The author should check out the AlphaSmart line of devices made into the early 2000s, especially the early pre-PalmOS devices! I was kind of surprised not to see any on the list.
My Neo2 is basically a very simple buffer you can type into and dump into a computer later. It transmits to computer by emulating a USB keyboard and dumping the contents keystroke by keystroke into whatever program you happen to have running.
In addition though it has a very simple typing tutor. There's not much to it, it's no true Mavis Beacon alternative but it's a fun little addition to such a simple device.
I actually work with a number of former AlphaSmart employees, which is funny because I bought my Neo2 as a writing aid before I knew any of this. I was telling a coworker about it and he replies "You know I worked on that, right?" No, I did not. Small world.
And a fun easter egg if you type 1 + 1 in the calculator.
While it seems like OLPC didn't really achieve the full vision of the project, I have some anecdata of success - my coworker got an OLPC when young (otherwise without access to computers), learned to code on it, and is now an awesome programmer.
At the end is the OLPC, whose keyboard was as bad as as it looks. Like typing on a Silpat. Yet I used the hell out of it, would take it hiking even - it was indestructible. Mine's logo was green and purple and I miss it every day
And I always wanted an Avid keyboard just because it looks cool (the Extended Keyboard II version, though), but they were always rare and/or expensive.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/triplehaata/collections/721576...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergonomic_keyboard#/media/File...
I love my keychron, but last I checked I could not use it to point at virtual squash balls on my TV.
Which is to say, if the only comment you can come up with about the PowerGlove is "This keypad... is so bad," then you seriously missed the point.
[ And while I'm here and b*ching about things... how does the Olivetti Praxis 48 use the same palette as the NeXT ADB Keyboard? ]
[ And I can't stop... Yes, the Canon Cat keyboard is awesome. But it's somewhat weird to use as you don't have arrow keys, just creep/leap forward/backwards. It takes a little getting used to and the keys themselves don't have the best feel. I've been thinking about replacing the key mechanisms with something modern. ]
What about the kinesis mWave? Are there significant differences?
Absolutely beautiful books. Great photography, they even worked up their own typefaces and do fun typographic things all over the place. Well written and deeply _deeply_ researched.
I have very few complaints, maybe the section on chorders is a little thinner than I'd like, but that's a pet interest of mine and I've chased down a bunch of material so my perspective is weird.
From the kickstarter updates, the original run were an ordeal to make, but I really do hope there is enough interest for a second printing at some point.
Me too. But it cost half as much as my ZX Spectrum Next...
It was extremely limited (and needless to say my parents thankfully realized I needed something a bit more powerful so I then got an Atari 600 XL) but that's how it all started for me!
I don't know if there's anyone else on HN who actually used that Atari 2600 BASIC cartridge+keyboard as a kid?
P.S: I can't compete with such a collection... My rarest keyboard is a Cherry MX-5000 (it's a split keyboard) and second rarest is a venerable IBM Model M, but in "industrial" livery (olive grey instead of beige).