Just found this design and I think it’s totally awesome. The new super-small switch PG1316M is used to fit 3 rows into such a constrained space.

Wonder if you could even get away with 4 rows of this, especially to somewhat compensate for the lack of thumb keys? I’d personally be interested to try 4 rows even for a more conventional tabletop keyboard.

EDIT: I have accidentally erased the main URL when I tried to upload a picture. Apologies. (Didn’t know Lemmy works this way). Here’s the main URL for this thing: https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMobileComputers/comments/1npnj85/btyp_a_mini_pg1316m_switch_keyboard_for_use_on_a/

  • altkey (he\him)@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    7·
    7 days ago

    In some futuristic dream, I see them (magnetically) rise from the flat surface once keyboard mode is activated and after that getting back to almost no edge with the back cover. We saved enough space making phones thinner, now it’s time to make some use of it, if not for battery size.

    • bear@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      3·
      6 days ago

      I doubt manufacturers want to give people full day batteries. Brand new batteries that are barely adequate are the goal, it creates more pressure for people to get a new phone when their battery wears down a bit.

      • altkey (he\him)@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        1·
        6 days ago

        It is true, unless it’s contractes with stated parameters, like for military use, that you can encounter in laptops. There are a lot of rugged chinese phones on the market with pretty good battery life and strong casing, I enjoyed a couple of these, and I’m displeased major brands don’t do them. Having that body with their r&d and long-going updates could be a killer.