German Amazon should ship to me without additional costs but then I'd end up with QWERTZ...
For a similar reason.
The build quality is pretty bad. Sometimes the keys fail to type and the keys' mushiness makes for an unsatisfying typing experience. I have two but this was after buying a total of 4 and returning the two defective ones.
If Lenovo were to replace the cheap feeling plastic casing for alumninum, it would be a game changer.
I'm hoping the new framework keyboard can become my new daily driver, replacing the trackpoint keyboards I currently use.
If this is not the default in the next decade I'm gonna riot. Hotels could replace the TV with a big computer screen and the corner chair with an office chair. Even a cheap hotel room could be an office without anyone having to bring their own toys with them. Just the phone in your pocket.
Like the rest of the WP ecosystem, never really took off enough.
Full general-purpose computer: Yes
Connects to external keyboard and display: Yes
Fits into pocket: No
Alternative is to hope for keyboard and screen to be present at special places. Which however means that practical portability is very limited. Also it would affect security, personal ergonomics etc.
We have reactive UIs and desktop mode on android. It's getting very close. I am not certain on the previous commentors reasons but I detest the many device game. A 500 dollar pixel 10a is a great computer and I would rather not buy another machine if I dont have to.
My iPhone 15 Pro Max is more capable than a MacBook Neo; it’d be nice if it could be one.
My recommendation is use OpenSSH (alternative: Wireguard, Tailscale for whole TCP/IP stack), tmux (or equivalent, there are alternatives such as zellij and rmux), and a keyboard (wired is more secure, YMMV). Then you have a thin client. Run Docker remotely, on a far more capable device than whatever your smartphone is. With Waydroid or another variant of remote Wayland you could even have the GUI part working.
I was able to do the above 5 years ago on Ubuntu and Arch. I am sure you can still do it nowadays.
One caveat. Don't do this in environments where you cannot auth in privacy. You must be able to trust your hardware, too. Don't bring this setup to e.g. China. You can put a strong password on your SSH private key, rotate it, and combine OTP/MFA.
Which leads me to say: I am puzzled how people can work in environments like coffeeshops, cafes, and I even see laptops used for work in swimming pool where I go weekly. Your screen can be viewed, recorded at all time, and I doubt the users are aware of that. Even passwords can be recorded.
You can still do this today with a Linux phone (e.g.: postmarketOS). Of course, a lot of your typical iOS apps won't run there (e.g.: Signal, Maps, etc), but you can't really run docker container on iOS (yet?).
If you really need all the usual iOS (or Android) apps maybe you just need two phones? Still lighter than a phone and a laptop.
I often think to myself when using my iPhone, there is no way I could get desktop work done with this. Can’t recall right now why I have said so but I think it had to do with keeping multiple apps open side by side.
For example this year I have been car shopping and I keep multiple windows open; this would be much harder on my iPhone. Maybe not so much an iPad.
The hard part is getting Apple to cannibalize their desktop and tablet related sales. Because they’re the only ones with all the tools in the box. Samsung doesn’t have any proper OS of their own to take this role, they bolt it on Android.
The problem is attaching a thunderbolt/network CPU with it's own memory doesn't work as well (although aren't external GPUs similar? external compute+memory).
I used it as a key part of my software engineer's writing toolkit for the first draft of a novel: https://frequal.com/forwriters/
Unfortunately the Plugable keyboard appears to be discontinued. Perhaps it can still be found used. It is quite impressive. It folds small for travel. The keys travel nicely. The case magnetically clicks into a phone stand. The battery lasts a month or longer. Truly a mechanical marvel.
I only wish I'd bought two.
I love my keyboards the same way my wife loves shoes. We can't get enough of them. Clicking on different switches feels like a constant dopamine flow and a lesson in paying attention. If you have no idea what I'm talking about I highly recommend you start trying mechanical switches.
I recommend instead just buying one decent keyboard and using your money on something useful.
