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PB Duo: keyboard substitute

Bunsen

Admin-Witchfinder-General
Thanks, mcdermd!

Over there, back then:

I dismantled my Apple Keyboard II to have a look, and I found that the keyboard matrix is joined onto the electronics board by two ribbon cables, the left has 13 connections, and the right has 14.
On the Duo keyboard, two ribbons, left 13, right 14
Hm. Unless some of those are ground, power or something else (which seems likely) even the 20x12 Key Warriors won't have enough IO. More than that though, I'll need to find out which are which, or bypass the ribbon and head straight to the matrix PCB (possibly the better approach).

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
If all the keys ID seperately but incorrectly, Keyquencer or other MacOS keymapping software can take care of the mapping.
That's only if the lines match up ribbons to connectors.

The eyes are bleary and I'm very tired, so don't hold me to it, but by the ribbon, the 1400's keyswitch matrix appears to be something like 10 x 16. ;)

 

Bunsen

Admin-Witchfinder-General
Yes, it seems likely that bypassing the ribbon altogether and going straight off the key matrix is best - if a Key Warrior is needed.

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
I guess I don't understand, the contacts are the keymatrix unless you're talking about fabbing a new flex circuit?

The 20x12 Key Warrior appears to be the best approach as I see it. Definitely the smallest. It's too bad the 1400's flex cable doesn't reach into the modem bay, but at least it leads to somewhere with vacant cubic for an intermediate connector/cable. [;)] ]'>

 

mcdermd

Well-known member
You'll have a fair amount of cutting here too:

photo-1.JPG

The keyboard is just about exactly as wide as the outside dimension of the Powerbook Duo top case. With the Duo case over top, you can barely see the plastic edge trim of the Powerbook G4 on the outside edge.

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
I'm guessing it'll wind up in the Hacks and Development forum at some point. Bunsen fessed up about why he wanted the KBD . . .

. . . and it all went downhill from there. :lol:

 

Bunsen

Admin-Witchfinder-General
Yes, that's about the size of it. (pun not intended)

Thanks for the photo, mcdermd - I'd say that's the best candidate then. I'll start a new WTB thread and move this one over into Hacks.

 

Gorgonops

Moderator
Staff member
Looking at Mcdermd's picture it looks like you'd pretty seriously compromise the structural integrity of the Duo trying to fit that in there. I suppose I have to ask, since I never owned one... is the Duo keyboard *really* horrible enough to merit the level of destruction it'll take to get an alternative in there? The Powerbook G4 keyboards aren't exactly fabulous either. (Not terrible by laptop standards but... not great either.)

Just spitballing, how about a NetBook keyboard? Something like this looks to be about right, perhaps a little on the small size going by the stated external dimensions of the two systems?

 

bbraun

Well-known member
Yes, Duo keyboards are that bad. Worse, in fact. Duos are banned from this house due to the keyboard. Their keyboards might infect the others, and we can't have that.

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Bad, bad, but not all that bad, just really, really spongy. I've typed on much worse and the size is the largest problem with it.

My first laptop had almost that small a KBD so the transition wasn't too bad. I came to the PB100 from the membrane KBD of Sir Clive"s membrane KBD impaired masterpiece, the Cambridge Z88, so neither smaller KBD bothered me, nor does the downsized NetBook KBD of HP-Mini, on which I'm typing ATM . . .

. . . but this is much nicer than a spongy Duo KBD! :lol:

I don't think anyone will be carrying a Duo about where they'd need to worry about its structural integrity all that much. So long as it's dockable and sturdy enough to keep in a bag and type on, it's well worth grafting in a good KBD. The 1400's is that and a cool hack to boot. Any other would be nice as well, though the newer KBDs don't usually do a lot for me.

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
I think if someone dreamed of using one and and used one IRL the way I did, they may have been somewhat more forgiving. The later revision Duo KBDs were just a tad less horrible.

 

markyb86

Well-known member
You guys must have never typed on one of those roll up, spill proof, silicone keyboards.. :lol:

although way too big, the pismo keyboard would 'look' awesome in a duo. (especially if you could get an amber track ball)

 

techknight

Well-known member
The quality of modern netbook boards are junk. You thought duo keyboards are bad? use a netbook keyboard. they literally fall apart as you type. keys fall off, break off, etc...

 
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