Hoggy joins the Datahand club

hoggy · 15 Jul 2011, 21:16

I don't have much of an eye for a photo

But even I know this one should be better.

Nice and tidy.

Can't have everything - at least not at this price

webwit · 15 Jul 2011, 21:28

Looks to be in excellent shape. The cable should be a simple repair.

Jim66 · 16 Jul 2011, 00:00

Can you still buy these new?

webwit · 16 Jul 2011, 00:21

Apparently currently not.

I think there are two parttimers left, Lynn and a technical guy. They have no money, so each batch of 100 or whatever is a challenge. An ex-employee told me where these were made in Mexico, and that at one point they got into trouble with the manufacturer over supply/demand, which led to the current situation (well, current 2 years ago): hundreds of overproduced NOS Datahands in storage in Mexico, and Lynn & friend buying these in batches of minimal order quantities. I'm not sure what is true because the person who told me left Datahand on bad terms, but the factory exists, is close over the border of the original location of Datahand, and I posted pictures of it on geekhack which sadly iMav removed. It looks likely. So what this means is there will be Datahands as long as there is old stock, and as long as Lynn keeps interested in selling these. It could stop at any moment I guess, and I don't think anything new will be produced in any case.

Jim66 · 16 Jul 2011, 00:29

Hmm, sad really, it looks like a great product.

Did they cost round about $500 new?

EDIT: I just looked; $995.... Wow.

webwit · 16 Jul 2011, 00:34

If I remember correctly that is right. I also remember reading an interview with the old CEO who said that if it would catch on they would be able to sell them under $200.

Jim66 · 17 Jul 2011, 19:14

It never ever ever was going to catch on though was it... Very wishful thinking.

Input Nirvana · 18 Jul 2011, 07:12

Hoggy, that photo of the unit looks immaculate just like in the auction. Congrats! Looks like you got a new one at a discounted price.
If there was any problem to have, a cable is the best, it's basically a non-issue.
You can email Lynn with the serial # and she can give you the background on the unit (sales date, firmware, upgrades, etc.).
For a period of time (2005-2007?? I don't remember), they were selling around $500.

Jim66 · 24 Jul 2011, 12:22

How are you getting on Hoggy? More difficult/easier that you thought it would be?

hoggy · 24 Jul 2011, 13:27

I love it. Much easier than I thought. It's certainly a bit different. I made a few mistakes when I swapped to Dvorak. Not enough practice at first before starting to use it a work - and the practice I did wasn't really good enough. When I get to about 30wpm and can comfortably cope with punctuation it'll be on my desk at work like a shot.

I love the feel of the switches, once their activated, the resistance just falls away - very different feel from cherry.

webwit · 24 Jul 2011, 13:35

I really like the feel of the Datahand switches. The first designs were with mechanical switches, but apparently that didn't work. The magnetic switches were especially designed and invented by Anthony van Zeeland. Just like very light mechanical switches don't work, this design wouldn't work on a normal keyboard in a configuration requiring more force. It would feel like an extreme Alps switch, where the tactile feel is on the top and then falls away. You'd hit the pcb or plate harshly, also because of all the relatively aggressive finger and hand movement. But with the Datahand you don't put much force in to begin with, it's more tapping than typing, and it works very well. It's a sophisticated feel, which is quite an accomplishment for such low resistance switches.