It's a Keychron Q10 Max (Alice Layout) - looks like a split keyboard but it's one piece. It's excellent typing, has both wired (USB-C) and wireless (Bluetooth, probably also radio too? I don't use that) connectivity too. I don't normally use the LED lights, but occasionally they are fun...
It's heavy, so not portable like the one the author uses. Had something like that before, the portability was nice, but then didn't use it much. This is not (practically) portable, but still has all the flexibility, and it's a joy typing with it. I wouldn't go as far as I love a piece of euqipment, but I do look forward using it every day.
I do think more about keyboards as I use Mac, Linux, built in laptop keyboards, this stand alone one, etc... And because of the variety it's really hard to build up some muscle-memory. Ctrl, Option, Alt, Fn, ... basically all the extra keys beside the alphabet are slightly different in all systems. So it's more conscious typing than I'd hope for, but not toooooo bad (and it's not the keyboard's problem, I might have to look into remapping stuff, but it's not that level of pain yet).
Happy typing, everyone!
[1] https://www.guru3d.com/story/keychron-launches-z11-ultra-8k-...
My first mechanical keyboard was a das keyboard, which was also quite heavy, and it completely spoiled other keyboards for me.
I've tried quite a few others since in various configurations, but discovered if it doesn't feel like it's got a lead brick in it, I'm not interested.
Its size reminds me of my Psion Series 5 days many years ago. While it doesn't clamshell-mount my phone, my phone sits on the KB nicely, though it's still two things to carry around, not one (I miss the Psion still). I have bought loads of Bluetooth keyboards. Foldable keyboards have more parts to break and have to be unfolded to use them.
Previously I got the TECHGEAR Active Strike Pro MINI Slim (230mm x 149mm x 6mm), not pocket-sized, but it has a touchpad. The Geyes Foldable "tri-foldable" (223mm x 54mm x 18mm closed, 223mm x 170mm x 6mm open) got a broken hinge.
For comparison:
- Pocket keyboard ("Doohoeek", "CACOE", etc): 195 x 85 x 15 mm. Pocket-sized, flap/kickstand; no touchpad.
- TECHGEAR Active Strike Pro MINI Slim: 230 x 149 x 6 mm. Not pocket-sized; has touchpad.
- Geyes tri-foldable: 223 x 54 x 18 mm closed; 223 x 170 x 6 mm open. Foldable; hinge risk.
Both good but nowhere near the termux ecosystem and integration
It's a derivation of an old Kickstarter project: Jorno keyboard
An unexpected bonus is that the setup short-circuits a lot of reflexive app-switching and idle scrolling. With the phone propped up, I have to actually reach for the screen, so my thumbs don’t just wander from typing to home/app drawer gesture.
You even see the phone screen mirrored on the monitor, complete with mouse cursor etc.
The sad thing is it is just literal copy of the phone screen. It does not have a "desktop mode".
For example, on usb-c iphones, I can plug my camera with a c-to-c cable in mass storage mode and it shows up. So I expect a dumb a-to-c adapter would work. On my lightning-based iphone, a c-to-lightning cable doesn't work.
I'd assume it's the same for androids and keyboards.
Sit down, take the keyboard from the slip case, slide off the tripod, attach the phone and I’m good to go. Full QMK/VIA support, so I don’t have to go without my beloved home row mods etc. Blink terminal with Zellij for shared session persistence with my Mac at home. And since the Air v2 supports 4 wireless profiles (1 2.4ghz dongle and 3 BT), it’s the only keyboard I use - at home or otherwise.
On Android it's a simple Alt+Tab to switch between apps; press it to bring up the current apps, then Alt+Tab lets you cycle through them too. In general Android is much more keyboard friendly.
Also ctrl-z for undo! I recommend looking into Unexpected Keyboard for a virtual Qwerty with a control key.
Love-hate relationship with their products.
I have M570 trackball and it's perfect for me and i love it.
Only problem -- the switch on it fails in one year and starts doubleclicking like crazy.
(I am aware of DIY fixes to replace the switch that needs desoldering and soldering)
Accumulated six useless M570 trackballs in past six years. I hate that.
