43s status

[orcinus]

(04-11-2014 11:23 PM)brouhaha Wrote:  It really doesn't matter since the 3D printed keys are too expensive for anything but prototypes; production will have to be injection molded.

1. Who's talking about production?
2. Were the keys you printed flat or profiled?
3. Did you show them outside calculator conferences and were they actually used?

(04-11-2014 11:23 PM)brouhaha Wrote:  Actually that's not even slightly hard. Search for "tactile switches" on Digikey or Mouser. There are hundreds of different ones that are suitable...

I assume you've tried them all and found the ones that are suitable?

(04-11-2014 11:23 PM)brouhaha Wrote:  Richard Ottosen and I have been building calculator prototypes for more than ten years, working toward something that could actually be sold. While we're always happy to hear new ideas, it seems a bit strange to be told that things that we've already accomplished successfully are not usable, or that things we've done easily are "relatively hard".

This will sound terribly disrespectful, but... After ten years, have you finally gotten to the point where something can actually be sold?

And by that i honestly am not trying to be disrespectful - *i'd* rather have a solid prototype than a hacked product and i appreciate the effort involved. But the reality of it is - no one will buy a prototype with 3D printed keys. But people will buy a factory made product hacked into something else, despite all its shortcomings.

And that's my original point (which, granted, might be completely off base). A tiny step sideways is sometimes better than standing still and talking about that big step forward.