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Toys Hardware

Flexiglow Illuminated Keyboard 219

BigMan writes "You probably have seen a few of these keyboards (illuminated) before but this one is from Flexiglow who are known for making very nice modd products. We will look closer into this and see how bright it really is and if it's nice to type on and use."
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Flexiglow Illuminated Keyboard

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  • by titaniam ( 635291 ) * <slashdot@drpa.us> on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:37PM (#9035189) Homepage Journal
    Comes with a bottle of spf 45 sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses as well.
    • Yeah, I bet that would be hard to use in the dark because it's so bright.
    • by x0n ( 120596 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:53PM (#9035296) Homepage Journal
      At least I can get an all-over "CRT tan" now; this will get to those hard to reach spots under the chin.
  • by DAldredge ( 2353 ) <SlashdotEmail@GMail.Com> on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:39PM (#9035199) Journal
    How often do you look at your keyboard? I rarely look down at my keyboard when I am typing. I mean, it isn't that hard to learn to type.
    • by NotAnotherReboot ( 262125 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:42PM (#9035227)
      I concur...on top of that, do you really want your keyboard distracting you if you don't ever look at it? On top of that, even if you did need to look down from time to time, the only time you wouldn't be able to see it is at night (and even then, your monitor would probably illuminate it enough).

      You shouldn't be using a computer in the dark anyways, the contrast between the sceen and the wall is far too high. It hurts your vision.
    • by bob_jordan ( 39836 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:48PM (#9035268)
      Its not about usability, its about getting an all round tan. My three monitor setup works well but I've been looking a little pale under the chin. This is just what I've been looking for.

      Bob.
    • True, you don't need to look down at your keyboard when you are typing. But there are times when you just need to press a couple of buttons and it isn't worth it to sit down and/or orient yourself.

      Sometimes, during the night, when I am typing, its kind of nice to be able to hit Command-Open without having to figure out where you are on the keyboard. Apply this to multimedia keys and Fkeys as well.
    • by Bozdune ( 68800 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @03:03PM (#9035357)
      On my desktop? Never. On my laptop? A lot, everything is ctrl-meta-mumbled due to lack of space. But this product doesn't help me, because the whole point of the laptop is not to have to carry around a keyboard (or anything else, for that matter, with the possible exception of a mouse).

      But if somebody shipped a LAPTOP with an illuminated keyboard -- now you're talking. As long as battery life doesn't go to hell, that is. I know, the light could be turned on with a keystroke... shit, never mind.

    • Not often, but it's useful at times. Ever tried to sit down and orient yourself at a keyboard in the dark? I find that I need to see the keyboard first to get my hands in the right place. Not sure why, but I need to get a visual idea of where my hands are first, and then I'm fine.
      • by Anonymous Coward
        Wouldn't it be cool if a few well known keys just had some kind of mark on them you could just feel for. That way you wouldn't have to see the keyboard to know which keys your fingers were over.

        Quick, Microsoft patent this!
    • I type 60 WPM while looking at the keys and using four fingers, and my hands are constantly changing position.

      I could learn to touch type, but I'd rather avoid the RSI.
    • How often do you look at your keyboard? I rarely look down at my keyboard when I am typing. I mean, it isn't that hard to learn to type.

      When I have my hands on a keyboard, it's not that bad. Also, if I'm only using one model of keyboard, it's not bad. When I'm switching back and forth from a laptop keyboard and a desktop, I need light. I installed a 25 watt purple lightbulb in a desklamp for that purpose. Seems to be the right shade and level of light for perfect "I can see everything, (quickly) read

    • I have to look at my keyboard every 5 to 10 seconds bevause I make sutoif tyuopes idf I fom;r.
    • People who use different keyboards at home, work, library, college lab, etc. have a hard time adapting to different key layouts. When I was in college, the computer science labs had Solaris type keyboards. Some engineering labs had the old, 20-lb IBM keyboards. Other labs had Gateway keyboards. Some labs had various keyboards in the same lab. Library terminals had these awful, tiny keyboards with a terribly annoying key layout. My own keyboard was a DEC (I had the last of the DEC PCs.) My Mom's computer at
  • nice! (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Sophrosyne ( 630428 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:40PM (#9035212) Homepage
    Anything with the word Flexi [google.com] in it must be good!
    I wonder how much the guy had to pay Slashdot for the blatant ad?
  • by pierced2x ( 527997 ) <pierced2x@gmail.com> on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:41PM (#9035214)
    Just what I need, something to light up all my chip crumbs and small bits of Hot Pocket on the keyboard...
  • "Thank you Flexiglow for making this review possible" is at the bottom of the first page, is there any wonder they gave the unit a 5 out of 5?

