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Comment Threads

• Charlie Stross commented on More Flame Bait
  Keyboard-wise: I have an IBM M-series somewhere, gathering dust. I switched away from it to a Mathias Tactile Pro, which also uses buckling-spring microswitches but is USB enabled, designed to work with Macs, and doesn't weigh half a ton. That keyboard is broken, dammit, so I'm on the flattie that came with the iMac (which-is-now-destined-for-my-mother), and finding it surprisingly good. Because somehow in the past 20 years I've learned to touch-type without hammering the keys, and it's got more feedback than you might expect for a 1.6mm key travel. I'm considering buying a new Tactile Pro once they're shipping outside...
• mhellwig commented on More Flame Bait
  (and also to Charlie @102) the "new" keyboard I mentioned earlier that is coming out this year and also makes my inner geek go "squeee" is this one: http://www.guru-board.com/ also, re the DasKeyboard: I understand (too much time-distance between using the two) that the action itself is lighter than on a buckling spring type Model M, because it doesn't have a spring, it has the Cherry Microswitches. It doesn't feel like I need any force at all to press the keys. But there is still some tactile feedback. IMO, that's pretty perfect. Of course, my colleagues in the same office...
• mhellwig commented on More Flame Bait
  I tried to order from the pckeyboards people before getting the DasKeyboard, but a) emails were not answered b) they are a US-only operation, as it seems, which means customs/taxes for me to get it to Germany c) I read in a few comparative tests that the EnduraPro (the pckeyboard thingy which would have the advantage of sporting a TrackPoint) is mechanically less sturdy than the DasKeyboard. I like mechanical sturdiness....
• Charlie Stross commented on More Flame Bait
  Leo, the whole point of a Mac is about not having to do that. If you enjoy building your own PC, then great: been there, done that myself. But if your focus is on Getting Stuff Done Efficiently, rather than on first building the tools with which to get the stuff done, building your own PC is a drag....
• Charlie Stross commented on More Flame Bait
  Peter da Silva: some of your complaints have been fixed in the more recent unibody Macbook Pros. Annoying magnetic/mechanical latch? Gone. Annoyance over only one button on your trackpad? Gone: we now have zero button multitouch trackpads that are, IMO, a great improvement -- more area for gestures, and the ability to do complex swipes as a replacement for th clicky thing. (Add a $35 stylus and software and it even works as a Wacom-lite digitizer.) I'll grant you they need a docking station, and they're at the opposite end of the spectrum from the modularity you crave. I disagree...