Time for speculations: First dummy board video

[thatgui]

Ed posted this

https://www.youtube.com/embed/DaGORZQB4kE?feature=oembed
in the "old nub new nub thread"

but I think this deserves a little bit mote attention (and maybe forum rage ):

The first public pictures of a (already 2 months old and probably not fully working) dummy board to test some things.

Lets confirm:

• 4 Shoulder buttons (horizontally alligned ?)
• "only" 4 action buttons
• Number keys probably moved down to the other keys
• 46 (below) + 6 (above) instead of 43 keys
• ext port ? (plug with the white tape over it)
• USB OTG port
• exciting times ahead

Edit: list expandedEdit: removed the word "prototype" as per Eds explaination

 

[EssoAir]

Thanks for the tip! I haven't been reading that thread so I would have missed this otherwise

 

[EvilDragon]

That's far from being a prototype board. It's a dummy with only the nubs and some other parts attached

 

[commander-beef]

Quick, quick.. ED.. what size of internal memory will be included in P2 [proposition]  

 

[thatgui]

some other parts attached

Thanks for the correction - which other parts btw. ?

 

[EvilDragon]

Quick, quick.. ED.. what size of internal memory will be included in P2 [proposition]

Not yet known.

some other parts attached

Thanks for the correction - which other parts btw. ?

Keyboard and LED controller (as well as LEDs) and some buttons.


No CPU, RAM, etc. A simple dummy, nothing more.

 

[WizardStan]

But it IS a dummy PCB of the potential P2, yeah? Like, that is the placement of keys you want to go with, including 4 action buttons on the right and 4 horizonal shoulder buttons? And the microphone stays?

edit: understanding that prototyping may change things, of course.

 

[Neelix]

Perhaps I'm mistaken but It looks like a recycled ICP2 PCB to me.

- Neelix

 

[WizardStan]

That would make more sense, yes. Wouldn't expect the P2 to be that far along without ED spilling at least a few beans

 

[EvilDragon]

Nope, the iCP2 PCB is a lot smaller...

 

[_wb_]

Also the iCP2 had a different keyboard layout - at least if they didn't change it.

So what's the reasoning behind this keyboard layout? Number keys closer to the letter keys - makes sense. A few extra keys in the bottom part - makes sense (allows dedicated tab key for instance). What would the purpose of the 6 top keys be? It's not enough to make dedicated F<x>-keys (unless you number them F1-F6 with F7-F12 as Fn keys). Maybe dedicated "media" keys or something like that?

 

[EvilDragon]

The top keys are planned to be stuff like Wifi on/off, Power, etc.

Everything that doesn't need to be pushed regularly.

 

[_wb_]

Sounds good - but do we really need dedicated keys for that? Maybe it suffices to have Fn+something shortcuts for such things.

What about giving each of those 6 keys a distinct color (e.g. red yellow green blue purple black) and/or symbol (e.g. square triangle plus min cross circle) and use them as general extra keys that can be programmed to do whatever you want? You can of course always change the behavior of keys, but it's a bit awkward if you have to use a key labeled with, say, "toggle bluetooth", to do something completely unrelated like, say, "launch new terminal window". With generic symbols and/or colors, you don't get that problem. Also it might give a nice recognizable look to the keyboard.

 

[sebt3]

^^ +1

 

[kuru]

red yellow green blue purple

*shudders* no clown face buttons please 

extra keys that can be programmed to do whatever you want

sounds great

 

[fusion_power]

Please make sure thet the Nub Company doesn't get bancrupt before you have your new nubs this time.

The nubs are looking promising. Seems like the acceleration feels alot better than the old ones (that had imho a weird feeling/feedback sometimes) They felt like they started fast and ended slow but it should be quiet the opposite imho.

 

[EssoAir]

Also, can we make is so the nubs dont spin in circles endlessly? I would much prefer they be fixed in place

 

[WizardStan]

Also, can we keep the way the nubs spin in circles endlessly? I prefer how fluid it is moving the nub without them being fixed in place.

 

[Askarus]

Also, can we keep the way the nubs spin in circles endlessly? I prefer how fluid it is moving the nub without them being fixed in place.

I like it also as it's now.

But I think it'll be without the spinning AFAIK.

 

[comradekingu]

Are the nubs compatible with thinkpad trackpad covers? The little red things.