiB) Viewed 2089 times

In better days.

DSC_2195.jpg (824.53 KiB) Viewed 2088 times

Scissor switches were fine but cramped.

I'm a big Tablet split keyboard fan these days though.
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?2887 ... put-Tricks

[off]

F1510d...

FLA_9838.jpg

I'm a big Tablet split keyboard fan these days though.
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?2887 ... put-Tricks

What happened to that keyboard?

And I still don't get how you can keep your concience down and just try and shove AAPL down everyone's throats over here (and there).