Really tiny keyboard? Or keyboard alternative?

[Martoon]

I'd like to mount a really tiny keyboard in my cab, for things like the occasional PC game that has hiscore input, or when you just need to press one key for configuration purposes, etc.  The pull-out tray with a regular keyboard can be handy for when you need to do some actual typing, but it would be very cool to have something really small (like the size of a Palm thumboard) actual mounted in the panel.  Anyone have any thoughts on this?  Or an alternative for doing keyboard input from the control panel?

[danny_galaga]

have you considered a wireless keyboard?

[Martoon]

have you considered a wireless keyboard?

To me, that's the same concept as the pull-out keyboard drawer.  I'm looking for something that can actually be integrated into the panel.  It could completely worthless for actual ten-finger typing, but would at least allow you to enter characters.

[danny_galaga]

ok, im with you now. the only thing i can think of is a hacked palm top or similar but i dont reckon that would be the answer...

[monkeybomb]

I set my Keywiz up to type letters on the player 2 buttons when I hit shazzam (shift).  Between that and the whats there without shazzam I can do most letters.  

I don't know how many letters you need to type but I found that adding just "o" and "k" made a huge difference in my keyboard needs.

[Sylentwulf]

Well, for only $800, you could have this - Click Here

This is more what you're looking for for 24 UK Pounds Click Here

[crashwg]

I set my Keywiz up to type letters on the player 2 buttons when I hit shazzam (shift).  Between that and the whats there without shazzam I can do most letters.  

I don't know how many letters you need to type but I found that adding just "o" and "k" made a huge difference in my keyboard needs.

Why is it that nobody knows that "left right" on the joystick is the same thing as OK?

[Sylentwulf]

Why is it that nobody knows that "left right" on the joystick is the same thing as OK?

heh, I was gonna say it, but.....

[Knoxximus]

For 219 samollias, you can try this one on for size:

http://www.fingerworks.com/images/structure/mini_on_laptop_lg.jpg

Cool thing about it is, if you push the "hand" button, the whole surface of it becomes a touchpad for all of your mousing around.  I think it's pretty pimp myself.....

[telengard]

I set my Keywiz up to type letters on the player 2 buttons when I hit shazzam (shift).  Between that and the whats there without shazzam I can do most letters.  

I don't know how many letters you need to type but I found that adding just "o" and "k" made a huge difference in my keyboard needs.

Why is it that nobody knows that "left right" on the joystick is the same thing as OK?

It's not advertised I guess.  Most people also don't know that you can script the keypresses so you don't have to do anything, although that may be AdvanceMame only which is what I use.

One thing that confused me about the original post is "to input hi-score stuff".  I can't remember one game where you didn't use the joystick for that.  What games need a keyboard for hi-score input?  Or are we talking hi-score "hacking"?  

I have a little matrix switch thing I keep about the cab which allows for 12 buttons and also have a wireless keyboard for when I need it, which is rare.

[Knoxximus]

Ummm......how do you get MAME to save hi-scores?

[JustMichael]

High Score saving is addressed in the Mame FAQ.

[pointdablame]

They aren't palm sized, but Zippy makes really small keyboards.  They are roughly half the size of standard keyboards, and $20-40 IIRC.  I personally don't see hacking a palm keypad to be worthwhile when you could easily stick one of these smaller keyboards in a coin door, or under the CP, etc.

[Martoon]

One thing that confused me about the original post is "to input hi-score stuff".  I can't remember one game where you didn't use the joystick for that.  What games need a keyboard for hi-score input?  Or are we talking hi-score "hacking"?  

Just to clarify on this, let me quote from my original post - "for things like the occasional PC game that has hiscore input"

While an arcade cab or CP is perfect for MAME, several of my favorite PC games also work really well, except that some of them require occasional keyboard use.

[Martoon]

Well, for only $800, you could have this - Click Here

This is more what you're looking for for 24 UK Pounds Click Here

First of all, I wanted to say regarding that first link, Holy Freakin' Cow!  I mean, it's a cute little USB keyboard and I'm sure it does it's job, but who would pay $775 for it?  For that kind of money, it damn well better read my mind and type for me.  

As far as the iPaq thing, I initially thought of a PocketPC or Palm thumbboard, but I wouldn't know how to interface it to the PC.  However, since you mentioned it, I just realized that I have an old Cybiko with a cracked LCD screen.  Since the Cybiko connects to the PC via serial, I could write a simple little app for the Cybiko to send keypresses to its serial port.  I'm a little less sure of how to write a "keyboard driver" for Windows that would use this data.

[Martoon]

For 219 samollias, you can try this one on for size:

http://www.fingerworks.com/images/structure/mini_on_laptop_lg.jpg

Cool thing about it is, if you push the "hand" button, the whole surface of it becomes a touchpad for all of your mousing around.  I think it's pretty pimp myself.....

That is very cool.    For some reason, I'm a real sucker for gimmicky input devices.  $219 is a little steep for my purposes, and it's still a little big for a CP (but it does look cool).

[Bgnome]

this is a controller i have that has a mini thumboard built into it.  the keyboard part has a normal usb connection.  you may consider looking into it if you are willing to hack it..

[crashwg]

Link doesn't work for me.

