Slashdot Log In
Asus Reveals the Eee Keyboard
Posted by
timothy
on Thu Jan 08, 2009 02:40 PM
from the want-it-already dept.
from the want-it-already dept.
El Lobo writes "Asus' success with its Eee line of netbooks might have come as a surprise, but the company is now determined to expand the Eee brand into every possible niche and form factor. Case in point: the insanely cool Eee Keyboard, which will surely bring a smile on the faces of those who remember the glory days of the home computer. Described as a fully functional PC with inset Qwerty key arrangement, the keyboard has a 5in touch screen that displays a suite of bespoke media controls or a Windows desktop."
Related Stories
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
Full
Abbreviated
Hidden
Loading... please wait.
Fond memories (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Fond memories (Score:4, Informative)
Parent
Re:Fond memories (Score:5, Informative)
>>>You're thinking of the Atari Vic-20. All those models you named were Commodore models.
I always find it amusing when somebody tries to correct somebody else, but fraks it up. Atari VIC-20. Ha! The original poster was correct with his listing of Atari computers. The key models (not an exhaustive list) from that era were:
Commodore PET, VIC-20, 64, and Amiga (1000 was the first, followed by 500 and 2000)
Atari 400, 800, 400XL, 800XL, and the ST. Also the 2600, 5200, and 7800 which were videogame consoles.
Apple II, IIc, IIe, and Macintosh
IBM PC, XT, PCjr, and PS/2
It's a shame that Atari and Commodore are no longer around. It was fun watching all the various formats compete with one another for dominance. Commodore's Amiga line could do things neither Macintosh nor the PCs can do, even today.
Parent
Re:Fond memories (Score:5, Interesting)
No of course not. Today's PCs and Macs can do Video Toaster like effects. Anyway....
The original Commodore Amiga 1000 could do preemptive multitasking with only 256 kilobytes of RAM. It was and still is very efficient with memory.
It is not limited to just one screen like a Mac or PC. The Amiga can do multiple screens with independent resolutions. So for example you could have a 720x480 screen for a DVD movie, a 320x200 screen to emulate an old Super Nintendo console, and a 1600x1200 screen for surfing the web. Being able to give each program its own full screen instead of being confined to windows is a much better computing environment.
It doesn't use a Microsoft OS. ;-)
Parent
Re:Fond memories (Score:5, Informative)
Arguably you can have different fullscreen resolutions on DOS/Windows/Linux too. What the Amiga had over them was the ability to show multiple screens at the same time, but since only the horizontal resolution could change you would not be able to use this for 320x200 and 720x480.
1440x480 and 720x480 works, 640x200 and 320x200 works, but not 320x480 and 320x200.
This limitation comes from CRT monitors. They have to resynch to change vertical resolution, this because images are drawn from top to bottom in a series of lines going from left to right. The end of a line is technically ended by a synch signal, so to change vertical resolution (the amount of lines) you have to change this synch signal - which cause the monitor to go 'boink' as it resynchs to the new synch signal.
Horizontal resolution is, OTOH, simply a product of how fast the Amiga can change its color output - which tops out at something like 1280 pixels.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
You could certainly mix and match screens at different horizontal and vertical resolutions. The key to understand this was realizing that Amiga Amiga video was always based on a ~35ns pixel clock, and could deliver pixels of one, two, or four clocks per pixel.. thus your (nominally) 1280, 640, or 320 pixels per scanline (a bit more using the overscan region of the screen).
Vertical resolution was always the same, 480 lines (NTSC, no overscan... more in PAL, naturally). However, you could set up a 240 line mo
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Uh, like what? And please don't say Video Toaster.
Actually, I'm gonna have to say Video Toaster.
The last time I saw an Amiga in production usage was 2002, it was running Video Toaster for live production CG -- broadcast graphics, titles, etc.
