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Laptops to get maglev keyboards that reduce their thickness
Magnetic levitation keyboards have been around for a while, but they've never really taken off, or floated our boats, or attracted much atten... Anyway, a Taiwanese manufacturer called Darfon is persevering with the idea, and it's discovered that maglev keys, which rest on opposing magnets instead of mushy membranes or mechanical switches, can make laptop keyboards significantly thinner. Unfortunately, according to a CNET journalist who played with a couple of prototypes at Computex, the keys can be hard to type on if skinniness is taken to the extreme. Then again, there's scope to change the resistance of the keyboard electronically to suit your preference, and Darfon claims it has already received orders from laptop makers who are targeting launches later this year. If that's true, perhaps the technology isn't so repellant after all. [Image credit: Aloysius Low / CNET]
DarFon exhibits luminous keyboard, giggling mouse at Computex
There are literally thousands of wacky gadget variations floating around Computex, but one that's caught the eye of our Chinese counterparts is this snazzy DarFon keyboard. As you can tell by the picture above, the keys sport some luminous qualities, and the board is constructed from lacquered metal, said to give it a "burnish." Apparently the company was also showing off a mouse which would giggle when you touch it and gets upset if someone you "don't like" emails you (don't ask us how it knows). Creepy? Yes. Are we ready to pre-order? Definitely. More pics after the break.Read - DarFon 1Read - DarFon 2
Darfon's Bluetooth keypad is bigger than your cellphone
Computex is over but we couldn't just walk away without giving you a peep at this Bluetooth keypad from Darfon. The idea here is simple yet blissfully absurd: wear the device as a lanyard to dial calls while your cellphone remains tucked away in your man-bag or she-sack. We're apparently supposed to overlook the fact that it's about the same size as your cellphone. Hey Darfon, meet Palm -- we hear that they share your interest in superfluous "companion" devices.
