Do you love your high-tech computer but yearn for the evocative clickety-clack of an old-school typewriter? Thanks to a successful Indiegogo campaign, you’ll soon be able to enjoy the best of both worlds.

The Lofree is a mechanical keyboard capable of recreating that classic typewriter sound. To top it off, Lofree has been fitted with a set of vintage round keycaps to fit your fingertips perfectly and increase your typing accuracy. The layout may take a little getting used to, but it’s intended to make typing more intuitive and keyboards easier to navigate. The company has designed their product to be as ergonomic as possible, explaining, “After prototyping different angles of the keyboard, the 6-degree angle gives you increased stability, more comfort, and precision.”

Simply flick a switch on the side of the keyboard to connect it to your device via Bluetooth, or run a cable from your computer directly into Lofree’s easy-access micro-USB port. Since Lofree is an equal-opportunity machine, you’ll never have to worry about incompatibility. It can be paired with up to three devices at once and works perfectly with Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android. If you’re a Mac user, you’ll be happy to hear that the keyboard is compatible with every function key without requiring any setup on your part. Adjust your computer’s brightness, volume, and access your dashboard all from your Lofree keyboard.

The designers point out, “Ninety-five percent of all mechanical keyboards are made for gamers. They are bulky, wired, and full with features that you that you probably won’t use.” In an effort to make the lives of non-gamers easier, the company has stripped Lofree down to a keyboard’s most basic functions—though they’ve thrown in a few useful bonus features for good measure.

Personally, we love the fact that this retro keyboard is compatible with phones and tablets. Whether you’re traveling or writing a report over a latte in the coffee shop, Lofree will make it much easier to write anywhere. We’re also big fans of the bluetooth keyboard’s convenient backlighting, which is ideal for night-typing. The keyboard’s battery only takes five hours to fully charge and will last for an astounding six months or so if you don’t use the backlighting and for a week or two if you do: that’s four times the battery capacity of most other keyboards on the market. Plus, Lofree’s auto-sleep function will help you squeeze even more life out of each charge.

Upon its release, Lofree will be available in pure white, turquoise blue, and sandstone black. Every keyboard will have black keys, but the company promises to explore more color options further down the road. The design team has also expressed interest in developing different key layouts for countries that are accustomed to other formats.

The keyboard’s typewriter sounds are created by a series of internal Gateron Blue switches. We reckon Lofree will appeal to both the people who fondly remember their old typewriters and the younger generations who love retro products that incorporate modern-day function and comfort. As its designers say, Lofree is “nostalgia in a modern coat.” You can’t beat that.

The post High-Tech Keyboard With a Retro Twist first appeared on Dornob.

The QWERTY keyboard has proved remarkably resilient from one device to the next, and perhaps it will be persist for some time yet, but someday this design will look definitively like a piece of the past.

Still, in the meantime, ZO_loft‘s creation is a quintessentially Italian blend of present styles and sleek minimalism, using a palette of silver, white and black that would be suitable to conferences and offices.

For those who find themselves passing out at their desk, you can also lay out this futon into bed form and take a nap right on a giant-sized version of your keyboard. From its creators: “Turning the archetypal image of a keyboard, into a sofa bed, QWERTY is proposed to hold you on its soft “keys” on evenings while working in the office or at home on a rainy afternoons spentwatching the home video, bringing a pinch of irony in our daily life.”

“Anyway QWERTY is much more than a sofa bed. Thanks to micro electric motors controlled by a remote control, every single key/cushion is adjustable in height to give total freedom to the full available surface. In this way, the furniture becomes a playful carpet, a comfortable support but an unconventional surface.”

The post Destined to Be Dated: Cute QWERTY Futon Made for Geeks first appeared on Dornob.

Many laptops simply do not have the space to allocate to a normal numeric keypad – something many of us are used to using on external keyboards or home computers. This simple-but-brilliant solution by Adesso combines keypad functionality to accommodate a traveler who does not wish to bring an entire extra keyboard.

Housed within clear plastic casing, the keypad not only ads a functional dimension to an ordinary mouse – it also makes use of the underlying keys as an aesthetic expression of the multiple functions of this portable gadget. For those of us who like to crunch numbers on the go this is an essential mouse to pack along. One does have to wonder, though, whether it would be annoying to use.

More from B&H Photo, where you can buy it:

“The Adesso AKP-170 is a unique device that combines an optical mouse with a full numeric keypad. Ideal for laptop users who don’t have a numeric keypad on their computer, the AKP-170 provides a simple plug-and-play solution that keeps clutter to a minimum.”

“The mouse has a 1000dpi optical sensor for smooth, precise tracking. It can be used by left or right-handed users, and features a scroll wheel for easily browsing websites and documents. To access the keypad, simply flip open the transparent plastic cover, and use it as you would any other keypad.”

About Adesso

“Founded in 1994, Adesso has become a design manufacturer of computer peripherals and mobile accessories, including webcams, keyboards, mice, trackballs, touchpads, headsets, graphic tablets, document scanners, barcode scanners, receipt printers, cash drawer, hubs, docking station, wireless charger, and TAA compliant products. Beside looking towards tomorrow’s pioneering designs and technology to ensure to be a leading provider, we also serve the needs of each customer. Customer service is the most important aspect of our business, and we want to be there when you need us.”

The post Flip This Mouse Open to Reveal a Numeric Keypad first appeared on Dornob.