I don’t get those split keyboards, my hands go straight out in front of me when I type, are they for mutants with strange wrists or arms?

Posted at 6:32 pm on Jul 7th, 2009 by David Mudkips

So your elbows sit in front of your chest, about 15cm apart. Are you sitting really far from the keyboard?

My elbows are right at either side of my body, then the arms angle inwards toward the keyboard.

Although I guess if you have a really short shoulder span its not as big a deal. I find a mild split a lot more comfortable (MS ergo 4000 ftw).

Posted at 7:06 pm on Jul 7th, 2009 by jproach

There is something to be said for engineering a solution for yourself but in this case, you can drop $20 on a ADB to USB adapter from Griffin. http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imate

Then spend time on a “useful” project.

Posted at 7:18 pm on Jul 7th, 2009 by Peter

When you sit at a table, in a relaxed state, your hands are usually in line with your forearms. My keyboard at work is a heavy, split, “ergonomic” keyboard. It even has the “AT” style connector on it. It’s about 12 years old and still works great. Needs a bath, though.
One quirk is that I can’t get it to work with USB so this hack may come in useful sometime.

Posted at 7:27 pm on Jul 7th, 2009 by Josh

Peter, those adapters are hard to find as most places have discontinued them. Even so, dropping $20 on something when you can repurpose what you have to do the job for pretty just a bit of elbow grease and know-how is nonsense.

Posted at 7:36 pm on Jul 7th, 2009 by Josh

Not to mention (@ Peter), that every solution you can work yourself allows for a learning experience.

I remember back when I put Microsoft Sidewinder guts in my digital Playstation pad, and learned of button matrices and “anti-ghost” diodes.

(Why can’t Microsoft get ergonomics right? I think they are very close with the X360 controls, but they are still too big and bulky.)

Posted at 11:29 pm on Jul 7th, 2009 by nubie

Josh, a bit of elbow grease? Quote from the article, “few months of hard work to figure out, modify, solder and construct this bad boy” vs several ADB to USB adapters available on ebay for $20 or less.

Don’t get me wrong, like I said before, there is something to be said for designing and making something but I think that you have to pick your projects carefully. Imagine what he else he could have done with a “few months of hard work.”

Posted at 11:31 pm on Jul 7th, 2009 by Peter

this is sweet and i understand how nice it is to have the perfect keyboard, but i feel like the wooden keyboard took less effort than this. was it really worth all the time and effort?

Posted at 4:42 am on Jul 8th, 2009 by McSquid

I think you guys are missing the point a little bit.

The project is not only a adb to usb converter but it also maps the keys to work with windows and not os x (btw, this keyboard is not fully supported in the recent version of os x). and you cant buy that for 20 bucks.

(actually my adb to usb converter was more than 20 dls, since they have been discontinued people are charging whatever they very well please for them.)

Posted at 8:04 am on Jul 8th, 2009 by fsamurai

Ok, ok… I think I get it now! The internet is full of naysayers, who just are never happy with anything, right? If a hack is posted, you say it sucks and is a waste of the creators time. If you deem something is not a jack, you say it sucks and is waste of your time.

I totally misjudged this internet thing.

Posted at 8:15 am on Jul 8th, 2009 by unsupported

unsupported, your comment isn’t a hack, sucks, and is a waste of time.

You should be ashamed.

Posted at 9:13 am on Jul 8th, 2009 by RobotGuy

fsamurai – actually, that keyboard is pretty much fully supported under the latest version of OSX, as long as you use an iMate and the new iMate driver you can find here : http://code.google.com/p/imate-osx/

Might require a recompile of AppleADBKeyboard.kext under Snow Leopard, I dunno.

Posted at 10:56 am on Jul 8th, 2009 by Mr Poo

@RobotGuy -

Posted at 11:50 am on Jul 8th, 2009 by unsupported

@RobotGuy – *hanging my head in shame*

Posted at 11:51 am on Jul 8th, 2009 by unsupported

Äàâàéòå íåìíîãî îòäîõíåì îò ñêó÷íûõ ðàçãîâîðîâ è ïîñìîòðèì íåìíîãî âèäåî:

íåìíîãî ðàçâëå÷åíèÿ

Posted at 1:01 pm on Jul 8th, 2009 by I_rus_man

Firstly, to Peter, and anyone else who questioned the validity of time spent on this project, you have no clue what else WAS accomplished during those couple of months. Did you even check out his website? It’s called multitasking. Also, “useful” is a matter of opinion. If he’s happy with it, and it does e-x-a-c-t-l-y what HE wants, it’s useful.

Unsupported, I agree. The internet is overflowign with people who are always more than willing to let you know how stupid or useless your hard work is, but never seem to have any exploits of their own to contribute. If it’s a matter of what’s “easier”, wouldn’t it be easier to NOT post a message that has nothing to do with the actual significance of the project?

Posted at 1:13 pm on Jul 8th, 2009 by daemonyk

ñîîáùåíèå óäàëåíî

Posted at 5:05 am on Jul 9th, 2009 by Mimohodom13

I Used one of those on my PC and Mac a couple of years ago.. Just plug in a ADB to USB converter ( like the iMate ) and you are go.

The keyboard is really nice, and looks good too, especially with the numeric part attached.

Posted at 6:44 am on Jul 10th, 2009 by retepvosnul