  • by jacobhoupt ( 728382 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:43PM (#9035234)
    but I have issues with articles which are sponsored by the item being reviewed. Oh, and if you need an illuminated keyboard, you should probably really start thinking about small flourescent investments.
    • but I have issues with articles which are sponsored by the item being reviewed

      You just described 99.5% of the "hardware review" sites. If it's not freebies, it's "we'd like it back but we won't ever call to find out why you never returned it". If not that, it's "if you don't say something nice about product X, you won't get to review anything from us again".

      My favorite are the sites which claim they "return everything they review". Says who? Like they wouldn't lie about it. Like the manufacturers w

  • I like these... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Cyno01 ( 573917 ) <Cyno01@hotmail.com> on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:43PM (#9035235) Homepage
    I've been drooling over EL keyboards ever since i saw the EluminX, and will probably get a knockoff [xoxide.com] for my next system, but when is somone going to make a full keyboard. By full i mean a seperate block for the arrow keys, the 3x2 block of insert/home/delete etc. and a little seperation betweek the main section and the F keys. It sucks for gaming having the arrow keys in with everything else.
    • Re:I like these... (Score:3, Interesting)

      by smallfries ( 601545 )
      These do look nice, but the killer feature on a keyboard for me would be a built in trackball somewhere near the middle of the main key area. The reason that I avoid using the mouse a lot is that the latency of getting my hands from over the main keys to the mouse and back is so high, having a trackball under a thumb would be ideal.

      I saw one (can't remember the name or link) once that had an oversized space-bar with a trackball in it but it was ps/2 and only had windows drivers. Ahh to dream of such a beas
      • Re:I like these... (Score:3, Informative)

        by wfberg ( 24378 )
        These do look nice, but the killer feature on a keyboard for me would be a built in trackball somewhere near the middle of the main key area. The reason that I avoid using the mouse a lot is that the latency of getting my hands from over the main keys to the mouse and back is so high, having a trackball under a thumb would be ideal.

        Not exactly in the arrow-key area, but it does have "IBM model-M" clickety-click buckling springs.. Available in PS/2 and serial.

        Unicomp on the Ball. [yahoo.com]

        Or perhaps you enjoy a
    • I got one of those Zippy illuminated keyboards while in the States. It is a laptop sized config rather than a full keyboard, but with the lack of space on my desk it is great.

      The only minor gripe I have about the keyboard is the level of illumination, or lack of it... while it looks great in the dark, in a lit room it is a duller washed out illumination (compared to other LED lights on my system). I wonder how it would compare with the light levels coming from an EluminX or others, I don't know how they

    • I've been drooling over EL keyboards ever since i saw the EluminX

      You know, thats probably not very good for them.


      (Humor Disclaimer : This post was intended to be funny. If you don't think so, take your mod points elsewhere.)
  • I would imagine that most computer users who read /. can type and not look at the keyboard at the same time. This would make random keyboard lights somewhat unwanted. There also seems to be a possibility of it reflecting from the monitor and just being annoying.
  • But a bunch of bright lights a pretty PC does not make.
  • This is not new. (Score:5, Informative)

    by eagle8635 ( 674636 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:45PM (#9035246)
    I think this product is new, but the concept of a lighted keyboard is not new, they have been selling one on Think Geek [thinkgeek.com] for years.
  • I would consider this just because of the "neato" factor. The problem I have is that it's a laptop-sized keyboard. I'm typing on an IBM 52G9658. Anything more compact than this, and it's really not usable.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:46PM (#9035255)
    My keyboard glows in a weird spotty pattern under an ultraviolet light.

    I showed my friend, and for some reason he refuses to type on it now. Actually, he refuses to touch anything in my room. Or shake my hand.
  • by Aphrika ( 756248 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:49PM (#9035270)
    Slightly off topic, but I remember hearing about the Apple TiBook 17" having a keyboard which glowed different colours for various alerts.

    Has anyone ever come across any programmables keyboards or USB devices which change colour? Something like the Mathmos Aduki [thinkgeek.com] would be cool if you could use it as a pervasive computing device. Do they exist, did I dream about them, or am I going to have to build my own?
    • only one color (Score:5, Informative)

      by SuperBanana ( 662181 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @03:01PM (#9035343)
      I remember hearing about the Apple TiBook 17" having a keyboard which glowed different colours for various alerts.

      I'm typing on one right now, and the only color it does is white. It's one(or two, I can't remember) LEDs connected to the keyboard via fiber optics. The LEDs are on the right side, either under or next to the keyboard.

      Brightness is controlled by software that polls two ambient light sensors under the speaker grilles; it doesn't even come on unless it gets fairly dark. You "train" the display and keyboard backlights over time; it learns what ambient light level equals what adjustment. The backlight actually can make the letters/numbers the same "brightness" as light reflected off the keyboard, making them essentially disappear, which is a little odd.