I scratched my head, but I was told that it was one of the only cost-effective products out there for low-budget productions. The few hardware CGs I used at the time I found to be extremely confining, and I ended up liking Video Toaster more.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
If you boot with the TV connected and nothing else, it should just work. If you want both at once, you have to set it up just like a dual head configuration. When I did this, that required some involved edits to the xorg.conf. But apparently now you can just do it with nvidia-settings.
It's well worth doing. Movies are an ideal application, and emulators are great too.
Next up. (Score:2, Flamebait)
Oh wait, that's been done. [slashdot.org]
cool (Score:5, Insightful)
Bam! Power Supply (Score:5, Insightful)
problem solved.
Seriously unless you plan on using this thing on the go there's no reason to rely on a battery. And it's not much of a system for on the go computing.
The only reason I don't like laptops is because if the screen goes out you're screwed. My wife's laptop is perfectly functional minus the screen. Fortunatly it has a TV out so it's used to watch Netflix on the TV. This keyboard PC is something that for the right price may be worth getting to replace the old and busted laptop to serve that purpose and be useful for other things as well.
I don't really want to pay $99 for a dedicated Netflix box but if it could be used as a regular PC as well then that's more reasonable.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Well, I have a few laptops like that where I've removed the LCD. Bingo: keyboard computer. I mainly use them as printer servers and the like; you just lug a small LCD panel over when you need a screen, or use VNC.
In any case, if it's the backlight gone, chances are its the inverter board. This provides voltage to the LCD panel, but usually sits at the top edge of the keyboard part. Its usually integrated on a small board about the size of an old fashioned memory SIMM that usually has a few model spe
Re:Bam! Power Supply (Score:4, Insightful)
I think you're being a tad harsh there.
A device that requires a power outlet near the couch is pretty useful. If you can disconnect it to go wander, that's fine too. I know lots of people who use their laptop whilst its plugged in. The 'mobile' factor is that you can take it where you want, not that it can be run without a plug.
His laptop might well be being used as a netflix box, its quiet and cheap after all, if you had a half-bust laptop, it'd be perfect for such a task.
Parent
5" screen? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:5" screen? (Score:5, Funny)
Look at the bright side. At least you could play crysis on that screen with an average video card.
Parent
Not innovative; but slick enough, and really fun.. (Score:5, Insightful)
This little guy, if it ever makes it to market, should be great fun to play around with(particularly if the secondary screen widget is reasonably open to hackers and third party devs). Good looking, probably fairly cheap, no doubt fairly basic specs; but enough for many purposes. I like it.
Re:Not innovative; but slick enough, and really fu (Score:5, Interesting)
It doesn't look like much use as a laptop due to the tiny screen in an awkward place and lack of cover for the keyboard. A three hour battery life means it's not much use as a wireless keyboard. I suppose as a desktop PC it would be OK, but then why have the tiny additional screen and battery? They just make it larger and more expensive than it needs to be. Ditch the screen and battery and it might make for a cheap, compact desktop PC, but as it is I just don't see the point. On the other hand there are plenty of things I don't see the point of that are hugely popular, so what do I know?
Parent
The Nintendo DS has two screens (Score:3, Insightful)
but then why have the tiny additional screen and battery?
The additional screen could have similar uses as the GBA screens in some GameCube games (e.g. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures) or the touch screen on a DS. The battery is just a built-in UPS.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
A "universal remote control" app that runs on the little screen could be fun. Hold it end-on, tell the screen display to rotate 90 degrees, put little stickers over the columns of keys for your fifty favourite tv channels ...
A remote control that you'd never lose!
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
It is the new 64. (Score:5, Funny)
Humm. Now they need to add a USB hard drive that also has a USB Hub in it so that I can add a second USB hard drive and the a printer :)
Re:It is the new 64. (Score:5, Funny)
Yo dawg we heard you like usb hard drives so we put a usb port on your usb hard drive so you can use a usb hard drive on your usb hard drive.
Parent
Re:It is the new 64. (Score:5, Informative)
You never used a C64 with a 1541 drive did you?
