Elecom's USB numeric touch keypad does touch gestures on the side

Elecom's USB-powered numeric touch keypad is pretty simple. You plug it into your machine, tap your digits on the board and watch the numbers appear in your calculator app. Once that gets boring, you can also use this as a secondary trackpad. And given that it supports a variety of multi gesture functions (zoom in / out, shift up / down, etc.), we'd say the secondary features here may just be more enticing than the primary. Suddenly overcome with a feeling of want? Get yours later this month for ¥6,500 ($72).

[Via Akihabara News]

[PhoenixFox Posted Oct 10th 2009 6:14AM]

that's.... actually quite a good idea, if it does both jobs well.

[Blacklight Posted Oct 10th 2009 11:15AM]

No, it's a bad idea.

The whole point of the numpad is being able to input lots of numbers very fast, and that implies doing so without having to look at the damn thing, which is impossible without real buttons.
If you can afford to be looking at this thing every time you want to write a number and correcting the inevitable lots of errors, you can do with the normal numbers on your keyboard.

I agree with Darren that the "secondary" features are the attractive part about this device. However, I really don't think it's worth it, considering that for the price you could buy (?) a mouse with similar features (ie. assignable buttons that can make the wheel zoom in/out, shift up/down, etc.).

This would be very good, however, if when working as a numpad it could send different codes than the normal numbers (ie. always alt+number), this way you could use it as a rather rugged remote for any app.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 6:25AM]

I think that thing is unnecessary one;((( Useless

[Nu Li Posted Oct 10th 2009 6:46AM]

Track pads were once a strange peripheral just like this. look at them now...

[Poem58 Posted Oct 10th 2009 6:53AM]

It may be unnecessary for Daniel (then again there are many things that someone needs that are completely unnecessary to someone else, keep that in mind before posting unnecessary comments Daniel...lol)

Anyway, all kidding aside, my wife does data entry for a living and if this worked well it could provide some useful abilities and increase her productivity as well as pay. Something she and I would find quite a bit more than useless.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 8:58AM]

No offense man but that's only my opinion!;) Don't take it for granted plz;)

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 6:56AM]

I agree with the author that the trackpad would be a more logical primary function with a keypad as a useful secondary function. If you're looking for a numeric keypad as a primary function, you're most likely to be someone such as an Excel pro who taps out hundreds of numbers without looking at it and the smooth surface required to allow it to function as a trackpad would make it more difficult to accurately press the correct digit (most likely highly important when entering numbers) compared to physical keys.

[Gad Get Posted Oct 10th 2009 7:13AM]

Weird.

[Bublik25 Posted Oct 10th 2009 6:58AM]

it looks like some thing from 1993

[Psyg Posted Oct 10th 2009 7:19AM]

So it looks like something that didn't come out till 94 (the trackpad)?

[Poem58 Posted Oct 10th 2009 7:24AM]

This actually could be a good thing, track pads made it into laptops, there is no number pad on the laptop....hmmm, number pad / track pad for laptop.

[Mushrooshi Posted Oct 10th 2009 7:52AM]

Really good idea; I do with they would make the case more... stylish? But the concept is very, very cool, and I'd buy one.

[Tsu Posted Oct 10th 2009 8:14AM]

typing numbers on a touch number pad just doesn't feel right for me, the same thing with button keyboards and touch keyboards...

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 8:18AM]

Using it is much easier than using your mouse to click the numbers on the calculator app ? Sounds good but $72 is too much. The secondary touchpad is a plus....

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 8:55AM]

I think if the store price was $49 or less it might be a good buy.

[Please forgive me Posted Oct 10th 2009 8:44AM]

I like it but I think it's overpriced. Place it in the mouse pricerange and I'd get one likely. $50 max.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 8:56AM]

Come on, pick up your spam game. That message is so bad it's like you're not even trying!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 9:24AM]

would this work on mac i wonder.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 9:28AM]

No, because it's not white.

Only white peripherals work on macs.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 9:31AM]

well my mac is not white.

[Haha Posted Oct 10th 2009 9:35AM]

Only white peripherals work on macs.

[Shane Posted Oct 10th 2009 9:50AM]

I always wanted an input peripheral with a BS button!

[dirthurts Posted Oct 10th 2009 9:53AM]

Lol

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 9:55AM]

plus it has one button to order a tab if you're thirsty.

I wonder how they deliver it.

[Agent 25i Posted Oct 10th 2009 11:42AM]

Who the fuck is Ed Hardy?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 11:49AM]

This comment thread is now about outrage.

SEVEN TWO DOLLAS?! GOOD LAWD THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY

ridiculous

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 10th 2009 1:45PM]

And for god's sake, why does this use a USB cable, when it should clearly be bluetooth enabled....

[MJGAMER 1991 XBL Posted Oct 10th 2009 4:45PM]

USB is more appealing to the "average" customer than bluetooth. That said, I'd still only pay like $30 for this even with bluetooth, unless the multitouch turns out to be super high-end, which I doubt.

[FuturePastNow Posted Oct 10th 2009 8:07PM]

That's getting close to what I want. Now build it into a nice keyboard.

[rjandsam Posted Oct 11th 2009 9:14AM]

It has allready been done i have been using it in a keyboard for a while now WIRELESS also check out the link.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158377

£25.00
$40.00