Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

OrbiTouch Keyless Keyboard Review

Posted by michael on from the forsaking-qwerty dept.

robyn217 writes "When I last looked at strange, new keyboards (here's the previous thread here on slashdot), I thought I'd seen it all... not even close! I just reviewed a new keyless keyboard, called the OrbiTouch, and gave it a run for its money. It's literally made up of two humps--it reminds me of holding onto my knees rather a keyboard. To type or mouse, you need to move the humps around in a synchronized manner. It's twisted--but it's better for you to decide for yourself--here's the article, OrbiTouch Review: A Keyless Keyboard with lots of pictures. Think you'll give it a test drive? Will it survive the year?"

6 of 347 comments (clear)

  1. price by Wakkow · · Score: 4, Insightful

    According to the last page of the review, it costs $695. Interesting concept but .... need I say more?

    1. Re:price by Fancy78 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Because some of us have RSI and simply can not type with out pain. It would be a bargain if it would let me continue my career.

  2. Make it a single ball for 1 hand by purduephotog · · Score: 4, Insightful

    and you've got it made. Sorta like what divers have to use. my biggest complaint about keyboards is their limited motion.... I can relearn to type (tho it would be rather hard, I admit)... just give me a keyboard I can use with 1 hand and rest it wherever I need to (no jokes about a keyboard in your lap, etc ;P)

    Besides, that many keystrokes combined with a good mouse might make sims such as Americas Army quite a bit more interesting ;-)

  3. ugh. by Quasar1999 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is one of the few peices of computer technology that needs to have a better upgrade path... I mean, I get a new video card every year or two... and a complete new system at least once every 4 years... the damn keyboard hasn't changed much in at least the last 10... The MS Natural keyboard was the last 'major' update to the keyboard design, and it wasn't much more than simply splitting it in two... Barely qualifing as an evolution on the design

    When are we going to have some real changes? I want something that allows me to enter data as fast as I can think... Why can't we come up with a better general input device??? Keyboards SUCK!

    --

    ---
    Programming is like sex... Make one mistake and support it the rest of your life.
    1. Re:ugh. by vadim_t · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Well, I think that this means that the keyboard practically reached perfection.

      CPUs can be improved a lot, but the keyboard has been doing its job just fine for a long time. If we're still using the same design as 10 years ago then it means that simply no improvement is needed.

      Other fancy replacements didn't gain any noticeable market share. Voice recognition is still far from perfect and is noticeably slower. I suppose a direct interface to the computer might finally replace the keyboard, but I doubt that will become available any time soon.

  4. WPM? by Tony.Tang · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I didn't read the review too carefully, but I don't think a fundamental question was addressed. In my opinion, the thing that will make or break this product for me is the answer to the following question:

    How fast can you type with this thing?!

    The reviewer should consider using the thing for a month (exclusively), and tell us whether he learned how to do use it in the end. Furthermore, he should tell us what his WPM is with a regular keyboard, and what his WPM is with this thing is (in a month's time).

    The assumption with giving him a month's time is that the novelty (for me) would last about a month. If most people wouldn't be up to keyboard speed in a month, I can't imagine many people sticking to it.