      The keyboard backlighting is great for planes, dark meeting rooms, etc...but beyond that it's a novelty. The automatic screen backlight adjustment is actually much more useful. If you get tired of it you can even set it back to manual...

  • Seriously? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by wastaz ( 634441 ) <w4st4z@netscapPERIODe.net minus punct> on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:50PM (#9035274) Homepage
    The guy submitting this was "BigMan". The author of the review is "BigMan". The keyboard type looks exactly the same as the one that you can buy on thinkgeek (www.thinkgeek.com). "Plz click the images". Iono, I want my reviews to at least use real english. Otherwise the review was quite well written, seriously though...if you take the time to write a decent review why destroy it by going "plz click image" and coming off like a script kiddie?
  • Pron! (Score:2, Funny)

    Great, now everyone can surf for their porn in the dark!
  • Why? (Score:2, Insightful)

    by 0xC0FFEE ( 763100 )
    Why go to the trouble and expense of producing an illuminated keyboard (really a specialised item) and not offer other useful features like, oh I don't know, USB connectivity (imagine firewire!), smooth light control (on/off only??), ambiant light auto-detection...
  • keyboard review (Score:5, Insightful)

    by SlashReality ( 710851 ) <Reality0+SlashdotNO@SPAMgmail.com> on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:51PM (#9035282) Homepage Journal
    As far as reviews go I'd have to say I found that to be fairly good. It described the size, use, what comes in the package etc. However what was lacking is what the actual Slashdot Article heading describes as "how bright it is". They say "It is really bright!" So...is it distracting? Can you see the keys if you forget where % or ^ is?

    "It has 18 multimedia keys squeezed into this tiny keyboard to make your surfing even easier." So are they hard to push? Is it easy to find the correct button and only push that one button? Another gripe I have is that they did not reference the size to something universal such as a quarter or pencil in their picture showing it's size. However I liked their description of how it felt to type on the keys, and that it was quiet instead of making that clicky noise. I think I'm going to invest in one of these sometime soon, but I can't say it will be soley based on this review.
    • "It has 18 multimedia keys squeezed into this tiny keyboard to make your surfing even easier." So are they hard to push? Is it easy to find the correct button and only push that one button?

      They also didn't mention anything about not having standard cursor keys, insert/delete etc, or the function keys in a seperate row. Is that confusing? I usually find it is.

      My laptop has all it's keys squeezed together, and the home/end/insert/delete/pgup/pgdown keys moved all around. It took me a while to get used to i
  • by saunabad ( 664414 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:52PM (#9035287)

    Excuse me, but what the fuck is the point with this story? Considering there are many illuminated keyboards around, how is this anything else but a free advertisement for this product?

  • by SuperBanana ( 662181 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:53PM (#9035298)

    Ok, obviously this is your first (does the Dr. Evil quotes thing) "review", so here's a tip or two.

    • change first-person pronouns to third person pronouns in the marketing drivel you received from the manufacturer which you have cut+pasted into your "review".
    • Spell-check your article so you don't do moronic things like mis-spell "bright". Don't forget proper punctuation. Both will help you appear to be more than just the 2 16-year-olds you are.
    • you don't need to "thank" the manufacturer. They're plenty happy that you wrote a glowing(if badly spelled) review and will let you keep the keyboard.
    • Invent something, anything, to complain about, no matter how trivial, to give the paper-thin illusion of impartialness.

    I would suspect that the only reason this got posted was because ThinkGeek sells the same keyboard, or one very close to it- I know because they heavily advertise it here on slashdot. It is pathetic that this was considered front-page news.

    Aside from that- god, these knock-offs suck compared to Apple's. I have a powerbook 17", and the backlit keyboard only glows around through letters/numbers/symbols(a teeny bit leaks from between the keys). From what I recall it's either one or two LEDs with fiber optics to distribute the light evenly. Works perfectly, and it even sets its own brightness level...none of these knock-offs even have a brightness adjustment.

    • One more tip: If you're going to submit your own review to Slashdot, try to write a separate blurb than simply the first paragraph of your review. This is doubly important if you're submitting someone else's review and not your own. Also, if it's your own review, it's a good idea to state that in your submission.

    • My eyes! The goggles, they do nothing!

      Seeing little abbreviations like 'plz' makes baby Jesus cry when I see them used in instant messages... but in a review?

      Something like a review strikes me as being at least somewhat formal. You expect people to read it and form opinions based on your experience with the product. Is it so much to ask that you invest a little time to write carefully, spell out entire words, and run a spell-check?

  • by MisterLawyer ( 770687 ) <{moc.liamg} {ta} {reywalekim}> on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:54PM (#9035302)

    Their 15 [apple.com] and 17 inch Powerbooks [apple.com] have fiber optic backlit keyboards.

