Sanwa Supply Combines Mini-Keyboard with Gamepad and Tracking Device

[btarunr]

Japanese company Sanwa Supply probably wondered that if mini-keyboards are going to resemble those from smartphones and PDAs, why make them boxy, why not curvy and ergonomic. It came up with the SKB-WL16BK, a wireless mini-keyboard with a 2-axis joystick that can double up as a tracking device. It would make for a nice input-device for HTPCs, on which human-interaction is far limited compared to on desktop PCs.

The SKB-WL16BK gives you a QWERTY keypad with 76 keys, multimedia keys, a D-pad that doubles up as the keyboard's arrow keys, a 2-axis thumb-stick, and two triggers that double up as left-right clicks. The main unit measures D145 x W90 x H28 mm , weighing 168 g (including two AA batteries). It communicates to the PC over 2.4 GHz radio band. On sale, the SKB-WL16BK from Sanwa Supply is priced at 13,440 JPY (about US $174.3).



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[HossHuge]

I love the idea but that price is ridiculous.

 

[DigitalUK]

this isnt new ive had one of these on my htpc for afew years, you can buy them for £30 on ebay?

Here

 

[meirb111]

this isnt new ive had one of these on my htpc for afew years, you can buy them for £30 on ebay?

Here

the one in the article is new not the one from your link but its very similar to the overly priced one in the article

 

[DigitalUK]

the one in the article is new not the one from your link but its very similar to the overly priced one in the article

its exactly the same both 2.4ghz wireless both 76 buttons with touch sensor on side, all buttons are in exact same place. also on/off button and connect button on back the only problem with these is the thumb mouse starts to move slow after some time in one direction which is easy to fix just take apart unclip the mouse thumb and bend contact pins out abit, ive also had to replace the right click micro switch after about a year.

 

[meirb111]

its exactly the same both 2.4ghz wireless both 76 buttons with touch sensor on side, all buttons are in exact same place. also on/off button and connect button on back the only problem with these is the thumb mouse starts to move slow after some time in one direction which is easy to fix just take apart unclip the mouse thumb and bend contact pins out abit, ive also had to replace the right click micro switch after about a year.

maybe this is the first time a japanese company copy's from a Chinese company
the result is 5 times higher price than the orginal

 

[DigitalUK]

must be because i paid about £30 (about $45) for mine which i thought was abit pricey at the time but it was perfect for what i needed, maybe the htpc is included as well in the price.

 

[brandonwh64]

It would be cool but they put the joystick on the wrong side

 

[DigitalUK]

it is a really good controller (not at that price), and is good with your media centre add some retro emulators which you can use the dpad on the left. the worst thing is no "function keys" so you have to hook up a usb keyboard to your htpc if you want to get into Bios (unless Del is your bios entry)

 

[eidairaman1]

accidental key press anyone.