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[Ben]

My XO arrived a couple of days ago, and I'm having fun learning how to use it. 

But the tiny keyboard is driving my crazy.  I have an ancient Toshiba Libretto that's a little bit narrower than the XO, but the Libretto's home row (A - ; ) is 1.5 cm (5/8") wider.  That additional 1.5 cm might not be much, it's enough that I can touch type on the Libretto, but I have to carefully watch what I'm doing while typing on the XO.  So if a manufacturer of an even smaller laptop can fit a decent sized keyboard into a tiny laptop, why couldn't the OLPC folks do the same?

	XO	Libretto
Case Width:	22.5 cm	21.0 cm
Keyboard Width:	20.0 cm	19.5 cm
Home row Width:	13.0 cm	14.5 cm
Keyboard Depth:	7.0 cm	6.5 cm
Q-Z Row Depth:	3.5 cm	3.5 cm

[Directive0]

My XO arrived a couple of days ago, and I'm having fun learning how to use it. 

But the tiny keyboard is driving my crazy.  I have an ancient Toshiba Libretto that's a little bit narrower than the XO, but the Libretto's home row (A - ; ) is 1.5 cm (5/8") wider.  That additional 1.5 cm might not be much, it's enough that I can touch type on the Libretto, but I have to carefully watch what I'm doing while typing on the XO.  So if a manufacturer of an even smaller laptop can fit a decent sized keyboard into a tiny laptop, why couldn't the OLPC folks do the same?

	XO	Libretto
Case Width:	22.5 cm	21.0 cm

Keyboard Width:	20.0 cm	19.5 cm
Home row Width:	13.0 cm	14.5 cm
Keyboard Depth:	7.0 cm	6.5 cm
Q-Z Row Depth:	3.5 cm	3.5 cm

They specifically designed the keyboard to be difficult for adults.

[BlankVerse]

They specifically designed the keyboard to be difficult for adults.

I think that it's more the case that the designed the keyboard to be easier to use for young kids, but the end result is the same.

I've been thinking of getting a USB keyboard to use with the XO, but one problem that I see is how do you emulate the weird extra modifier keys that the XO has.

[DorkGently]

Yeah, the laptop is designed so that kids can use it and adults can't. I'm hoping that I can use it though. I have tiny hands

[Directive0]

They specifically designed the keyboard to be difficult for adults.

I think that it's more the case that the designed the keyboard to be easier to use for young kids, but the end result is the same.

I've been thinking of getting a USB keyboard to use with the XO, but one problem that I see is how do you emulate the weird extra modifier keys that the XO has.

Nope, they actually INTENDED it to be difficult for adults.  A strange kind of theft deterrent.

[jetkid]

Ben,

In your comparision on keyboards, you did not mention if the Toshiba's keyboard is spill resistant.

That may be a reason why the keys are smaller.

The XO keyboard reminds me of the Atari 400 membrane keyboard or the IBM PC jr 'chiklet' keyboard.

[Ben]

I think that it's more the case that the designed the keyboard to be easier to use for young kids, but the end result is the same.

I'm well aware that it was intended for smaller hands, but I was surprised that the keys have less room for my fingers than the smaller Libretto.

I've been thinking of getting a USB keyboard to use with the XO, but one problem that I see is how do you emulate the weird extra modifier keys that the XO has.

I got a flexible keyboard that I can carry in my bag with the XO.  I love my little XO, but not being able to touch type proved to be too distracting while trying to take notes during a meeting.

[Jordan]

I'm touch typing on the OLPC.  It's cramped, but I've found it managable if I let my hands relax.  I have found that the keyboard is also good for library type situations: dead quiet.

If you want to use a USB keyboard, they work fine and most of the important keys are there.  Though you'll probably have trouble if you use accented characters.  Or maybe not, since I'm using an ancient IBM Model M keyboard that lacks a few keys.  What is available (and non-obvious)?  The (x) key is escape, the Neighbourhood through Volume-Up keys are F1 through F12.  Other keys, like the frame key, are accessible as hot keys (in this case alt-f).  The two keyboards can also run in parallel.  So if a key is missing on one keyboard, just hop over to the other.

[iluvpandas4]

Well there is a permanent mod to replace the keyboard all together for you guys with big hands. It's a little intrusive because you have to open up your XO to make it happen, but it doesn't seem too difficult. Only bad thing about it is you lose one of your USB ports.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Installing-a-USB-Keyboard-into-an-OLPC-XO-Laptop-/