The Keyboard

Framework Team Blog
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I too would love QMK for this. I really want to support this project, but generally I won’t buy a laptop without dedicated Home/End/PgUp/PgDown buttons. With QMK support, I could configure the arrow keys to be arrows for a normal keypress, but Home/End/PgUp/PgDown if I hold the key down. I would also do the same F1 so it would mute/unmute when held. I love this ability of my Moonlander keyboard to configure keys in that way.

My Spectre x360 14 is also a 13.5-inch and they managed to fit dedicated Home/End/PgUp/PgDown keys. It’s far less repairable though, so I understand there will be compromises.

I would also prefer a keyboard layout with full size arrow keys in a standard layout but I can live with the weird up/down like my Spectre has.

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42

Another vote for Colemak! Would love to finally have a laptop with a keyboard that matches my layout.
Failing that, a cross between the fully-transparent and fully-stealthed keyboards would be amazing. I imagine it as most keys having a simple dot or circle in the centre, to allow the backlight to shine through while still looking slick. Perhaps the home keys would have a slightly bigger circle, or a line instead of a circle, to make them easy to locate.

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43

Any chance we could get a keyboard with a Penguin super key for the DIY users? I hate having the Windows logo on my Linux laptops… If a full “Linux” keyboard is not possible, I’d happily buy a replacement key. Will the keys be individually replaceable?

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That’s a good thought, replaceable keys, at least for the OS “Super Keys”.

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45

Keeping the keyboard robust and thin enough to fit in a laptop means it wasn’t designed for individual key replacement. You can replace just the keyboard module though without any of the rest of the Input Cover.

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46

Any word on the availability of the crystal clear keyboard? Seems like a decent option for the “I need language X” crowd. Just drop an SVG for printing sticker maps. Just a thought.

I mean, the imp of the perverse tells me to pick one up with the clear keyboard, but I’m not sure I’d actually do it. The acrylic (presumably) keycaps seem like a fun way to do experimental key layouts. Or just alternative fonts/symbols (qwerty is too familiar).

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We have prototypes on hand and should have the final versions up for sale later this summer.

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48

Any chance they (blank or clear keyboards) will be up for sale before the first batch ship?

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We don’t have exact timing just yet, but probably not before batch 1 orders ship out.

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Any news on when a UK keyboard / UK order is coming?

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We should have UK keyboards by the end of summer, but orders and shipping to the UK is aimed at later this year.

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I would also love an ortholinear keyboard layout similar to the one featured in https://github.com/saoto28/pineapple60 . Please consider adding such an option.

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Not entirely sure what I stumbled upon, but, on this website you can see that there are items listed for international keyboards (i think? I saw different languages listed and whatnot) and different bezel options (including black, orange, and grey). I think I’ll post this here, but, perhaps this indicates they are mostly ready to ship internationally and indicates some of the future keyboard layouts? Shop With Tech Data | Search

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IMG_20210723_165423
IMG_20210723_1654234000×3000 1.3 MB

So long as they don’t do this, My Dell XPS15 keyboard, I’ve hit the # key instead of the return key more times than I can count
IMG_20210723_170136
IMG_20210723_1701363000×4000 1.58 MB

…and they’ve done this just to give you a massive CAPS LOCK KEY, who even uses the Cap Lock key except angry internet people.

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55

I had a thinkpad with the buttonless trackpad (T440p) and I broke down and bought a T450 trackpad with real buttons to replace it. I know Lenovo actually did user research on the virtual buttons because I was part of the research, and during the research I thought I could make it work, but in practice it was terrible and I never want to go back. Not having physical trackpad buttons is at least one thing that would really discourage me from buying.

The tiny up/down arrow keys on the Frame.Work keyboard give me some pause. I do use the arrow key cluster a lot on my current thinkpad T490, and appreciate that they have dedicated PgUp/PgDn in the cluster. They have clearly put a lot of thought into making the nav keys usable. Makes for fast keyboard-based navigation. On your keyboard, having to mix in Fn to get PgUp/PgDn makes one-handed navigation impossible. One-handed keyboard nav is a really valuable feature in practical use. At least for me. For example, I like to page through news while eating lunch, and I can eat with my left hand and tap PgDn to read more. (Many sites don’t work with space to page, j and k are rarely handled well; PgUp/Dn almost always work). You have space; your (relatively) huge left/right keys could be split. I note that my thinkpad uses subtle cues in key shape in the nav cluster that really help eyes-free nav, so just splitting the keys into smaller rectangles wouldn’t alone give the experience.

I expect it’s way too late for design changes like that, but for me those would be a substantial usability difference…

Absolutely agreed, I will never leave Thinkpad due to their keyboard layout. The PgUp/PgDown key on top of left/right arrow is mandatory for my work flow.

XMG made a laptop once with it too, but drop it in their next release. Hopefully third party keyboard/mods will be build for the Framework. :crossed_fingers:

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I pre-ordered a Framework this morning, and I would pay a ridiculous amount for a replacement keyboard with a Trackpoint/Accupoint style pointing device!! (I know it’s been said a few dozen times already - sorry if this is redundant!)

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" [nrp] [Apr 2] “The nub is probably not possible mechanically on this one (it’s amazing how tightly everything needs to be packed to make a thin, high performance laptop work), but tbd on trackpad buttons!”

(Sorry for my clumsy quoting. Haven’t figured out how to quote an individual post yet.)

First of all, Framework, a hearty standing ovation. Modularity, repair-ability, user-upgrade-ability, screen aspect ratio, number of ports, types of ports. Wow. Everything you’ve done has been on my “Why don’t they…?” wish list for years. And then you throw in something that I didn’t even dare wish for–user-customizable ports. Outstanding conception and superb execution. Standing O!

These preferences, as well as my preference for a good, if not great, keyboard with trackpoint and tp buttons, have kept me on my trusty Lenovo W520 looonnnggg past “current” status. In fact, it is its modularity that has kept it performing perfectly fine, if not blindingly fast, for more than a decade.

With regard to the quote above…

There seem to be a number of people here who would gladly add a few millimeters to your laptop’s thickness in exchange for a keyboard with trackpoint, buttons and good key travel. I am another such person.

One review of your laptop made a point of describing the two distinct layers, bottom and top, on which all components reside. Again, kudos for this superb design and execution.

Now, I’m not a design engineer. But the thought occurred to me. Given that all electronics are on distinct layers that attach to the top and bottom halves, couldn’t you offer the option of a slightly taller base for those who wanted it, and an optional keyboard that would fit only in the taller base? The keyboard would have trackpoint, buttons, and perhaps even longer key travel, though this latter point isn’t critical.

It would be the Keyboard Fussbudget option. I would leap on it.

Thank you, again, for responding so adeptly to customers’ wants.

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Just to lend my support to the idea of an ortholinear keyboard layout suggested in the post by Ulli_Kehrle similar to https://github.com/saoto28/pineapple60
This would just be icing on the cake, ticking all my boxes for the most amazing laptop.
Debian linux, colemak, ortholinear keyboard, just take my money!

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Hi, I would have pre-ordered one laptop today to go to Austria (German Keyboard) but - unfortunately the keyboard is only US … This is such a sad Showstopper :frowning: why not provide the keys and you add them yourself? Or when would a german Keyboard be available?

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A german keyboard (along with shipping to Germany) should be available before the end of the year.

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