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What Functional Benefit Does This Modular Keyboard Confer?

The Tmice X, an example of the "deskscape" product category

By Rain Noe - October 21

in UX

This object's use cases seem pretty contrived to me, but it's an example of the "deskscape" category of products currently storming the market. The idea behind the Tmice X Modular Keyboard is that you can snap magnetic attachments to your keyboard to increase its functionality.

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I'm not sure it makes sense. If your daily job requires function keys, a numeric keypad or programmable keys and a dial, wouldn't you simply invest in a dedicated keyboard that has all of these features? I'm not sure what you gain by detaching components and putting them away when they're not needed; if anything this seems like adding busywork to your routine, and requires dedicated storage space for the removed components.

That said, perhaps this makes sense for someone with an incredibly tiny desk; the product does come, after all, from space-tight Hong Kong.

In any case, the Tmice X has been successfully Kickstarted, with 16 days left to pledge at press time. If this is your thing, the base keyboard starts at $80, with each add-on ranging from $25 to $80. The full set is $300.

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Dee An

2 months ago

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>" wouldn't you simply invest in a dedicated keyboard that has all of these features?"
Sigh. You really don't read comments, do you? As your readers recently pointed after one of your recent articles, placing a numpad to the left of the keyboard is a common thing for CAD users.
>"I'm not sure what you gain by detaching components and putting them away when they're not needed;"
Strewth. You only buy and use the components that you want, as per the next paragraph that you wrote.
For some background, I suggest you search "Reddit SOLIDWORKS gamepad numpad" and read around real users problems, dilemmas and solutions.

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What Functional Benefit Does This Modular Keyboard Confer?

The Tmice X, an example of the "deskscape" product category

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