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nomaded · Enthusiast Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 113

Actually, I just use Quicksilver to do all of that when I'm on my Mac Mini at home, that uses a MICROS~1 keyboard, with Dvorak layout.
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TouchStream Mini - February 26, 2002 - Sold
TouchStream Stealth - March 18, 2002 - Windows XP Professional SP2 (home)
TouchStream MacNTouch (white) - July 23, 2003 - Retired
TouchStream LP - March 31, 2004 - Windows XP Professional SP2 (work)
TouchStream MacNTouch (silver) - December 1, 2004 - Mac OS X 10.4.7

jpaller · Hang-around Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 6

here is an alternative if people are looking for the zero force touch typing. seems the surface is more customizable but otherwise it is just a regular keyboard with laptop mouse built in. no idea on price.

http://www.specialneedscomputers.ca/kb-1hand.htm

-josh

phill

Keyovation has announced it's new Mac compatible keyboard and is taking orders right now. Have a look and see if you like it.

http://www.keyovation.com/pc-63-2-goldtouch-apple-compatible-keyboard.aspx

Shawn_Milo · Familiar Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 38

Yeah, the TypeMatrix with the Mac isn't the perfect combination. But I've been told by the people behind TypeMatrix that they do plan to move to a native USB board with the keys in a better place for Mac users. However, it's not likely that this will be soon. They're a small company, so the change is not so easy.

Shawn

bryanlharris · Hang-around Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 9

Shawn_Milo, I know what you mean by the alt-tab issues. I had the same issue when I was using the USB connector.

I have even tried using autohotkey to get other keys to mimic the alt-tab behaviour and act as another shuffle key, but even something great as autohotkey has terrible problems when it comes to the alt-tab combination.

I have heard somewhere that the next wave of microsoft keyboards will have new keys, one of them being the shuffle key.

Shawn_Milo · Familiar Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 38

bryanlharris · Hang-around Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 9

Yep I have a typematrix and it's great; our only hope against microsoft is that typematrix owns a patent for this kind of layout.

Shawn_Milo · Familiar Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 38

nomaded · Enthusiast Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 113

Will · Familiar Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 24

I bought myself a TypeMatrix 2030 USB a couple of weeks ago. I ordered it with a blank labelling.

So far my impression is really great, though not perfect. My biggest gripe about it are the special hotkeys and the lack of a Mac version. The keys command, option and control can be reassigned in the OS without any problems, but I would still like to see a version with correct labelling.

The hotkeys are more problematic however, because they are hard-wired and can’t be changed by software. Some of them work in Mac OSX as well, but others don’t or react weird. For example I have a key that sends out option e – WTF? Why in hell would I need an additional € key? Instead I would prefer to have option and command keys on the right of the space bar. The hotkeys on the very right for www, email etc don’t work at all, which is a waste.

With some software tweaks, I could change the start key to option and both alt keys to command. F3–F5 are for iTunes control and the other function keys work as usual with Expose etc. This way, I don’t lose much of the Mac functionality in comparison to the Apple keyboards. (I use the preferences panel, Ukelele and Spark for these customizations.)

Despite this Windows-centric design, the keyboard is really great! It took me quite some time to get used to the enter key, but it really pays off. The layout is simply beautiful, especially the luxurious shift keys! Typing on the TypeMatrix feels incredibly comfortable! I love it and will never want anything else anymore!

ivanw · Posted: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:02 Post subject:

Your message is a good complement of another thread about this keyboard and I agree on the mixed impression we get from it.

My own gripe is more about its crude flatness to which I prefer my Microsoft 4000 with a labeling so worn out that it has become blank too.

And I feel really sorry to praise Microsoft as ergonomics should be the battlefield of choice for smaller companies.

Will · Familiar Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 24

Aww, I looked for that thread but didn’t find it for some reason!

Shawn_Milo · Familiar Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 38

As I posted recently on my original article, it's now several years later, and I'm still using the TypeMatrix keyboard exclusively.

Due to its non-staggered layout, I just don't believe there's a viable alternative. The "staggered like a manual typewriter" layout seriously needs to die.

I gave a spare TypeMatrix board to a friend, and he's now been using it for a couple of years and complains loudly that I "ruined him" for other keyboards.

Also, they recently released both QWERTY and Dvorak-labeled versions of the new native USB model. Sweet.