Have you noticed the flaw in the Shift V2 case?
I recently decided to try adding screw-in stabs to my Shift V2. As this was my first time adding screw-ins, it took me about 45 minutes to get them on the PCB. The next hour was then spent unsuccessfully trying to get the PCB to sit nicely in the top of the case. I started unscrewing some of the stabs, trying to figure out which one was the problem. I did also manage to figure out that it's best practice to have the screws a little loose when you go to pop the PCB in the case. But that only worked for four of the five stabs. The fifth stab, the Num Enter stab, would sit properly. Once I got it narrowed down to that stab, I started looking at the case itself. That's when I found the problem. There is a little post that interferes with the screw-in stab's screw (pictures included; you can see the damage from the screw being mashed into the post). I assume this is a carryover from the V1 case, for which the included PCB did not have holes for board mounted stabs. So now the questions:...
May 26, 2024
I see companies selling the same old keyboards like Happy Hacking, Kbdfans, and so on, that merely have the same old boring layout i.e. straight rows of keys that cause ulnar deviation, which irritates the nerves going through the wrists' carpal tunnels. These are unhealthy to type on all day long.
I see companies trying to dump unsold stock that was unpopular for whatever reason (e.g. Kinesis Freestyle Edge).
I see companies trying to dump unsold stock that has design flaws (e.g. Magicforce 49, which swapped shift and space keys).
I see companies trying to dump parts and unfinished products (PCBs, kits) because they overestimated the enthusiasm that people have for soldering and breathing in toxic fumes.
I see lots and lots of key caps, which presume that we already own keyboards that we like.
But rarely do I see anything that is innovative, finished and great.
Like how about an ergonomic keyboard, where the keys are not laid out in linear rows but like a gentle V? It doesn't even have to be split. It should reduce ulnar deviation.
Like how about a keyboard whose controller is a Raspberry pi Zero, so that GNU/Linux enthusiasts can enjoy programming the keyboard instead of loathe the idea?
Like how about a keyboard with an LCD screen and Raspberry pi zero that can serve as a portable computer? Even a simple 2-line by 80 character display would be better than nothing.
Like how about a keyboard with an SD card reader, and a headphone jack, that can play back music files? An Arduino or Rpi Zero would pretty much be the starting point.
Like how about a keyboard that has a 4-inch gap between left and right sets of keys, and a trackpad in the middle? Wide is OK if it is purposeful. Few people need a num-pad like on the Vortex Vibe.
The constant repetition of old ideas is really not just lamentable & tiring but it is in fact awful.
We're on this planet just once. Why waste our precious time with uninventive, derivative products?