Candidates for next stupidly overpriced mediocre keyboard ?

[Peter]

My first candidate is this one :

"Fingerworks Touchstream LP"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251079046833?ss ... 1423.l2649

If you want one in Danish layout I can get it for you for only 5.500Dkr
(Used of course ! And with no box !!)

I'll check back in a couple of days, make a list of your suggestions and then set up a poll

[Icarium]

My first candidate is this one :

"Fingerworks Touchstream LP"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251079046833?ss ... 1423.l2649

If you want one in Danish layout I can get it for you for only 5.500Dkr
(Used of course ! And with no box !!)

I'll check back in a couple of days, make a list of your suggestions and then set up a poll

I'm confused about those 5.500 Dkr. I'm assuming that you're using . as a thousands separator because of the extra zeros but that would put it at about 740 euro with the ebay auction you listed currently at about 300. Do you expect it to go so much higher or what's the joke here?

[webwit]

Hardly stupid and overpriced and mediocre. Like the DataHand, the Touchstream is a real solution for a particular type of RSI. It is also the origin of Apple's touch gestures, Apple bought the company and patents, making it a collector's item. It is also a very interesting device with lots of innovation and great mousing. And they are rare. Add it all up, and you got an expensive item.

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[Icarium]

Well, it has almost as little tactile feedback as possible.
Would have to use a Kinect or something and type in mid-air to get less I suppose.

[webwit]

It has no tactile feedback but if your fingers can't press or hurt if they press, this was a solution. So like the DataHand there are/were many users who really needed it. These went for over $2000 dollar for a while.

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[webwit]

I'd agree, except that I checked out the fingerworks user forum when I got one cheap from marktplaats and when these were going for over 2k on ebay, and these were real users with real injuries, who saw the manufacturer of a solution which worked for them go out of business. Then they got scared - what if my touchstream dies? Can I still use a computer? I don't think these users spent this amount of money for a joke.

For me it's just a collector's item. The ergonomic (or lack of) factor doesn't interest me much, but the innovation and execution does. It is really a fine piece of innovation, with great software which allowed you to program your own gestures. It is very well fine-tuned and very smart, with a very high "it just works" factor. For example, it has a allowance for "drifting", you can touch type on it and when your hands drift slightly from the printed keys on the surface, it still recognizes your input correctly because of the position of your hands and how your fingers move relatively from there. I mainly used it for a little while as a super mouse though, between my DataHand units, before I mounted them on a chair. And best cursor keys ever, with variable speed.

[Icarium]

webwit: It has tactile feedback, you know when you touch it. At least to me that seems like it might qualify as tactile feedback.
Of course that still requires a lot less effort than pressing a mechanical key so I agree that it is quite different. As soon as cheap used tablets start popping up on ebay I'll get two and make a software version of this.

The assessment of most people who have one is negative, though. Great mousing, lousy to type on.

I've seen them go for around $300-400 on ebay.com so maybe the prices dropped again. Maybe just nobody wanted one then.

[webwit]

I think $300 to $500 is the current price range? I don't watch ebay these days though. I got two of them. The second from ebay for $35, from someone who mislabeled it as Touchworks Fingerstream or something like that. First one from marktplaats for little, from someone who actually said he shelved it because the tapping made his finger tips hurt. (Rather the opposite of ergonomic). I briefly had one NIB too from marktplaats, but I immediately sold that for a huge profit.

And yes, it's like typing on a tablet. It's not very good.

[rodtang]

As soon as cheap used tablets start popping up on ebay I'll get two and make a software version of this.

You should wait untill those tactile touchscreens become popular (they'll start comming the middle of next year)

[Icarium]

Got a link?
Is that the same principle as with the apple trackpad on macbook pros?

[rodtang]

http://www.tactustechnology.com/

[off]

Not convinced.
tactus promo video
Mostly because it comes across (to me) as if what they are making is just bumps on the screen, not actually clickable, just 'pressurable'. Does look ... well something.
Seems like they might be entering the area of us geeks, 'how tactile is that switch', 'how heavy', *throws nickels at ipad*..

[sordna]

I own a Touchstream as well. If they could make the surface sculpted, so you could feel the keys (even if they remain unmovable), it would be amazing.

[ripster]

i prefer complaining about $110 Topre keysets with ABS spacebars and $50-$90 Signature Plastic imperfectly kerned keysets. This is a sure fire way to make lots of enemies FAST!

Especially with the people selling them!