PiTop 2 Keyboard
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Glen Walker (2585) 469 posts |
Its been a while…my RISC OS computer has been (and still largely is) in bits so I’ve sortof been out of the loop. Now I am faced with the option of buying a new monitor and building a small custom case for my Pi based computer or with fitting it into a PiTop. I have never really been impressed with the off-center keyboard of the original PiTop but notice they have recently released a new version…does anyone have any experience of this version? I’m particularly interested in how good the keyboard is for touch-typing… |
Erich Kraehenbuehl (1634) 175 posts |
I got a PiTop, but i’m not happy with it. Minor poblem is the bad keyoard. Now i don’t want to go for another exchange anymore… Hardware quality is not what i expected for that high price. |
Raik (463) 2026 posts |
I have configured a Pi-Top2 for the son of a colleague (Linux) and I have also tried RISC OS. The only problem with the keyboard I had was the TouchPad. The lower corners on the right and left replace the mouse buttons. The jammed but occasionally. [powermanagement]: Thats right. Looks like they are using a Amtel Tiny 88 via I2C to control all the power things and they have any problems with the programming (in my eyes). [RISC OS switch on]: Thats not right, I think. Is what I also think after I use a ROM RC15 and later. Before works without problems. “My” Pi-Top OS was Polaris. The Pi-Top has the same hardware without a own keyboard. |
andym (447) 462 posts |
I have one, and it seems much better than the Pi-Top, but it’s an American layout, so takes a bit of adjustment to find the right characters. My main issue is with Pi-Top as an organisation. I’ve had a cable for my original version on order for the last five months, and they’ve repeatedly said they’ll send it in 3-5 days only for it to never materialise. I’ve filled in three “tickets” as they seem to keep no records of previous conversations. Aftersales support is way below what RISC OS users tend to expect in my experience, and having spoken to other owners, it’s not just me! And the Quality Control on the Pi-Top isn’t great – so far, I’ve had a new hub, a new keyboard, and two new battery bases… but not the bloonming cable I need! By the time I get it, the battery will no doubt be knackered again! That said, the new version has fewer things to go wrong, but if they do, it’ll be a battle to get the bespoke spares/replacements. But I like mine – I really like the 1080p screen. But the problem is the lack of support for battery status etc. I believe the API hasn’t been released, and I don’t think it was for the Pi-Top either – I think it was reverse engineered by someone. As you can tell, I’m very slightly frustrated by their slightly shambolic “support”. |
Rick Murray (539) 13326 posts |
All the keyboards sold here are the awful AZERTY layout. Which isn’t surprising as I live in France. :-)
Look on the bright side – you’re not waiting for a ZX Spectrum Vega Plus… |
David R. Lane (77) 713 posts |
Does the Pi-top 2 have the repeating keys problem of the original Pi-top? |
Norman Lawrence (3005) 171 posts |
I have had similar quality issues with my Pi-Top, so far I have three new hubs, keyboard, screen and battery base. The improved design/layout of the mark 2 Pi-Top looks good but will wait until more user experience is gained before buying a mark 2. I am okay with keyboard but not sure about kermit green case. |
Glen Walker (2585) 469 posts |
I actually like the green case! It should really be joined by Acid Yellow and Dayglow Blue or some other such crazy options…far too many computers are far too similar colours! But thanks all for the advice, I think I’m going to stick to plans to make a desktop case and buy a monitor now – I reckon I could get it done in less than the price of a Pi-Top anyway…even if it means a trip to the pawnbrokers for a TV/monitor |
Jon Abbott (1421) 2589 posts |
That’s a Pi issue that’s not specific to the pi-top. It’s been curtailed for the most part by changes to the way USB is handled, but will never be completely eradicated as I believe the root cause is the USB implementation in the SoC.
