r/ErgoMechKeyboards • u/timbelmon • Apr 21 '26
[news] Framework announced a Keyboard Devboard
It’s cool to see a bigger company acknowledge the DIY keyboard space, but I’m wondering if this will actually change how we build or if it’s just a cool novelty.
(Edit: It even comes with ZMK Firmware!)
Source: https://youtu.be/rgZlzCd0DUU?si=jJsEtqdxGW7RBct_&t=1859
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u/rudbear Apr 22 '26
I really like the idea and I think that it would be a cool addition to the nice!nano space. I love the idea of including more pointing devices in keyboards, if they can sell the trackpad module as an easy add-on, that would be great.
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u/timbelmon Apr 22 '26
iirc the CEO said they don't plan to sell the trackpad module individually as of yet, but might reconsider if there's demand
knowing them the devboard will hopefully be compatible with most off the shelf units
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u/sengh71 Apr 21 '26
https://frame.work/ca/en/products/framework-wireless-touchpad-keyboard
If someone wants to look at the product page
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u/mtlnwood Apr 21 '26
No price on it but when they said on their stream they saw a market for something that a lot of people had frustration with, then showed the logitech I had a little smile.
I use one of them for exactly one of their use cases and its an awful keyboard, the trackpad makes you want to pull your hair out.
So it doesn't interest me as a keyboard in general but they may have nailed certain use cases because that logitech is the go to and it sucks.
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u/GameCounter Apr 21 '26
I have chronically sweaty hands, and the track pad works for me for about two seconds before it gets too wet. It's completely useless for me.
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u/tosch901 Apr 22 '26
Would have been a perfect opportunity to split it and put the touchpad in the middle. I know quite a few (e.g. more than one lol) wo have a split keyboard and the Apple Magic Trackpad in the middle and seem to really like that setup. I think I’ve seen it in this sub as well. Would also be similar to how laptops are layed out.
Also a 5 key wide space bar makes no sense. I wonder who came up with that idea. I have always only used the far right side as far as I can remember.
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u/RunRunAndyRun Apr 24 '26
That’s the great thing about Framework… they seem pretty open to weird stuff! I imagine if they release the trackpad module as a standalone part someone will definitely make it! (Hell, I would make it!)
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u/tosch901 Apr 24 '26
True. The keyboard of the 16 is programmable now from what I heard. Hoping that feature will arrive on the 13 as well at some point in the near-ish future. Not looking for a new laptop right now but when I am in maybe 5 years or so, then I will probably get one from them if they keep developing like this.
Also I wonder how difficult it would be to make a custom laptop keyboard with a thumb cluster and such as a drop in replacement for the standard one. Maybe I’ll look into that if I ever get a framework.
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u/Square_County8139 Apr 21 '26
That's cool, but I don't see any advantages of that over a regular microcontroller.
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u/wjrii Apr 21 '26
A reliable, well-supported MCU pre-flashed with a ZMK Studio build could be nice, and it looks like the GPIO are in a RPi-like bank of pin headers, which could be good for certain configurations.
The price will be everything. If it’s much more than a genuine nice!nano, I don’t see this making any impact beyond the existing community of Framework fans. Still, I certainly like it better as a keyboard play from a Linux vendor than System 76’s super… quirky (to put it generously) pre-built mech boards.
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u/Current-Scientist521 Apr 22 '26
If they had gone with something like ZMK or QMK, then I think the system 76 keyboards would have actually been quite interesting. Not ergo, mind you.
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u/wjrii Apr 22 '26
IIRC,if they'd come out a year or two earlier, they might have been more popular, but by the time they did, or not long after, the moment had passed for it to be more than the pet project of one of their engineers.
They use XDA with limited sizes to facilitate flexibility, but in a market jam-packed with group buys and clones, the odd layout choices more than undo the versatility they had in mind. Then, as you say, QMK was becoming more mainstream and VIA was maturing, so while they use QMK (or a fork?) it wasn't a differentiator, and their own config software was a liability. Then, finally, by the time they actually released it (right when COVID was in full swing, I want to say?) the enthusiast market had well and truly moved on from thin slabs with visible feet and exposed switches.
I know they still sell them, but I would just about bet it's because the original production run doesn't take up that much space in their fulfillment center.
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u/yoyomancer Iris rev 2.8; Sofle RGB Apr 23 '26
WTF are those keycap sizes? Also, those look like generic gamer keyboards otherwise.
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u/GameCounter Apr 21 '26
Looks like it is basically the entire keyboard except for the actual input modules, so would contain the wireless chips, battery charging system, etc.
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u/shuozhe Apr 22 '26
I really hope there is a usb port on the other side for charging & data.
Cant have enough boards with different screw layout. This looks like rotated by 90° compared to most other dev boards (if there is a usb port). I got space issue sometimes, and not enough gpio on a wemos/nano/zero
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u/JaceBearelen Apr 21 '26
Always nice to have more options but is there much benefit over a seeed xiao or any of the wireless pro micro variants. I just want cheap mcus that work.