Pulling out and switching the keys

[ShiroiKuma]

I'd like to change the layout on the physical hardware keyboard to Dvorak.

I've done this on a number of keyboards through the years, PC, Psion...

The 760's keyboard looks like the softer softer through which the individual keys protrude could be lifted from the side inserting a knife under it and then you could switch the keys.

Don't know if I want to fiddle with it though if it should be disassembled some other way, don't wanna mess it up.

Has anyone experimented with this?

[blakeyez]

IIRC, this keyboard is one strip of 'plastic', somewhat like what you'd find in many cell phones.  I don't know if you could rearrange the buttons at all...

Dave

[kopsis]

You do recall correctly  The keyboard on the C760 is indeed just a single piece of translucent plastic. The keys are simply "thick spots" on the plastic membrane. The membrane is cleverly "painted" on the underside to give the illusion that the keys are distinct from the surrounding material. If you watch closely when you push a key, you will see the whole membrane (the key and the area around it) flex as the microswitch below makes contact. It's really an excellent design for a PDA as all moving parts are sealed within making it dirt and moisture resistant. But rearranging the keys is out of the question.

[vputz]

...however, IF the physical rubber keys are separate from the membrane and microswitches, you could move the keys around and then remap the keyboard in software.  That should work fine for a Dvorak layout.

-->VPutz

[ShiroiKuma]

...however, IF the physical rubber keys are separate from the membrane and microswitches, you could move the keys around and then remap the keyboard in software.  That should work fine for a Dvorak layout.

-->VPutz

But are there any rubber keys?

If it's one whole piece of plastic (it seems to be, just looked   ), are the letters painted on it in black from the other side, or are there some separate rubber keys?

[vputz]

Bah, you're right.  Sorry about that.  I am not one of the elevated folks that could afford a clamshell Z, so I'm looking at my wee 5000D, which does appear (from the outside, at least) to have individual wee keys, presumably pressing on a hidden membrane.  Someday I'll grab an 860 or so...

Ah well, fun idea at least-->VPutz

[akpoff]

Bah, you're right.  Sorry about that.  I am not one of the elevated folks that could afford a clamshell Z, so I'm looking at my wee 5000D, which does appear (from the outside, at least) to have individual wee keys, presumably pressing on a hidden membrane.  Someday I'll grab an 860 or so...

Ah well, fun idea at least-->VPutz

I don't think you can even re-arrange the keys, at least on a SL6K, as the keys IIRC were all attached to one another via plastic lattice.  You could possibly break out the individual keys and place them where you want but I'm not that brave.

Have you considered teenly little stickies to remap the physical appearance?  It'd be ugly but might work better.

[BarryW]

Since I had my 6000 apart last night I can tell you the keys on it are one big rubber piece.  The keycaps are plastic but don't come off.  I got spoiled by my ole clie and wanted backlit keys.  Ended up adding a very small led to the bottom of the screen that light up the keypad when the slider is down.

[Dez]

With respect to backlit keyboards, has anyone tried these (glow-in-the-dark keyboard stickers)?

http://www.latkey.com/glowing_stickers.asp