Not good, in fact close to impossible due to the way keys don’t always register if hit off centre. |
Steffen Huber (91) 1945 posts |
I think real Acorn fans ought to wait for “Phoebe yellow” :-) |
Steve Pampling (1551) 7897 posts |
LOL (really) completely eradicated is possibly what you meant although completely irradiating might stop repeating key problems (by stopping any working function)… :) |
Jon Abbott (1421) 2589 posts |
We all love predicated text ;) |
Erich Kraehenbuehl (1634) 175 posts |
New problem with PiTop; Whenever i’m shuting down, it stays on, i have to switch off with pressing the powerbutton, until it switches off. After switching on, it swiches off again, as soon as RISC OS is starting into desktop. Does anybody have an idea what could be the reason for this problem? |
Jon Abbott (1421) 2589 posts |
It’s a very common problem, reflashing the battery firmware a few times fixes it. I must reflash the damned thing at least once a month as there’s another related issue, where the battery stops charging because the hub gets into an unknown state. The other option is to physically detach the hub from the battery as it’s constantly powered; once it gets in an unknown state it’s pretty much stuck. Personally I find reflashing more convenient as I fear the case will fall apart if I keep removing the top to get at the hub. |
David R. Lane (77) 713 posts |
Work this one out! It still misses a character here and there as has already been discussed. It seems one has to hit the key hard and centrally. |
Jon Abbott (1421) 2589 posts |
What RISCOS build and firmware are you using? And do you have any USB devices plugged in? Plugging an external mouse in for example invariably causes keyboard issues. |
David R. Lane (77) 713 posts |
My Pi-Top is running RISC OS V5.23 (April 2017, I think) on a Raspberry-Pi 3 and has a mouse plugged in. No other USB devices are plugged in save the Keyboard. On past occasions I have had also a TP-Link Nano router plugged in which uses a USB socket for power. |
David R. Lane (77) 713 posts |
I can report a bit more. I plugged in my TP-Link nano router (as well as the mouse), rebooted and the repeating keeeeeeey problem returned, ****! Since I was trying to set up the Nano router, not testing the keyboard, I disabled auto-repeat in the configure tool. Fine. After setting up the Nano router, I thought I would try enabling auto-repeat again. Result: repeating key problem vanished! So what is going on? This is similar to what I posted earlier. If, as some say, this is a problem with RISC OS USB, then there is an irony in this as I am trying to donate to the USB step 2 bounty and failing (see “Can’t Donate with Netsurf or OBrowser” thread in the Bounties subforum) . |
Jon Abbott (1421) 2589 posts |
You’re possibly suffering from power droop, try plugging the Nano and mouse into an externally powered USB hub and see if the problem goes away. If the problem is still there, try just the Nano without the external mouse. |
David R. Lane (77) 713 posts |
Some more testing with bad and good results. On powering up with both mouse and TP-Link Nano router plugged in I got the repeating problem back and had to, first, disable auto-repeat and then enable auto-repeat to stop the repeating character problem. However, on powering on today the problem did not recur and that was after typing for at least 10 minutes. Could others, who have a Pi-Top with the repeating character problem, try my trick of first disabling auto-repeat in the configuration application and then re-enabling it, saving each time of course? I have reporter running and it tells me near the end of booting that HID$Dir.Auto.1C4004D4.Kick not found. I looked in subdirectory 1c4004d4 and sure enough there was no file Kick there. Does it matter? |
Jon Abbott (1421) 2589 posts |
I normally just unplug then reinsert the external mouse, but will try this the next time it happens. |
andym (447) 462 posts |
I seem to have found a new problem with the Pi-Top 2 keyboard and mouse. I’ve noticed that any press of a keyboard modifier (i.e. SHIFT or CTRL) seems to render the mouse dead! Clicks don’t work, movement er, doesn’t – the thing is dead. As soon as I let go of the modifier key, the mouse springs back to life. Anyone else experienced (or better still, cured) this? |
andym (447) 462 posts |
I take it back. It’s ANY key, not just a modifier. Sounds like duff hardware to me, given that it works perfectly with a separate mouse. |
Rick Murray (539) 13326 posts |
Maybe when you’re holding a key down, it blocks the mouse activity from working? Sounds a bit dumb though, some painting packages I’ve come across (on the PC) use modifier keys to alter what the tool (controlled by the mouse) does. |
Andrew Conroy (370) 724 posts |
Yes, that’s exactly what it does! It’s not a RISC OS thing either, it does the same under pi-topOS. The very first pi-top2 I saw at work didn’t have this issue, but subsequent ones have done. Seems mad to me! |
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