Big beefy keyboard

[fsjws4]

What's the biggest, beefiest keyboard that works with the Z? Seems like the trend is toward tiny little ultra-portable jobbies, but I've got the built-in keyboard for that. I want something I can plop down on the desk and type for an hour on. I don't care if it doesn't fold up, and I don't care if it's wireless or not. I just want full-size keys, with a real number row, and all the important symbols accessible. What can I use?

[Sephiroth]

What's the biggest, beefiest keyboard that works with the Z? Seems like the trend is toward tiny little ultra-portable jobbies, but I've got the built-in keyboard for that. I want something I can plop down on the desk and type for an hour on. I don't care if it doesn't fold up, and I don't care if it's wireless or not. I just want full-size keys, with a real number row, and all the important symbols accessible. What can I use?

Heat up your soldering iron and your favorite japanese to  English/French/German online translator (let's say babel fish for example)
And go there
Full solution to use classical PS/2 Mouse and Keyboard on the Z !!! No more need to take keyboard with you !
Oh, if you're still interested, take some aspirin , you could need it ...


PS: do not forget to post if you achieve something interesting
PS2: this site is full of interesting junk BTW.
[img]http://www.piro.hopto.org/~piro/zaurus/hardware/ps2kmj-1.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]

[ashikase]

It might also be possible to use a USB keyboard/mouse with a USB CF card - I've never tried it myself, though.

The advantage of using the method that Sephiroth posted is that it leaves the CF slot free, which may allow for the possibility of using the available CF VGA card to attach an external monitor.

Note that if you plan to use a mouse, the default build of Qtopia does not have the mouse cursor enabled. You will either need to rebuild Qtopia, or, more simply, install the program InputHelper, which provides a cursor (as well as the ability to simulate mouse clicks/screen taps - great for macros) (InputHelper is mentioned in the link above).

An alternative to hooking up an external keyboard directly to the Z... if you have another computer available, you could always ssh into the Z. While it wouldn't be useful for Qtopia apps, it would allow you to remotely use any console/X apps that you have installed. If you want to use Qtopia apps remotely, you could try using VNC.

- ashikase
  anpachi, gifu, japan

[clofland]

Cool. Do let us know if anyone builds one of these!

I don't have the skills to do it, and even if I tried I would be afraid to plug my work into my Z.

Maybe if someone figures it out they could sell them. Or maybe it is more work and parts than what anyone would pay for it.  

[Sephiroth]

Cool. Do let us know if anyone builds one of these!

I don't have the skills to do it, and even if I tried I would be afraid to plug my work into my Z.

Maybe if someone figures it out they could sell them. Or maybe it is more work and parts than what anyone would pay for it. 

I was kidding when i talked about aspirin and so on : the circuit board you are seeing on the pic is the Xtrasuperdeluxe version with IRDA,Serial for both PCs and zaurus, connexions for PS/2 kb and mouse and Super famicom pad ! And there is "only" a dozen of components.If you visit the website you will see that there is less complete but also less bulky and easier to make board (IRDA only to PS/2 KB and M).
EDIT:(also serial to PS/2,or to SFC pad only ...)

Oh, and about the fear of frying your Zaurus, even the most complete circuit board does not necessit external power supply, only Z power, so there is no risk !

[clofland]

Is this the one you refer to for just keyboard/mouse?

http://www.piro.hopto.org/~piro/zaurus/har...PS2ZAURUS-1.png

The schematic seems to imply an external +5 volts. Am I just reading it wrong?

What is an "SFC" pad? I assume it will work if I just leave that off?

Thanks for any pointers. I might try this. It would be a fun project.

[yzord]

I think the "SFC" pad referenced is a "Super FamiCom" joypad - what the super nintendo was called in Japan.

And yes, there is external power. Typically, PS/2 keyboards are powered by the computer PS/2 port, but since this is just over a RS232 connection, it must be powered externally, hence the 5V power diag. What would be MUCH sweeter is just connect a battery pack up to this thing, and you've got a portable solution that would probably last a loooong time (since newer PS/2 keyboards use very little juice to run).

Anyone know where to get Zaurus Cxx0 connector heads? This is the only thing I can't get to build this.

Alternatively, I would pay good money for someone to make this semi-professionally: for example, a small circuit board instead of a breadboard, maybe integrated with a battery case (with on-off switch), etc. Anyone want to pick this up an run with it? I'm sure someone could make a few bucks off this...

Bueller? Bueller?
Yz

[yzord]

There's an even simpler circuit here which is perfect for those that don't much care for mouse or SFC pad connections. He's even got it in a case, etc which is nigh on perfect.

Found the schematics here.

If you choose to do this (I'm contemplating it), the stumbling block will be the software, as it seems to require some sort of driver compilation (there's some asm and hex code in the zip file you can download). Can anyone help with deciphering this stuff (the code part)? Unfortunately, it's mostly in japanese, but here's the zip file he has on his website:
ZauKeyboard_V100.zip

Yz

Here's pictures:
[img]http://www012.upp.so-net.ne.jp/bikkuma/Zaurus/zaukey/KeyboardAdapter.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]

and...

[img]http://www012.upp.so-net.ne.jp/bikkuma/Zaurus/zaukey/AdapterPCB.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]

[clofland]

So has anyone built one of these yet?

[Mahoro]

Syn w/ your Zaurus through the ssh would do the job, at least @ the command line

[dsavard]

What about using the USB port on the Z instead of a CF USB with something like the Raritan USB to PS/2 kbd+mouse (APSUSB)?

Unfortunately, there is not much details on this adapter, but I guess it would be possible to make it plug in the Zaurus USB port with some USB adapter.

[BarryW]

dsavard, since we have 6000's we can just plug in a usb keyboard, with appropriate adapter and type away.  I've plugged in a mouse but there is no cursor so that doesn't work.

[dsavard]

Barry, I know the mouse would be useless in the normal environment, however, I read somewhere the OpenZaurus version with GPE is having a pointer the developpers are going to remove from the Zaurus build. So, maybe there should be a way to activate/deactivate such a pointer in a not so far future... Just an idea...