The Return of the Butterfly Keyboard

How awesome would that be?

The butterfly keyboard is widely considered a designing masterpiece. How awesome would it be if Lenovo somehow incorporated this into one of their future products?

 

it's been discussed.   the biggest limitations are in display size (4:3 works best with the design), a potentially low market interest, and consumers likely not wanting to pay high-dollar for a novelty.

my first thinkpad was a 701c in '95.   while it scored high in the shock-and-awe factor with friends, it was both thick and heavy by modern standards.   to get the butterfly keyboard right, a modern system would be somewhat thick and relatively heavy to provide a good typing experience.   plus they had no palmrest.   typing comfortably was somewhat of a challenge.

i can't say whether it would or wouldn't happen but there are a lot of factors going against it.

 

it was a design innovation at the time, but that time is long past.

no point in bringing it back now...it's impractical and unnecessary; today's form factors already either incorporate a full-sized keyboard or a decently scaled down, smaller size.

 

I would be down with a slightly angled pop-up keyboard though. On my lap I can adjust the angle on the screen or the base or whatever. On a desk, it's a bit uncomfortable typing completely flat, and I don't have the space or desire to keep a second full sized usb keyboard around to plug in. If just the keyboard backplate could pop up to like a 10 or 15 degree angle that would be cool. But then again, more moving parts = more chances for it to break. keep it simple.

 

the ThinkPad 760/765 series had pop-up keyboards and the concept never caught on.   it was another design that added weight, complexity, and cost.   it was easier and more reliable to prop up the entire system (770 series) than the keyboard itself.

i had a 760XD back in the day and recall the keyboard being rather solid but not as good as my 600 or 770Z.   given how much people complain on forums about stationary keyboards, i don't see moving ones being a big hit.