They are waiting for me to find enough time and motivation to attempt the DIY fix. Maybe after I retire in a few decades.
If only they didn't cheap out on the materials and plastic quality.
I use 5-min epoxy and a toothpick to rebuild the nubs when they wear off. Keyboards don't last long if you have calluses
---
[0] I don't remember when I bought it exactly, but I'm sure it was before covid because I remember having it delivered at my old office with a bunch of other mice to test. I moved to a new office in 2020.
Logitech k380? Jesus Christ those round keys are ugly as unemployment.
I also own a little Ugreen USB-C dock (Revodock?!) that also enables connecting regular USB-A Keyboards (even wireless ones) as well as HDMI - so maybe this is more flexible in terms of which keyboard you like and which screen is available.
I had some huawei tablet for reading before, but now the main goal was to be able to ssh/kubectl to remote machines and for quick surfing, chats, etc (my new laptop is heavy).
I was trying to find a case + keyboard with good reviews, no luck then, I didn't think it was possible, I've found out that you can use an apple magic keyboard with it and I had a spare one, so I have a case and a bluetooth magic keyboard.
The keyboard, comparing to anything that is sold for tablets is amazing, laptop experience.
Obviously other platforms have various integrations with messaging as well, but he obviously is referring to people he knows who happen to have Macs.
The "topic of the article" was that a guy realized that a bluetooth keyboard makes it nicer typing things on his phone. Nowhere did he talking about "without having to drag around" anything, and he incidentally mentioned that he didn't bring a computer.
It is utterly bizarre that people get unhinged and mad that he mentioned Macs. But let's be real - for Mac users, integration with messages is free and automatic. For other platforms it simply isn't, and the vast majority of time isn't used at all. If someone is messaging from a computer (on iMessages, SMS, MMS, and now RCS), 99% of the time it's going to be a guy sitting at a Mac just as a lubrication of use.
So the next time some random tosser article doesn't mention your pet love, maybe just move on?
Moreover, no one asked for them to mention our "pet love", or anything at all. Just a clarification of what the Mac reference was about, then a comment that it made no sense whatsoever, because it's available on all devices and, again, isn't even relevant because someone with a full device is necessarily not using a Bluetooth keyboard.
It is usually because people inside the Mac ecosystem just assume that everything else is trash, and anyone not using a Mac is just banging rocks together.
They buy totally into the marketing about it being "the first ever", the "fastest ever", "for the first time" or "most <whatever superlative> ever" etc marketing, and many have not used e.g. and Android phone or e.g. a Chromebook or whatever, in many many years (if at all) and are basing their opinions on half-remembered Windows XP experiences Vs modern iPhone or whatever, assuming the current non-mac experience is still like "the old days" and that macs are somehow bringing something new or innovative that isn't available elsehwere. There is the term "reality distortion field" relating to apple products that I did not invent but I think sums it up.
I am forced to use a Mac for work everyday (alongside gnome Linux, and my personal choice is windows and Chromebook) and really dislike the user experience of Macs in comparison. The recent UX failures and inconsistencies are already well-documented but even before that there are systemic design things that make macs painful to use... especially if you know there are better ways. The hardware is nice though!
Not as bad as people who send voice notes.
What do people generally recommend for travel?
I don’t plan to use it for extensive periods of times, mainly writing some emails/docs/notes in the hotel room.
1. iPad Air with iPad Magic Keyboard. 2. iPad Air with Smart Keyboard Folio. 3. iPad Mini (usually in portrait mode) with Magic Keyboard. (The mac bluetooth keyboard, no numpad. I use an sfbags sleeve for it.)
Another thing I like about it is how wide the slot is. I can fit my iPad and iPhone into it simultaneously. Which is quite convenient at times
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Macally-Multi-Device-Bluetooth-Ke...
I've got one of these, which has the slot above the "F" keys to support your phone and/or tablet at a good viewing angle. For better or worse the 2 lb. keyboard is heavily weighted so it will support the devices in the slot without tipping over.
