Keyboard and Trackpad Connections

[Naiek]

I don’t know about anyone else but I have no need for a trackpad. I understand why they are necessary when selling a laptop but for most people we plug in a mouse and use that. Especially when gaming.

Does anyone know if the Framework 16 has the necessary connections for future modules instead of the Trackpad?

Better yet, are there connections available to have the keyboard where the trackpad would go and something like a screen module could be placed above the keyboard, similar to the Asus ZenBook Duo.

[MJ1]

@Naiek

Better yet, are there connections available to have the keyboard where the trackpad would go and something like a screen module could be placed above the keyboard, similar to the Asus ZenBook Duo.

Unfortunately, the keyboard won’t physically fit in the bottom / touchpad section. Connector wouldn’t work in that position even if it did physically fit.

You can see that the bottom section is smaller. And also the connector are across the middle.

[Schuasda]

@MJ1 i was just about to link to your post in a different topic where a similar question also came up and you also answered it :

In the 16, can you put the numpad module to the left of the keyboard?

I don’t know if I’m following. Maybe I didn’t describe things well. I’m not suggesting any macropads or keypads on the bottom half. They are too tall. Rather, no keyboard and instead macropads side by side, 2 on the left, 2 on the right. Only the 2nd one won’t fit on the right, due to having no connector available. A picture of the connector locations might help [framework-input-board]

[MJ1]

@Naiek

Does anyone know if the Framework 16 has the necessary connections for future modules instead of the Trackpad?

Yes, kind of. The 3 middle connectors intended for the factory touchpad are not usb, I believe they are i2c. A custom bottom module might need to use one of the other connectors, which would then limit the placement of the keyboard above, but you could do it. Though you’ll notice that space is more limited in the bottom section due to the mounting tracks located to the sides.

[Naiek]

Unfortunately, the keyboard won’t physically fit in the bottom / touchpad section. Connector wouldn’t work in that position even if it did physically fit.

You can see that the bottom section is smaller. And also the connector are across the middle.

That’s too bad. Hopefully the connections for the trackpad can be replaced with other modules down the road though

[Naiek]

Yes, kind of. The 3 middle connectors intended for the factory touchpad are not usb, I believe they are i2c. A custom bottom module might need to use one of the other connectors, which would then limit the placement of the keyboard above, but you could do it. Though you’ll notice that space is more limited in the bottom section due to the mounting tracks located to the sides.

This gives me hope. Thanks for the info!

[Jason_Miller2]

Possibly off-topic for here, but putting the trackpad above the keyboard would make the Framework my dream laptop. I don’t understand why the trackpad is below on all modern laptops. Some older laptops had a trackball above the F-keys, which was nice.

I don’t like having a hard piece of plastic where my wrist will rest when not typing, and issues with palm-rejection completely go away when the trackpad is nowhere near the palm.

[DHowett]

@Jason_Miller2

issues with palm-rejection completely go away when the trackpad is nowhere near the palm.

Well yes, while palm rejection as defined today is no longer an issue… you will need to find a new term for rejecting palm keypresses. I propose “palm rejection”

[Jason_Miller2]

Unlike a trackpad, keypresses require moving the key a not-insignificant distance. This makes unintentional keypresses less likely.

Also, maybe it’s just me, but I “live” on my keyboard and “visit” the trackpad, so even if the keyboard were just as likely to register accidental palm-presses as a trackpad, it would still be a big improvement.