4 ms·

I really wish they would just make some keyboard-case-love-child for some of the more popular mainstream devices. I really want a physical keyboard, but I don't

by darau1 6y ago

I really wish they would just make some keyboard-case-love-child for some of the more popular mainstream devices. I really want a physical keyboard, but I don't want to give up my daily driver for a $900 unknown variable.

Pxtl 6y ago
They were supposed to. This company was launched on an ill-fated Kickstarter for a slide-out keyboard attachment called "Livermorium" for the Moto Z. It's the reason I owned a Moto Z. I have no interest in buying a no-name brand phone, though.
- AnssiH 6y ago
  I got the Moto Z keyboard attachment, and it was too clunky to use compared to e.g. my current Pro1 or whatever I had back then (BlackBerry Priv probably).
- corty 6y ago
  Problem is, Motorola took its time certifying the keyboard and by the time they were done, hardware components where no longer available, so they had to redesign. Same thing happened again, but they successfully delivered a few prototypes. After which Motorola discontinued the attachment ports altogether. So fuck Motorola, never again. And from what I've seen in the Pro1 (no X), it works pretty well, does what it is supposed to. Price could be lower, but there is always something.
  - Pxtl 6y ago
    Okay, the cert delay killing it sucks... but discontinued? There were 4 generations of Moto Z with the port. That's a long window.
HideousKojima 6y ago
The PinePhone will be coming out with a keyboard add-on soon
- darau1 6y ago
  That looks rather promising!
- _nalply 6y ago
  Hopefully not as a slideout. My wife is handicapped and don't manage fiddly slideouts. She is happy with Blackberry Key2 style keyboards.
  - nfriedly 6y ago
    There's renderings on [1] and [2] and prototype photos on [3] and [4] that makes it look like more of a clamshell / laptop shape with the phone screen and keyboard folded against each other when it's closed. Kind of like a tablet with a keyboard case. Apparently the keyboard will also have a 22Wh/6000mAh batter in it. [1]: https://www.pine64.org/2020/12/15/december-update-the-longest-one-yet/ https://www.pine64.org/2020/12/15/december-update-the-longes... [2]: https://www.pine64.org/2021/01/15/january-update-happy-new-gear/ https://www.pine64.org/2021/01/15/january-update-happy-new-g... [3]: https://www.pine64.org/2021/02/15/february-update-show-and-tell/ https://www.pine64.org/2021/02/15/february-update-show-and-t... [4]: https://www.pine64.org/2021/03/15/march-update/ https://www.pine64.org/2021/03/15/march-update/ Search for "keyboard" or just scroll about halfway down each of the pages to see the pictures.
    - _nalply 6y ago
      Thanks. What's needed: no fiddly mechanics like folding or sliding out. The keyboard of the Blackberry Key2 is perfect.
nfriedly 6y ago
I agree! I'd really love a case that added a keyboard, battery, MicroSD slot, and a headphones jack!
rchaud 6y ago
Samsung used to make these for their flagships, but stopped after the Galaxy S8 in 2017. I had the case for the GS7, it was pretty good if expensive at CAD 70. After 2 years though it started missing keystrokes, and I needed to take it off and clip it back on to get it to work.

by darau1 6y ago

Pxtl 6y ago

They were supposed to. This company was launched on an ill-fated Kickstarter for a slide-out keyboard attachment called "Livermorium" for the Moto Z. It's the reason I owned a Moto Z. I have no interest in buying a no-name brand phone, though.

AnssiH 6y ago
I got the Moto Z keyboard attachment, and it was too clunky to use compared to e.g. my current Pro1 or whatever I had back then (BlackBerry Priv probably).
corty 6y ago
Problem is, Motorola took its time certifying the keyboard and by the time they were done, hardware components where no longer available, so they had to redesign. Same thing happened again, but they successfully delivered a few prototypes. After which Motorola discontinued the attachment ports altogether. So fuck Motorola, never again. And from what I've seen in the Pro1 (no X), it works pretty well, does what it is supposed to. Price could be lower, but there is always something.
- Pxtl 6y ago
  Okay, the cert delay killing it sucks... but discontinued? There were 4 generations of Moto Z with the port. That's a long window.

HideousKojima 6y ago

The PinePhone will be coming out with a keyboard add-on soon

darau1 6y ago
That looks rather promising!
_nalply 6y ago
Hopefully not as a slideout. My wife is handicapped and don't manage fiddly slideouts. She is happy with Blackberry Key2 style keyboards.
- nfriedly 6y ago
  There's renderings on [1] and [2] and prototype photos on [3] and [4] that makes it look like more of a clamshell / laptop shape with the phone screen and keyboard folded against each other when it's closed. Kind of like a tablet with a keyboard case. Apparently the keyboard will also have a 22Wh/6000mAh batter in it. [1]: https://www.pine64.org/2020/12/15/december-update-the-longest-one-yet/ https://www.pine64.org/2020/12/15/december-update-the-longes... [2]: https://www.pine64.org/2021/01/15/january-update-happy-new-gear/ https://www.pine64.org/2021/01/15/january-update-happy-new-g... [3]: https://www.pine64.org/2021/02/15/february-update-show-and-tell/ https://www.pine64.org/2021/02/15/february-update-show-and-t... [4]: https://www.pine64.org/2021/03/15/march-update/ https://www.pine64.org/2021/03/15/march-update/ Search for "keyboard" or just scroll about halfway down each of the pages to see the pictures.
  - _nalply 6y ago
    Thanks. What's needed: no fiddly mechanics like folding or sliding out. The keyboard of the Blackberry Key2 is perfect.

nfriedly 6y ago

I agree! I'd really love a case that added a keyboard, battery, MicroSD slot, and a headphones jack!

rchaud 6y ago

Samsung used to make these for their flagships, but stopped after the Galaxy S8 in 2017. I had the case for the GS7, it was pretty good if expensive at CAD 70. After 2 years though it started missing keystrokes, and I needed to take it off and clip it back on to get it to work.