It amuses me when people are surprised by product development. Here are the rules:
- if the consumer will buy it, it isn't a flaw
- if the consumer won't pay extra for it, it isn't a feature
This is how all products in all markets are developed. On the rare occasion that a product developer takes it upon themselves to deliver a better product they will make less profit (reward), and therefore be less competitive and more likely to fail as a business. These companies are often called hobbies. The only way to improve products is to improve ("educate") consumers, and I'm not holding my breath on that one.
> This is how all products in all markets are developed.
Why are you saying that in such absolute terms? As if they were the defining features that govern the markets.
If that was really how it worked, what do you say to start-ups who make risky entrepreneurial bets on a daily basis?
The usefulness of something is not always readily obvious. It takes time to internalize, and often we just won't get it unless it's been thoroughly marketed to us, or suggested by friends and peers.
We can amply ridicule keyboard manufacturers for their lack of any real breakthroughs or innovation in recent years.
we just won't get it unless it's been thoroughly marketed to us, or suggested by friends and peers.
Yes, there is no demand for something novel without appropriately educated consumers. (I swear I just said that...)
We can amply ridicule keyboard manufacturers for their lack of any real breakthroughs or innovation in recent years.
Why? They have made great strides in creating exactly what consumers want: a $20 surprisingly durable USB keyboard with a 104 key layout (ex. Dell CJ651). The original poster's motivation is his realization that he is not the average consumer, and thus is not satisfied with the average product.
Finally, about what I'd like to see in keyboards
We all want a pony. I'll make you one, but it will cost $1,000 - I presume that you're okay with this.
Your extended character input problems have nothing to do with your keyboard - Mac OS X can easily input most of them with a small number of strokes on that same keyboard. You could switch the keys you speak of on Windows with different drivers.
