The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Laptop keyboard protocol?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by David Abrahams, Nov 28, 2004.

  1. David Abrahams

    David Abrahams Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi,

    I've been searching for years for an external keyboard that feels as good as the ones on my Dell Inspirons. [Before you say this post is off-topic, read on...] There are any number of "laptop-style" external keyboards on the market, but they all seem to use the plastic scissor switches with the little rubber nipple spring underneath, rather than the smooth spring steel mechanism that the Dells have. Yes, as my wife says I'm a fussy virgo, but I type a lot and it really matters to me (this is one reason I can't use a Mac laptop [ :(] -- they use the rubber springs).

    So now I'm thinking of trying to buy a Dell replacement keyboard and build the neccessary electronics around that, but I can't find any documentation on the signals/protocol they use. It would be ideal if there were a uniform standard -- in that case I could just buy one of the external keyboards built around the other mechanism and throw in a Dell replacement keyboard. But as I said, I need information. Can anyone help?

    Thanks in advance!

    Dave Abrahams
    Boost Consulting
    http://www.boost-consulting.com
     
    David Abrahams, Nov 28, 2004
    #1