Michael K JohnsonJul 20, 2023

My Thinkpad is freezing up when I pick it up or touch the lid.

I'd pre-order a @frameworkcomputer 16 if they had a Thinkpad-like keyboard and track pad (with real separate physical buttons) available.

But having experienced the keyboard and track pad on the 13, I could not use their layout and track pad on my daily driver. 😭

So I guess it's another Thinkpad for me, and I can just hope that the newer generation have better battery life...

And curses, IPU6 webcam. Oh well, I don't use it much on my personal laptop anyway.

Show threadDave AndersonJul 20, 2023

@mcdanlj @frameworkcomputer I have my name down on a Framework 16, but I share your pain re: being addicted to the thinkpad input methods.

My reasoning is that I really want to help framework succeed, and also given the inputs are all modular, maybe another idiot like us out there will produce what we crave... I can dream :)

Show threadMichael K JohnsonJul 20, 2023

@danderson @frameworkcomputer https://community.frame.work/t/input-module-keyboard-switches/28294/26?u=michael_k_johnson

That's my dream...

Input Module Keyboard Switches

What I would love would be something that would adapt a T-class Thinkpad keyboard and track pad to the framework 16. Given that they are plentiful and inexpensive in the aftermarket this doesn’t seem entirely impossible. Might have to do a bit of soldering to replace the existing flex cables with a new design that handles the signaling and connects to the right place, and I haven’t measured whether there is enough space, but I can dream. I wonder if any of the aftermarket clone vendors would d...

Framework Community
Show threadDave AndersonJul 20, 2023
@mcdanlj @frameworkcomputer Exactly! If I had more time to think about hobbies... how hard can it be, the thinkpad modules have flat flex connectors with a small amount of pins, the framework has a modular hookup... Surely an adapter board would be fairly simple... And then some 3D printing to polyfill up to the right shape...
Show threadDave AndersonJul 20, 2023
@mcdanlj @frameworkcomputer I actually have a spare Thinkpad keyboard module kicking about from an old aborted replacement, if Framework wants to send me a DVT Framework 16 to work on that, HINT HINT
Show threadMichael K JohnsonJul 20, 2023

@danderson @frameworkcomputer I had thought that the trackpad was USB but I don't see it in lsusb output. So I guess both the keyboard and trackpad would need a USB bridge of some sort since AFAICT the IO modules on the 16 speak USB...

https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/InputModules

GitHub - FrameworkComputer/InputModules: Reference designs and documentation for the Input Module system in the Framework Laptop 16

Reference designs and documentation for the Input Module system in the Framework Laptop 16 - FrameworkComputer/InputModules

GitHub
Show threadDave AndersonJul 20, 2023
@mcdanlj @frameworkcomputer Famous last words, but how hard can it be? There's only so many interfaces you can use to wire up I/O, and surely, _surely_ thinkpad didn't invent a new one just for their stuff.
Show threadMichael K JohnsonJul 20, 2023
@danderson @frameworkcomputer I once found a firmware for turning almost arbitrary laptop keyboards into USB keyboards. Let me see if I can find it again...
Show threadMichael K Johnson

@danderson @frameworkcomputer Found it!

https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Make-a-USB-Laptop-Keyboard-Controller/

https://github.com/thedalles77/USB_Laptop_Keyboard_Controller

How to Make a USB Laptop Keyboard Controller

How to Make a USB Laptop Keyboard Controller: This Instructable will provide a step by step procedure for building a USB laptop keyboard and touchpad controller. I created this guide and video to hopefully make it easier for people to re-purpose an old laptop. A typical laptop relies on the mot…

Instructables
Jul 20, 2023 at 10:59pmWeb
Show threadMorgan GangwereJul 20, 2023

@mcdanlj @danderson @frameworkcomputer The stock keyboard for the 16 will be running QMK on an rp2040 via USB.

QMK makes it impressively easy to build custom keyboards from matrices and with a little work, you can use a tool called VIA (usevia.app) to edit your layout on the fly as well. Oh and QMK handles all the fun stuff like double-shift-parens and layers and function keys and stuff like that.

qmk.fm

Show threadMichael K JohnsonJul 21, 2023
@indrora @danderson @frameworkcomputer Yeah, I just wish the physical layout was possible to make match the Thinkpad layout. It isn't. And I want real physical buttons on the track pad. I replaced my T440p track pad with fake buttons with a T450 track pad with real buttons for that reason.
Show threadDave AndersonJul 21, 2023
@mcdanlj @indrora @frameworkcomputer hmm, why is it not possible? I missed something here.
Show threadMichael K JohnsonJul 21, 2023

@danderson @mcdanlj @indrora @frameworkcomputer

What I meant is that I care about the physical layout differences between the "we bought an existing chromebook keyboard layout" that frame.work has and the thinkpad layout. For example, the PgUp/PgDn next to the arrows I'm now thoroughly used to, and there aren't physical keys there on the frame.work keyboard that could be remapped in firmware.

[alt account d/t server outage]

Show threadwarthog9Jul 21, 2023
@mcdanlj @indrora @danderson @frameworkcomputer that t450 trackpad swap was the best darned thing about those two laptops
Show threadwarthog9Jul 21, 2023
@mcdanlj @indrora @danderson @frameworkcomputer ohhhh also I'd jump ship to a framework the second I can get a trackpoint. Utterly do not care about a trackpad.
Show threadMatthew MillerJul 21, 2023

@warthog9 @mcdanlj @indrora @danderson @frameworkcomputer

Yes, this!!!

Show threadFramework  Jul 21, 2023
@mattdm @warthog9 @mcdanlj @indrora @danderson Looking into the crystal ball, the future is hazy. :)
Show threadwarthog9Jul 21, 2023

@frameworkcomputer @mattdm @mcdanlj @indrora @danderson *throws money at it the crystal ball*

Seriously, not even playing, I wouldn't bat an eye at a $200 keyboard if it had a good trackpoint on it

Show threadMichael K JohnsonJul 22, 2023

@warthog9 @frameworkcomputer @mattdm @mcdanlj @indrora @danderson

Someone's collecting suggestions in a form to offer third party keyboards for the 16:

https://community.frame.work/t/keyboard-suggestions/28769?u=michael_k_johnson

Keyboard suggestions

If anyone is interested in some weird and wonderful keyboard for the FW16 as an input module, fill out this form. https://forms.gle/esWwFFJSnjBzKJAf8

Framework Community
Show threadMichael K JohnsonJul 21, 2023

@warthog9 @mcdanlj @indrora @danderson @frameworkcomputer

Whereas until they made a lower-profile trackpoint I removed the useless red button.

[alt account d/t server outage]