[Arm-netbook] Future case idea: subnotebook/PDA with QWERTY keyboard

[Sam Pablo Kuper]

On 04/09/16 17:50, Joseph Honold wrote:
> My idea is to use snap domes attached to a sticker and placed directly on the pcb which has exposed copper pads for contacts (keyboard matrix). The sticker could be laser (or hand) cut to any shape and snap domes hand placed (for prototype). The snap dome method is how most phones (and Zipit Z2, see my post https://mozzwald.com/articles/zipit-soft-keypad-mod) do it these days. The snap domes are available and I actually got a sample kit from Snaptron (http://www.snaptron.com). There are some far east manufacturers of snap domes also.

I've seen pictures of these, but I don't think I've used them more than
once or twice. I wasn't crazy about them, but they sure do seem like
they would make manufacture easier. How does their reliability compare
to other mechanisms?

> Before I found out about EOMA68 I was intending to make a raspi handheld using this keypad layout https://mozzwald.com/public/images/misc/keypad.png
> 
> Are there any preferred keypad layouts? 

That looks nice apart from the Esc key location. But I'm not sure where
I would move the Esc key to within that layout: I'd have to experiment
with it in my hands. Anyhow, users could re-map keys to suit their
tastes, so that kind of detail may be moot :)