Review: New Blank Keyboard for Geeks Only

Associated Press ^ | 8-11-05 | MATT SLAGLE

[endthematrix]

Can of spray paint = $0.88

[birbear]

Two years ago, he built a prototype to test his hypothesis that a blank keyboard would force him to become a better typist. After many people asked him where he bought it, he decided to start making them commercially.

A "prototype"? Uhm... huh?

As a true touch typist, I don't look at the keyboard when I type, anyway. I'm clocked in around 70wpm on standardized typing tests.

[nopardons]

Big deal...when I was on WebTV, all of the letters rubbed off three yep, THREE keyboards and I just kept right in typing to FR. Okay,okay, so some of my posts looked weird, but we didn't have spell check back then. :-)

[Swordmaker]

Not Daniel Guermeur, chief executive of Austin-based Metadot Corp. The self-proclaimed "uber geek" says he first came up with the idea for a blank keyboard while attending Stanford University in 1989. It was there that the French native noticed others typing much faster than he was.

No way! Not by a long shot.

When I took typing in Junior High School, circa 1963, the typing class had a row of blank keyboard IBM typewriters just exactly for that very purpose... to break students of the look-punch syndrome. Worked, too. My recollection is that they were fairly common in typing classes.

[scott says]

...I don't need NO stinkin' inscriptions...

[digger48]

Iakp aikagp akpf flj9t....ai bigbhin agh0w ho9 strih

[kingattax]

[BykrBayb]

I've worn the letters off some of my keys. Do I hear $50.00? Just $50.00 to open the bidding!

[politicalwit]

"a keyboard with spring-loaded, clicking keys considered by some to be the greatest keyboard ever built."

mmmmmm, clicking!!!

[kingattax]

lol..that keyboard works great

[scott says]

oh man...i'm getting silly, time for bed...early am stuff to deal with...PEACE-OUT! : )

[kingattax]

lol...take care :)

[Ms Jeezlooweez]

LOL

pretty creative, fellers :)

[ThePythonicCow]

the fabled IBM Model M

Still the best. Just having the shape of a Model M doesn't make it a real M. You need the buckling springs. Nothing else comes close.

You can still find these classic keyboards, at http://www.clickykeyboard.com/ (for used keyboards made 10 or 20 years ago) or http://www.pckeyboard.com/ (Company name is Unicomp, for new keyboards manufactured to similar specifications.

[ThePythonicCow]

One more problem with this keyboard, besides using membrane (rubber dome) key action, not springs, it also has a Windows key.

For serious gamers, the Windows key is death. Accidentally hit it, and your screen character will likely die as you fight off the Windows Menu that pops up and interferes with your gaming.

[The Red Zone]

"If you look at a piano, it doesn't have notes on the keys, it's blank," he says

There used to be toy chord organs sold with the keys numbered in ascending order, and music produced for same. That actually worked pretty well; with time people got used to the layout and didn't need to look up the numbers any more.