[RayB]

Speaking of keyboards... what do you do if you have a PS/2 IPAC hooked up, and you want to use a keyboard? Do you have to unplug/plug each device or can both co-exist somehow?

[JustMichael]

Serial I-PAC???  I thought only the Opti-PAC hooked up to the serial ports.  If you meant the PS/2 port, the I-PAC has a passthru connector that you hook your ps/2 keyboard to so it can work also.

[Chris]

Well, for only $800, you could have this - Click Here

This is more what you're looking for for 24 UK Pounds Click Here

First of all, I wanted to say regarding that first link, Holy Freakin' Cow!  I mean, it's a cute little USB keyboard and I'm sure it does it's job, but who would pay $775 for it?  For that kind of money, it damn well better read my mind and type for me.  

The one I have is at http://www.directron.com/psk3100u.html, and it's about the same size as that $800 monster.

[ashardin]

RayB

The IPAC has ps/2 plug for your keyboard to plug into, then the IPAC plugs into the computer.  So both devices can work at the same time.  No need to cable swap.

[Martoon]

this is a controller i have that has a mini thumboard built into it.  the keyboard part has a normal usb connection.  you may consider looking into it if you are willing to hack it..

So far, I like this option the best.  That keypad is just the size I'm looking for, and the price is good ($20).  Judging from pictures like this one, it appears that the keypad is raised up and probably on a seperate pcb, so could be cut away from the rest of the controller.

The fact that it plugs into USB suggests it could be hacked through software.  Actually, what happens when you plug a Playstation2 keyboard into a PC?  Does it recognize it as a PC keyboard?  (fingers crossed   )  If so, it's pretty much done.  If not, I'll need to look into hacking a driver.  I do Windows game programming for a living, but I've never written a driver.

[Bgnome]

kbs for the ps2 are standard USB kbs. you wont need a driver.

[Martoon]

kbs for the ps2 are standard USB kbs. you wont need a driver.

Really?  That's sweet!  So if you plug the USB plug on that funky controller you have into a PC, Windows just recognizes it as a keyboard?  I definitely need to get one of those.

[SirPoonga]

I don't know if it was said already, didn;t read the whole post.  But you could get one of those flexable rubber plastic keyboards that are also water resistant

[Martoon]

One more question:  Can you enter upper and lower case?  I see it has a Cap key and a Fn key, and I'm guessing the Cap key swithes to the digits and punctuation, and the Fn key switches to, well, the function keys.  So does it always just enter text in upper case?

[SirPoonga]

This was on /.
http://alphagrip.com/features.html

[Bgnome]

i havent gotten a chance to really use it yet, but it is a fully functional kb.  it can type in caps or not and i believe it has the f butttons too.  it takes a little while to get used to.  if i have time and you need more info, i can get the manual and look at the pcb and such..

[Martoon]

i havent gotten a chance to really use it yet, but it is a fully functional kb.  it can type in caps or not and i believe it has the f butttons too.  it takes a little while to get used to.  if i have time and you need more info, i can get the manual and look at the pcb and such..

Nah, I don't want you to go to any extra bother.  I just couldn't see from the picture how you'd be able to type lowercase, uppercase, numbers/symbols, and function keys with just a Cap modifier and Fn modifier.  But if you say you can, that's all I need to know.  Thanks.

[Martoon]

This was on /.
http://alphagrip.com/features.html

Well, not exactly what I'd put on a CP, but definitely one of those bizarre, interesting input devices.  And you go and tell me about this after I say that I'm a sucker for gimmicky input devices.  Damn you, SirPoonga!    I bet you offer a lot of drinks to alcoholics, don't you?

This thing looks like it would take some serious getting used to.  It's like someone took a keyboard and crumpled it into a wad.  According to their website, "It may require 30-60 hours of use to achieve typing speeds of 30-60 words per minute."  That sounds pretty bad, but just think, after 500 hours of use, I'd really impress people with my 500 words per minute.  

[Tiger-Heli]

I set my Keywiz up to type letters on the player 2 buttons when I hit shazzam (shift).  Between that and the whats there without shazzam I can do most letters.  

I don't know how many letters you need to type but I found that adding just "o" and "k" made a huge difference in my keyboard needs.

Why is it that nobody knows that "left right" on the joystick is the same thing as OK?

It's not advertised I guess.  Most people also don't know that you can script the keypresses so you don't have to do anything, although that may be AdvanceMame only which is what I use.

Yep, and it's not that simple., but let's advertise it some:

The scripting thing is AdvanceMAME only.

Left-then-Right actually UI Left then UI right will work for the first screen that comes up.  But you could bypass this altogether by creating a mame.ini (run mame -cc) and selecting:

skip_disclaimer         1

And if you don't want the sizing screen:

skip_gameinfo           1

This won't get you past the "Screen flipping in cocktail mode is not supported, Press OK to continue"

But either the hack on SirPoonga's page or NoNAME mame give you

skip_warnings           1
and
skip_bad_dumps       1

which covers all the nag screens.

[whammoed]

The one I have is at http://www.directron.com/psk3100u.html, and it's about the same size as that $800 monster.

Thanks for the tip!

[whammoed]

I actually like this better than using a wireless because it fits inside my cab:

[Chris]

I was thinking about using mine to build a dedicated You Don't Know Jack panel.

--Chris