I modded an arcade1up machine to behave as a ti-99/4a emulator, and I mess around with it sometimes. Things were more primitive than I remembered
. Still, we had multiplan, fun games, etc.
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Apple Imagines Mac-Inside-a-Keyboard Device Evocative of 80s Home Computers
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. Still, we had multiplan, fun games, etc.
Better to build the computer into the keyboard than the monitor; if the computer is too old and out of spec, all it does is force you to throw out the entire system with the screen where as the screen will still be perfectly capable of being used for years to come.
Although keyboards break more (and provide an avenue for breaking the whole system when you spill your coffee on them), and many people prefer to use non-apple keyboards, ergonomic keyboards, mechanical keyboards, etc. So there are trade-offs both ways.
The interesting thing about this is that the technology to do this has been readily available for years, yet the only time I'm aware of anyone has actually done it is with some ultra-cheap Raspberry Pi computers.
The guts of any MacBook Air dating back to 2008, once you remove the screen, battery, and trackpad, could easily fit in all but the slimmest keyboards without issue. The 12" MacBook was even smaller. And there have been plenty of Wintel ultrabooks over the past decade and a half that could do the same, not to mention any Microsoft Surface dating back to the original model a decade ago. And that's with x86 chips, not even getting started on ARM nano PCs.
Taking that into account, it's actually kind of a surprise that Dell or at least an off-brand PC manufacturer hasn't released something like this, even as a thin client.
It makes me think there really isn't much market for it, or somebody would be capitalizing on it by now.
Dell does have the Optiplex Ultra series that is basically one of their monitor stands with a small PC built into the vertical stick, but while that is kind of a cool idea for thin-client/low-power office computer (and more efficient than a traditional all-in-one since you can re-use the screen or just replace the stick with a newer model), but I've yet to see one in the wild, so it doesn't seem to have been a huge hit, at least yet.
The guts of any MacBook Air dating back to 2008, once you remove the screen, battery, and trackpad, could easily fit in all but the slimmest keyboards without issue. The 12" MacBook was even smaller. And there have been plenty of Wintel ultrabooks over the past decade and a half that could do the same, not to mention any Microsoft Surface dating back to the original model a decade ago. And that's with x86 chips, not even getting started on ARM nano PCs.
Taking that into account, it's actually kind of a surprise that Dell or at least an off-brand PC manufacturer hasn't released something like this, even as a thin client.
It makes me think there really isn't much market for it, or somebody would be capitalizing on it by now.
Dell does have the Optiplex Ultra series that is basically one of their monitor stands with a small PC built into the vertical stick, but while that is kind of a cool idea for thin-client/low-power office computer (and more efficient than a traditional all-in-one since you can re-use the screen or just replace the stick with a newer model), but I've yet to see one in the wild, so it doesn't seem to have been a huge hit, at least yet.
It’s me or this is a Neuromancer’s cyberdeck tribute?
Ok, nothing special but as a Xennial I really like this piece of old tech make real in our days, a bit steampunk.
As a father I really hope my sons don’t need phisical keyboard, laptop or phones tech on them youth, these are piece of crap computing scienze just for old people like me, baby needs immersive reality, something we could imagine with Nintendo, The Lawnmower Man, Automan and so on.
Old memories.
Ok, nothing special but as a Xennial I really like this piece of old tech make real in our days, a bit steampunk.
As a father I really hope my sons don’t need phisical keyboard, laptop or phones tech on them youth, these are piece of crap computing scienze just for old people like me, baby needs immersive reality, something we could imagine with Nintendo, The Lawnmower Man, Automan and so on.
Old memories.
There was something like that some time ago. I was called Apple Iic
Apple is exploring the possibility of integrating a fully functioning Mac within a keyboard, reminiscent of home computers of the 80s, such as the Commodore 64 and Sinclair ZX Spectrum.
The concept was revealed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in a new Apple patent application called "Computer in an input device," which describes a thicker Magic Keyboard-style chassis with "all the components of a high performance computer" integrated under the hood.
The patent describes the premise for such a device, which could be plugged into a separate external display via a single I/O port designed to receive both data and power, and wirelessly paired with a trackpad or mouse for additional input.
By including the computing components in the keyboard, Apple suggests this could allow a user to carry a single device that can provide a desktop computing experience at any location having one or more external displays.
In some embodiments, the device includes a trackpad "coupled" to the enclosure, while in others the device is foldable and the keyboard area includes an "accessory display" showing graphics, or the keyboard itself is virtually displayed from a projector contained inside the enclosure.
The rest of the patent explores in detail various configurations of internal computer components within the space afforded by the keyboard chassis.
Apple has filed patents for keyboards in the past, including one that uses a touchscreen panel similar to the Touch Bar that extends to the entire keyboard layout, but this is the first patent to suggest actually incorporating a computer into the keyboard itself.
As with any filed patent, the technology is unlikely to appear in any product soon, if at all, but it does offer an interesting look at how Apple is considering Mac designs that could ultimately replace or be offered alongside the Mac mini, which allows users to bring their own display, keyboard, and mouse.
(Via Patently Apple.)
Article Link: Apple Imagines Mac-Inside-a-Keyboard Device Evocative of 80s Home Computers
Ah, make it a real c64 tribute and give it a mechanical-ish keyboard.
Agreed, though if they were to build in a liquid-proof layer under the keyboard to accommodate spills, it could be engineered for a relatively simple swap out of the keyboard mechanism.
I see this new designs as something of a new beast, thouth rather than a replacement for the current Mac Mini box design - it could have some use as a desktop machine in office environments, or it could be a living room computer with an AirPlay connection to a TV and maybe a wireless charging stand so that for most use it could be plopped on a coffee table or lap… or it could be more of a processing block and keyboard for use with an Apple VR headset.