The old C64 used a serial version of the IEE-488 bus to connect drives and printers. It allowed dasy chaining of one drive to another and usually ended with a printer if you had one.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
The apple disc controller was for discs only. My //c had an internal 5.25, and an external 5.25, and chained through that was an external 3.5". (800k) It had a chain-through as well and I could have added another I think.
Channeling Steve Jobs.... (Score:4, Informative)
Everyone's channeling Steve Jobs' these days.
So now you have a lousy keyboard you can't replace with a decent one. It's bad enough on my laptop, but at least there's an excuse for lowering the form factor of the keys way too far... here, there's simply no logical reason for it other than style.
Yep, it's Apple style all right. If it doesn't come with OS X, why put up with the abuse?
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
actualy there is a logical reason other thanstyle for a product like this.. given it's size and the goal of being light weight.. by spacing the keys out and allowing the upper frame to be solid accross the mid secion of the device allows the surface to he structural - there for allowing the bottom of it to be thiner and allowing the whole device to be thinner as you don't have to make room under the keyboard for support and you don't need heavy materials around the edges for support - caluse as soon as it f
Re:Channeling Steve Jobs.... (Score:4, Interesting)
Ever use a really good keyboard, one with microswitch keys? The frame the keys are set in is totally solid. You can't make them all that thin, but this thing has even less reason for thinness than a laptop. The only reason to make it thin is style, and compromising ergonomics for style is exactly the problem I'm talking about.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
> I can't work intensively on my laptop for more than 10 or 15 minutes without significant pain.
You're doing it wrong.
Actually individually inset keys, if done right, are ergonomically better. They also confer several advantages if you're basically willing to give up the EXPERIENCE of a keyboard with a huge travel on the keys - keys are spaced better, so it's easier to hit the key you want, and they're all at the same height, on a flat base, meaning you're basically not lifting your wrists and therefore
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
you should be resting the butt of your hand on them, not your wrist.
You shouldn't be resting any part of your hand on them. If you can't hold your hand level in the plane of the keyboard using your arm muscles, without straining them, you need to get more exercise. And no, you're not "still pumped from using the mouse".
If you're suffering from carpal tunnel [...]
No, I have ulnar nerve damage. There are many kinds of RSI, CTS is only one of them... and other forms of RSI are often misdiagnosed at CTS.
Not cool any more? (Score:5, Funny)
"...much like many home computers from the days Back To The Future was cool".
Oh geez! I missed the memo. Back to the Future isn't cool any more? Man I'm getting old!
Eee Keyboard (Score:5, Interesting)
Anyone else read the headline and think
"Finally, a new/good keyboard for the EEE netbook."
Re:Eee Keyboard (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:Eee Keyboard (Score:5, Funny)
Because E is the most used letter in the English alphabet!! Duh!!
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I did. I'm now contemplating a wireless eee cluster. Imagine, a beowulf cluster of tiny computers interconnected via bluetooth or 802.11. I'll get an eeePC, an eeeKeyboard, an eeeMouse, an eeeMonitor, maybe even an eeePrinter, and for the hour of battery life that I get out of them, I'll have a mobile cloud with the processing power of a 4-core workstation powered by Atom! Well, the Intel Atom, not U-238. But still, that's pretty cool!
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
And this, gentlemen, is why you want to get your woman excited before you go down on her. Spend some time away from the target first!
Back to the past (Score:2)
Seems great for media PCs (Score:2)
What would be really cool is to have the small screen show you an alternate display, so you could watch one video feed and keep an eye on another... or just alternate controls.
Cool idea, I'm going to look at getting one of those myself.
I already own several similar models. (Score:5, Funny)
I already own a computer of a similar form factor. It's kitted out with a state of the art CMOS 6502 processor running at 2 MHz and a unified graphics architecture with 32K of main memory and 32K of PROM based storeage (UV erasable in about 20 minutes or so). Not only that, but it has every expansion port you might expect: parallel, TTL, composite and UHF video, RS-423, analogue, the CPU bus (just for good measure), econet (TM) networking and the innovative Tube(r) interface. Not only that but it also comes with builtin support for both audio tape and *double sided* 5.25 inch floppy disks.
