Sebastiaan @ OLKB confirmed to me via email that Jack is working on an ortholinear keyboard for the Framework 16. I don’t consider this new news, just confirmation of what we already have been told.
It does mean though that I will be changing my plan to purchase a Framework 13 to a Framework 16 instead. Yeah, it won’t be portable; it will be used as a desktop replacement. Eventually, I’d want a Framework 13 with ortholinear keyboard option so that I could travel with it.
I think it would be really cool if they designed a split ortholinear keyboard that could leverage the modularity of the framework 16. That way people could either have a split lay out or they could have a standard board by putting the two halves together. Although, honestly I’ll be happy over whatever comes.
Loving my AMD Framework 13. Hoping for an ortho keyboard option!
Sorry to bother as I could not find the information I’m searching for anywhere:
The keyboard of the FW13 is not running on qmk right?
Hence building a keyboard for it is more work than just designing a pcb running qmk and finding a way to attach it?
No QMK on the FWL13. Instead, the key matrix is connected to the motherboard EC (embedded controller). This is what virtually all other laptops do. The FWL16 stands apart.
I think you’ll find that building a laptop keyboard is the hard part. A side effect of being made as thin as possible is that creating one, as an individual, would be difficult and expensive. At least for the FWL16, even the thinnest available off-the-self individual key modules are too thick.
thanks for your response.
This is what virtually all other laptops do. The FWL16 stands apart.
Yup I’m aware of it, yet wasn’t sure whether they also applied this principle on the FW13.
Implementing / adding this feature - allowing a more modular keyboard as with the FW16 - is likely not coming to the FW13, is it? ( FW16 being too large for my preferences holds me back buying it so the 13’’ combined with custom keyboard modules would be amazing)
Ah well, haven’t looked into it much yet and somehow assumed that one might be able to use Cherry ULP with some thin pcb - 1.2 or less maybe - to fit the case.
We don’t know. Framework hasn’t announced anything. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility, but if it happened it would probably wouldn’t be soon. More like a few generations away.
Yeah, Cherry MX ULP is the thinnest available, but unfortunately it’s still a bit too thick. There is another thread where people have discused ways to create a little more room.
We don’t know. Framework hasn’t announced anything. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility, but if it happened it would probably wouldn’t be soon. More like a few generations away.
Oh well thats unfortunate. Its the only thing holding me back from buying a 13 right away right now.
I’ve read the ideas to steal the usb-lanes from the touchpad and using this connection to connect a qmk-powered keyboard internally so maybe its possible to enable custom-keyboards on this laptop.
Yeah, Cherry MX ULP is the thinnest available, but unfortunately it’s still a bit too thick. There is another thread where people have discused ways to create a little more room.
could you link said thread?
Maybe I can gather some information and evaluate how feasible it would be for me :)
thanks for your response
The touchpad isn’t usb. But the fingerprint reader is usb and runs through the input cover. You could use that for a usb hub chip.
It’s focused on the FWL16. Designing a deeper chassis for "mechanical" keyboard module
I would pay a lot of money for a QMK ortho input cover.
Just created an account to add my vote to an ortholinear option.
Need to get some of those DIY low-profile corne/chocofi/ferris wizards in here, i bet some of those folks could get a custom input module working.
I also made an account here just to upvote alternate keyboard layouts. A laptop with a more ergonomic hand angle is worth a lot to me. Something like this would be awesome Reverb - Unibody Split Keyboard Kit – Keebio
The alternative keyboard layout community is pretty hardcore. In the short term, I would be willing to pay a lot to not have wrist pain from using laptops. Especially if the development that went into making it could be re-used by the community to build additional future layouts. It would make for a virtuous cycle strengthening the ecosystem
well the difficulty lies in the space available. All the custom switches one may use → Cherry ULP, choc etc; are too high and won’t fit.
Hence, at least from what I understand, it most likely boils down to these switches ( or rubberdomes) found in common keyboards that are not really available for DIY.
We may be able to make enough room for Cherry ULP by shimming the hinges. I think someone was planning to try it on the FWL16.
I totally understand the engineering difficulties with space constraints given current mechanical key switches and the current framework laptop. However, new switch and new laptop designs are developed at some rate. The current limitations won’t last forever. My post is mostly to signal that I will pay a premium to whatever company puts out a laptop with a “split” angled keyboard design first. I’m just adding another data point for Framework to consider when they do their cost benefit analysis of what to develop next and why.
Crazy Idea: Split ortholinear layout where you still have space for the numpad; just move it to the middle and have a left and right individual keyboard module. Trackpad would have to be modified to accommodate that, since the middle contacts are shrouded normally, but at first glance it looks doable.
Also the trackpad needs modification anyway because you can’t actually mount it in the right most position
Welcome to the forum
Unfortunately, the 3 middle contact locations, which are used for the trackpad, are not usuable for the upper modules / keyboard modules. They are i2c, rather than usb which the keyboard uses.
I think I wasn’t clear on that point; the idea is move the numpad to the middle of the keyboard, and the right half of the keyboard to the right side of the chassis. …oh. I see. You mean there’s no provision for the numpad to connect without some fancy soldering and/or mylar ribbon circuits
Another one here who just registered to upvote the ortholinear keyboard option.