If they introduce this as the new Mac Mini and drop the headless, keyboard-less box form factor from the roster, it’ll make a lot of people unhappy.
Not only that. There is actually a Raspberry Pi based computer doing this already: https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-400/
Sure, it probably has much more connections on it, than a KeyMac would have, but still the concept isn’t something new.
Sure, it probably has much more connections on it, than a KeyMac would have, but still the concept isn’t something new.
This just replaces the Mac Mini. Computer in a keyboard, instead of "bring your own monitor, keyboard & mouse".
It would have to be that option - to replace the Mini - in order for it to have enough sales. Otherwise it would cannibalise the Mini and visa versa.
Certainly is innovative - at least, in the modern market.
Which either runs iPadOS or a heavily stripped down macOS. My MacBook Pro M1 can and will run hot under sustained high load. Silicon chips ain’t gonna magically cool itself.
So it is the perfect device for those using light browsing, Office tasks and occasionally edit a photo. And you are not the target audience!!
So this would need to be confined to a 50% M1(M2...) chip, or to name it correctly an A14/15... with some minor tweaks.
Plenty performance even at that level so not really an issue. But for what use?
At home? You either need a USB-C monitor with power delivery and a good hub (since running more than 1 cable would be a hassle) or use a dock/breakout-box (why not put the computer in there, aka a MacMini).
On the go? Fiddle with adaptors to whatever screen you may find there, or use Sidecar to an iPad which has the same or better HW already.
-> pointless outside some obscure niches and thinking back to my Amiga500 and 1200 the keyboard being the computer was the one thing I hated on them with a vengeance (you should have seen the hacks I done to put them into a desktop and tower case).
Plenty performance even at that level so not really an issue. But for what use?
At home? You either need a USB-C monitor with power delivery and a good hub (since running more than 1 cable would be a hassle) or use a dock/breakout-box (why not put the computer in there, aka a MacMini).
On the go? Fiddle with adaptors to whatever screen you may find there, or use Sidecar to an iPad which has the same or better HW already.
-> pointless outside some obscure niches and thinking back to my Amiga500 and 1200 the keyboard being the computer was the one thing I hated on them with a vengeance (you should have seen the hacks I done to put them into a desktop and tower case).
Apple did this long before the rp400. Only difference is keyboard can be thinner now.
There's an awful lot of nostalgia going on in this thread - I like it.
However, for me, it's not practical to have a keyboard with computer inside it. Keys get dirty in no time - do any of us have keyboards over 3-4 years old which look brand new?
But does anyone remember the eInk keyboard rumour from a few years ago where Apple were looking at Sonder? The issue I saw with this is that various keys (like the enter) are different shapes in different countries.
I see a patent which would allow Apple to create a virtual keyboard using an iPad-like screen with haptic feedback. A 'touch pad' area on such a display would be easy implement. Yes, I'm thinking along the lines of making the entire keyboard and trackpad into a Touch Bar - but apps would be able to configure the entire screen as the ideal user interface for that app.
My take is a virtual keyboard and trackpad, it would make keyboards easier to maintain as country specialisation would be a software configuration rather than a hardware SKU. Apple could also do this now as a virtual keyboard would be almost like making a special app on an iPad.
And wouldn't then having additional GPU resources in an external display make that very interesting if connected via Thunderbolt?
To be fair, haptic keyboards aren't for everyone but iPad can use bluetooth keyboards and mice, and the screen area could then be used as a secondary screen for more function keys or even large touch pad.
Ultimately, this could be taken to the logical extreme by making the concept into a 2 screen laptop where the keyboard is completely configurable.
However, for me, it's not practical to have a keyboard with computer inside it. Keys get dirty in no time - do any of us have keyboards over 3-4 years old which look brand new?
But does anyone remember the eInk keyboard rumour from a few years ago where Apple were looking at Sonder? The issue I saw with this is that various keys (like the enter) are different shapes in different countries.
I see a patent which would allow Apple to create a virtual keyboard using an iPad-like screen with haptic feedback. A 'touch pad' area on such a display would be easy implement. Yes, I'm thinking along the lines of making the entire keyboard and trackpad into a Touch Bar - but apps would be able to configure the entire screen as the ideal user interface for that app.
My take is a virtual keyboard and trackpad, it would make keyboards easier to maintain as country specialisation would be a software configuration rather than a hardware SKU. Apple could also do this now as a virtual keyboard would be almost like making a special app on an iPad.
And wouldn't then having additional GPU resources in an external display make that very interesting if connected via Thunderbolt?
To be fair, haptic keyboards aren't for everyone but iPad can use bluetooth keyboards and mice, and the screen area could then be used as a secondary screen for more function keys or even large touch pad.
Ultimately, this could be taken to the logical extreme by making the concept into a 2 screen laptop where the keyboard is completely configurable.
Nope.
If you need a "smart" monitor why not go all the way and include the CPU in it (iMac...)?
Now, using a special form factor iPad as a KBD (+trackpad) might be worth looking after but that would would a completely different product.
At the moment, I'd say it would be to create sufficient horsepower to run a high dpi display (potentially high refresh rate?) while connecting devices with more modest GPU capabilities (like laptops).
I'm sure it must be on Apple's mind to create a future iOS mode to repurpose iPads. Physical Magic Keyboards (the cases for the iPads) are costly and you end up with something that can't outcompete a laptop running MacOS while the iPad becomes as bulky (if not more so) than a MacBook Air.
So why not pair up a future Mac mini or MacBook with an iPad as keyboard and trackpad or as a secondary control screen for apps like Final Cut Pro or Logic?