Programs are available for download every night, for free, over the air with a compatible teletext input interface.
Frankly, there's no contest.
Funny anecdote: I remember reading a news story about a burglary at a school which had recently upgraded to the new, shiny Archimedes, replacing their old BBCs. The theives broke in and stole all the keyboards, not realising that the computer was now in a separate box.
Tech Support Hell (Score:5, Funny)
Tech: How can I help you today, ma'am?
Little Old Lady: Well, I haven't been able to print my letter using the printer I purchased from you, although I can print other documents just fine. I turned my keyboard off and then back on, just like my son taught me...
Tech: You mean your computer, ma'am? You turned your computer off and then back on?
Little Old Lady: Isn't that what I said?! Well, anyways, I'm looking but I can't seem to find my letter, now.
Tech: Ma'am can you please describe what the screen looks like?
Little Old Lady: Which one? There's a copy of the letter that I haven't been able to print on the keyboard right now. And there's just a blank document open on the monitor.
Tech: There's a copy on the keyboard but you haven't been able to print it?!! How did it get onto the keyboard, ma'am?
etc...
But in the good old days, (Score:2)
The modifier keys (esp. ctrl) were in the right places!
nice! (Score:5, Funny)
Memories (Score:5, Funny)
This brings up fond memories of back when the keyboard WAS the computer. I remember being a REALLY young kid (probably 7 or 8), and seeing a regular IBM/PC keyboard in the store for $35. Since the only computers I'd ever seen back then were Commodores, TI-99/4a's, Apple's, and Tandys, I perceived this as a great deal since I thought that that keyboard was a whole computer. I remember begging my mom to buy it for me since I wanted a computer so bad and it was only $35. Thankfully, she didn't get it. Man I'd have been disappointed if I'd have gotten that thing home and tried to connect it to a TV :).
Not much later I ended up getting a Commodore 64 :).
You kids. (Score:3, Informative)
You have no idea.
I've used a TI 99/4. I've actually tried typing programs into an original IBM PCjr. I used extensively, and almost bought, an Atari 400.
What do they have in common with each other, and this keyboard?
Crappy, short throw, lousy-feedback keys.
If you think you're seeing an old-timer smiling in nostalgic pleasure at this thing, you've mis-identified a grimace of remembered pain.
Appropriate use of technology? (Score:5, Insightful)
Or maybe you could use it to play games on... in which case wouldn't you be better served by any of the current game consoles equipped with a wireless controller? One more thing... if you've got a built-in wireless HDMI for streaming video to a largescreen TV... what the fsck do you need a crappy 5" LCD screen for??? Sure, this is a cute toy, but what does it enable the average user to actually do better than what they are using now?
And it's still... (Score:3, Informative)
... non-ergonomic.
I'm sorry, but we live in two-thousand-fuckin'-nine! Give me a real keyboard [datahand.com], or at least the closest affordable thing [datadesktech.com]. (Now unfortunately defunct.):
'Nuff said...
Re:Suggestion... (Score:5, Informative)
Parent
Re:Not quite what I would want (Score:5, Informative)
Wouldn't it be better if the media center itself were a plain, small and silent box (like the Apple TV) to which this neat keyboard could be connected wirelessly?
They already do one!
The Eee Box [wikipedia.org] is a small, plain, (almost) silent PC with wifi that comes with a mounting bracket so you can bolt it to the back of your flat monitor or TV via the four VESA mount holes.
Parent
RTFA (Score:4, Informative)
FTA:
Parent
More like VIC-TV (Score:5, Interesting)
It's more like the VIC-TV, a 1983 Commodore CES prototype. Picture at Secret Weapons of Commodore pages:
http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/supervic.html [floodgap.com]
Parent