Re:The advantages of programming on a small netbook
by there on Friday April 23, 2010 @12:53PM
(#1288638)
i had a keyboard problem with a dell mini 9, but it wasn't really about it being cramped: to use important keys like "\", "|", "-", "[" and "]", one had to press the fn key plus another.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/symmetricalism/3429329317/sizes...
luckily there was an international version of the same keyboard being used on other mini 9s, so i was able to order it from dell and install it on mine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/symmetricalism/3465687431/in/se...
Re:The advantages of programming on a small netbook
by bazbamduck on Friday April 23, 2010 @02:09PM
(#1288960)
I recently gave up on my mini 9 because of that precise problem, not knowing about the international keyboard option.
Do you happen to have the part # for the international keyboard? (I just poked around Dell's site for it unsuccessfully.)
Re:The advantages of programming on a small netbook
by there on Friday April 23, 2010 @03:40PM
(#1289260)
the part number is U061H, it's just an "international keyboard" in their system. you may have to order it directly by contacting dell (either their web sales chat thing, or calling) and just asking for the specific part number.
the back of it is the top one here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/symmetricalism/3466501746/sizes...
Re:The advantages of programming on a small netbook
by Luc on Friday April 23, 2010 @03:39PM
(#1289259)
It's in the comments on one of the other pictures in that Flickr set.
Re:The advantages of programming on a small netbook
by 10ren on Friday April 23, 2010 @01:48PM
(#1288876)
I had problems with the spacebar of my eee; I ended up following the advice on http://forum.eeeuser.com/ and detached the space key, and thickened the raised part that activates the switch (I think they suggested glue; I just used some layers of sticky tape. Still working perfectly after a year of heavy use). I think I ended up doing something for some other keys; I also disabled caps lock (I'd press it instead of tab). BTW I use vim all the time.
It was annoying, but the hacking was fun.
Re:The advantages of programming on a small netbook
by krschultz on Friday April 23, 2010 @11:56AM
(#1288403)
Agreed, I bought a netbook and tried out four or five to feel their keyboards. I chose the Samsung N120 and I'm quite happy with it, but I don't enjoy coding on it nearly as much as on my desktop.
I had horrific problems with the keyboard on my 1st gen EEE PC, so make sure you get a chance to demo the netbook of your choice before blowing $400 bucks. The right shift key is terribly placed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ASUS_Eee_PC_900_0010.JPG) - you reach for shift and you end up hitting the up arrow. Sure you can remap the keys, but this design decision is indicative of the overall quality of the keyboard. The _biggest_ problem was that various keys randomly ignored input. Hit the spacebar 10 times, you'd be lucky to get have it register 10 times. Try coding in vim with a keyboard that may or may not let you into insert mode. Maybe I just got a dud, but the EEE PC message boards suggests other users experienced similar issues.
I used that netbook exclusively for 6 months before giving up. Now it's my $400 Playstation 1 emulator :-/