And you can switch between 3 devices from the keyboard, which can also include a Bluetooth desktop.
Too heavy to carry around so it stays in the office.
There are plenty of lightweight options for much cheaper prices which can be better for travel, which are also just as big as a tablet but at least not nearly as heavy.
Wait until you get a Bluetooth mouse which can put your touchscreen to shame :)
These mice are also much more abundant for cheaper prices now, when they were not that common just a year or two ago.
Also good for your laptop when you want to save USB slots for other things.
Very nice for note taking during meetings or emailing on train trips.
Or my favorite: writing outdoors.
Other pluses: rearrangeable keys (dvorak), runs on AAA batteries.
The legends eventually fail, and the keys take a shine.
I wouldn't recommend either though, for both, the keys are not nice to type on if you don’t press perfectly downward, if you have any angle other than vertical, the keys occasionally bind a little. This is amplified on the 480 with longer key travel. They’re different types of key mechanisms on both but suffer the same problem.
If you have any kind of case, the 480 stand slot can be harder to use.
Logitech k480? Oh my god and it even has round keys!
https://www.reddit.com/r/keyboards/comments/1rvjds0/low_prof...
This one looks great:
https://iqunix.com/products/mq80-aluminum-low-profile-mechan...
Now I only need a tripod to keep my phone at eye height. And a way to run Linux or VNC on my GrapheneOS phone.
Nokia also had a foldable keyboard. Which I've used with Nokia N810 and Nokia E71 (good to compare with their native keyboards with device in hand). I think I brought mine to the bin because the comfort was terrible. The lack of travel and latency, for example (I believe this is better nowadays.) A 60% keyboard can be pretty small, too. With USB2BT+ you can turn any USB device into Bluetooth. Works OK with powerbank (you can DIY that with 18650 batteries).
I wouldn't use a high-end smartphone in China though. I'd bring a burner, and consider any hardware I brought with me compromised.
So perhaps that isn't the place to do digital notes, and just write analog in the most fucked up handwriting you got. If they OCR it, let them have some fun with their models. Of course, that may also mean you cannot apply OCR on ypur notes. But the latest Mistral OCR I tried was very good. As a European, -unfortunately- I'd apply the same rule to USA nowadays though.
Maybe there exists some kind of selfie stick / tripod that allows you to place the phone at eye height?
This is actually a setup I might prefer over using a laptop.
Also, good posture in a chair is nearly impossible to have, let alone maintain. I've started working from the floor and sitting with my feet/legs in a variety of positions - immediate and immense improvement in my posture, overall mobility and reduction in pain.
I mistreat it heavily, like dust, crumbs, drool and so on, and still I'm on only the second one. It weighs little so it's easy to put in the lap and move around to get some ergonomics for the wrists going even though the touchpad part sticks out on the right hand side.
Can I push four keys at the same time and get something out of it? Probably not, but it's not something I feel like I'm missing out on. I push a key, it sends the bytes, the operating system does what I told it to, that's good enough for me. In case I break it I'll be like 'yeah whatever' and order a new one. It's cheap enough that I could have like four for the price of something cool.
It's a pain as most of those keyboard hijack some control keys - so it was all tmux and vim hehe
Also wrote some python live debugger/tracer but then python changed it bytcode again AND made JIT into mainline :(
All at the busy as fuck mall hehe
funny times
I carry a bt keyboard already but it's much less convenient: +1 for someone doing a thought-through compact landscape slider keyboard case for an android phone.
Personally, I think we could make touchscreen typing a lot better if we could move away from QWERTY. QWERTY is relatively better than Dvorak or Colemak on a touchscreen device. But we don't see a lot of innovation on the touchscreen keyboard layouts. One project I'm interested in is the Clearflow Keyboard layout (https://clearflowkeyboard.github.io/) which is already available on Gboard on Android. But there seems to be no way to try this out on iOS right now
[0] https://www.protoarc.com/products/xk01-tp-foldable-keyboard-...