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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: DrumAnBass on September 23, 2008, 09:12:33 pm

Title: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: DrumAnBass on September 23, 2008, 09:12:33 pm
I think this might be the perfect keyboard for a mame cabinet; should stash nicely in a coin door etc.

A bit pricey at $25 compared to those roll-up chicklet keyboards, but if you need small it seems like a really cool option.

(http://promomotion.com/webimages/tinykeyboard.jpg)

Link:
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00666

Seems like it would be a great product for GGG or Ultimarc to stock...!
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: Bender on September 23, 2008, 09:32:06 pm
I was just looking at that!

Is it me or are that guy's fingers like a mile long?
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: northerngames on September 23, 2008, 10:10:25 pm
yeah they are lol at least the pic makes it look that way but it equals right around 6.7 inch's long so he's not deformed after all  :applaud:

too bad it was not a wireless setup
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: Ginsu Victim on September 23, 2008, 10:19:53 pm
Lacking many important keys.
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: Blanka on September 24, 2008, 01:17:07 am
I think Apple's BT keyboard is a nice option as well. It means no cables also!
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: TOK on September 24, 2008, 06:00:13 am
Lacking many important keys.

It appears to have a Funciton Key next the Ctrl like a laptop keyboard that controls Tab and stuff.
I have a full sized keyboard inside the coin door of one of my machines. Seldom gets used, but I have to turn it sideways and finagle it when I need it. This looks pretty neat.
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: Ginsu Victim on September 24, 2008, 08:35:21 am
Lacking many important keys.

It appears to have a Funciton Key next the Ctrl like a laptop keyboard that controls Tab and stuff.
I have a full sized keyboard inside the coin door of one of my machines. Seldom gets used, but I have to turn it sideways and finagle it when I need it. This looks pretty neat.

I was looking for the tab as a function, but didn't spot it. As long as everything that's needed is there, I'd be interested in one if someone closer carried it.
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: cmoses on September 24, 2008, 09:02:08 am
It looks like the TAB key is accessed when you hit the Fn key and the SPACE BAR.  It doesn't say TAB, but has the same arrows that my TAB key has.
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: protokatie on September 24, 2008, 06:34:28 pm
It looks like the TAB key is accessed when you hit the Fn key and the SPACE BAR.  It doesn't say TAB, but has the same arrows that my TAB key has.

seconded.

It does appear to be missing break and system request tho. (Break is important if you use DOS apps, I have NEVER use system request tho....)
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: Thenasty on September 25, 2008, 08:24:45 am

too bad it was not a wireless setup



Then what you need is this

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=us,en


I got one of this but not for my CAB  ;D
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: u_rebelscum on September 26, 2008, 01:12:27 pm
Then what you need is this

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=us,en

What's with the clam shell?  Looks okay if it didn't have the top.
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: DrumAnBass on September 26, 2008, 01:19:27 pm
$150 is a bit steep too...! Cool for a hardcore HTPC setup but a bit of an overkill for a cab. Well if they get down to $25, I'll take one!
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: ahofle on September 26, 2008, 05:42:00 pm
Here's another minimal, yet inexpensive option:

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/games/pid/6997082/a/PS2+Mini-key+Keyboard.htm
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: deepblue on September 26, 2008, 06:49:22 pm
Here's another minimal, yet inexpensive option:

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/games/pid/6997082/a/PS2+Mini-key+Keyboard.htm


That's for the Playstation 2.
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: ahofle on September 27, 2008, 12:09:33 am
It's actually USB and works without drivers on a PC too (I have a couple).
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: crzywolf on September 27, 2008, 07:11:40 pm
Sorry to hijack this thread but , has anyone been able to get the chatpad for the XBox 360 to work on the PC?
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: um3k on September 27, 2008, 07:52:15 pm
This thread inspired me to see what I could find for my cab.   Since I have a USB hub up in the CP, wireless wasn't mandatory, but I did want to have all of the required keys in a semi-normal layout.   I didn't want to spend a lot, and I wanted it to be damn small.  Trawling the depths of Ebay, I found this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=200256295992 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=200256295992)

(http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/coolacc/E0196-s1.jpg)

Footprint looks to be 8.5" x 4" x ~0.6" and the price is right at $17 shipped.  (from HK, ~15 days shipping on the back of a snail).  Looks like all of the normal keys are covered, and it even handles numpad (shifted, as a laptop would), Windows key, and 9 soft keys.   USB or PS/2 with supplied adapter,  I'm going to give it a try. :)
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: mark shaker on October 08, 2008, 08:28:48 pm

I ordered the mini-keyboard at the top of this thread, and I received it today.

It works as advertised.

I measured it at 6 5/8" X 2 7/8".  (Not counting the USB cable.)

It has a couple sticky rubber strips on the bottom that keep it from sliding around.

The bottom is also contoured, making it easy to hold in both hands for thumb typing.

It's too small for my adult male hands to type, but to occasionally adjust settings it's fine.

I do find it very difficult to read the blue markings that give each key's value when the "Fn" key is pressed.

   - Mark
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: protokatie on October 09, 2008, 09:47:30 am
To hyjack the thread: Does the SYSRQ key do anything? Has it EVER done anything?
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: ratzz on October 09, 2008, 12:17:46 pm
To hyjack the thread: Does the SYSRQ key do anything? Has it EVER done anything?

Here ya go ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_request
Title: Re: Mini USB keyboard with retractable cable
Post by: richms on October 13, 2008, 07:26:00 am
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15953
(http://www.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_15953_1.jpg)
$21 inc airmail

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11933
(http://www.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_11933_1.jpg)
$16.44 inc airmail

I have one of the first one in my wishlist since I saw it appear on the new items feed.

There are a couple of wireless ones at DX too, but they dont meet the "its dirt cheap" criteria.