If the actual product comes with a normal (i.e., IBM standard) layout (you can reprogram the normal shaped keys, but I can't believe you can reprogram the shape and size of the keys, and you need a GPS and 3 day's trail rations to find the Return key on the thing pictured on the website), and if it has the feel of a real keyboard, with more than 2mm of key travel and some real tactile feedback, I'd love one. But I suspect it will be a long time before the technology of those itty bitty displays gets cheap enough that the cost premium isn't prohibitive. It strikes me as more of a novelty toy than a useful tool.
The standard keyboard design may not be a very good one, but I'm comfortable with it. What I really want is a pointing device that doesn't suck.
A whole bunch of years ago was when I first thought that a display for each key would be cool. It does look like the kind of thing that would be really expensive, would suffer from severe software bugginess (you think the manufacturer would cooperate with Unix users? Ha!), and probably be a really bad keyboard from the standpoint of key feel, but, yes, incredibly cool.
Besides, if the keyboard changed to reflect the Dvorak layout I use, some of the mystery would be gone. Anyway, I don't look at the keyboard when typing for real, and I've even gotten used to hunt-and-pecking with one hand with a standard QWERTY-labeled keyboard and Dvorak layout in the computer, though that would be nicer if the keys matched what they do.
that would be nicer if the keys matched what they do. Especially for the IT guys who want to load something they forgot when building your box & dig in past the 'easy to switch layouts' point BEFORE remembering that they can't type there *grin*
For myself, stopped looking at keys when i switched, so don't much care what they say :)
The standard keyboard design may not be a very good one, but I'm comfortable with it. What I really want is a pointing device that doesn't suck.
Damn. Yeah. I want one of those. And I just got one of the Deck glow-in-the-darks, too....
http://johnhaller.com/jh/useful_stuff/disable_caps_lock/
among other places.
Besides, if the keyboard changed to reflect the Dvorak layout I use, some of the mystery would be gone. Anyway, I don't look at the keyboard when typing for real, and I've even gotten used to hunt-and-pecking with one hand with a standard QWERTY-labeled keyboard and Dvorak layout in the computer, though that would be nicer if the keys matched what they do.
Especially for the IT guys who want to load something they forgot when building your box & dig in past the 'easy to switch layouts' point BEFORE remembering that they can't type there *grin*
For myself, stopped looking at keys when i switched, so don't much care what they say :)