    From the Apple website:
    Futuristic Backlit Keyboard:
    The 17-inch PowerBook features a fiber optic backlit keyboard that's right out of the future. Built-in light sensors automatically adjust the keyboard illumination and your screen's brightness based on the available ambient light.

  • Nice (Score:2, Troll)

    way to put up an ad for you site on Slashdot.

    Oh well. Prepare to be /.ed
  • News? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by wan-fu ( 746576 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @02:57PM (#9035326)
    News for Nerds. Stuff that matters. This article was a product review of a pointless device. Slow news day, editors?
    • Why is this scored insightful? I'm getting sick and tired of these messages. Four out of five articles don't interest me. Do you see me complaining in those four? It's a matter of taste, Mr. Whiner.
      • While I agree that often people whine and I whine sometimes too. I can't agree that my comment was "whining" in the way you describe it. I, too, see articles that don't interest me. What bugs me is that /. is about news and special features that "nerds" might find interesting. A link to a review (not to mention an influenced review at that) about a keyboard that's been out for some time isn't news. There's no news in terms of technology or product. It's only "news" in the sense that there's a new review for
  • I modddedd my keyboardd to have to dd's.
    -DDRLZRDDMN
  • by Jack William Bell ( 84469 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @03:06PM (#9035373) Homepage Journal
    Compgeeks has these for 22.95 [compgeeks.com]. I bought this one [compgeeks.com] several months ago and am quite happy with it.

    The only thing is; they don't have the Flexikey logo. Other than that they are exactly the same, right down to the graphics on the special function buttons across the top.
  • Why blue? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Sarojin ( 446404 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @03:12PM (#9035402)
    Studies have shown that blue is the colour the human eyes are the least able to focus on. I assume the reason that this keyboard is illuminated is so that you can see the letters (not for touch typists), so choosing pretty much any other colour would have been better. As well, different colours of EL-wire cost no more than blue :/
  • I'd really like to buy a keyboard that doesnt have flippin' "windows" keys on. I've stumbled accross one with "Tux" keys but it was quite expensive. This would be nice, but i've gotten used to having a wireless keyboard now, this would be an additional requirement too. Illuminated keys arent really a neccesity but would be nice.

    This kind of thing might be really handy for someone who works on computer controlled stage lighting, but I cant think of many other uses.

    nick ...
    • You can buy a used keyboard for $5 or less, or you can get one of those IBM Model M replicas for a shitload of money. Your call :)
      Either of those options are easily googlable, but if you truly cant find anything I would be happy to google them for you later.
  • no thanks (Score:3, Insightful)

    by frovingslosh ( 582462 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @03:13PM (#9035410)
    Well, with this keyboard you certainly need it illuminated, they moved all the keys around! No wonder they think you need it lit up to find stuff! Just look at the picture [rbmods.com], the normal center cluster of keys has vanished and extra keys have been crammed into the right side of the main keyboard.

    I do need to see my keyboard on occasion to find some of the less ferquently used keys. Maybe someday I'll get around to installing a light or two under the desk above the keyboard drawer. Or I'll buy a well done lighted keyboard. But it will have to have the keys in a somewhat standard layout, not be this painfully awkward layout where the enter key isn't even the rightmost key in the third row up.

    • I really don't need an illuminated keyboard. What I DO want is a keyboard that is comfortable to type in for long periods of time, like the Microsoft Natural Elite keyboard I'm using how. :-)
  • yeah, cute, whatever (Score:3, Informative)

    by jjeffries ( 17675 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @03:14PM (#9035419)
    You could get one of these to sit on your desk and, err, light up, or you might prefer a keyboard that you can actually type on...

    in that case, I suggest you acquire a man's keyboard [scoutingaround.com], the IBM model M. Springs hold your fingers up so you don't get carpal-tunnel in 10 minutes like with a mushboard, and you can use it as a very effective weapon, should it come down to it. But I suspect that I am preaching to the choir.

    • Besides the fact that the Model M can be used to bludgeon evildoers, it can be fairly easily disassembled for cruft removal and even features channels around the spring holes and bottom edge to funnel spilt (or spit) coffee away from the precious contacts.
  • Eluminx Keyboard (Score:3, Insightful)

    by jmke ( 776334 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @03:16PM (#9035427) Homepage Journal
    I had an Eluminux [madshrimps.be] keyboard for test one year ago. I you have your keyboard sitting in front of your screen you won't really find any advantages, and it makes it annoying when watching movies in the dark.

    But when you have it in a setup where otherwise you are unable to see the keys, these keyboards are magic, LANparties spring to mind, although these keyboards are more compact (like a laptop keyboard) and if you use the arrow keys for gaming, you are out of luck.
    • ...and it makes it annoying when watching movies in the dark."

      This would be why the keyboard lumination shuts off after 15 minutes of inactivity - something that would happen if you were really watching a movie.
    • From the pictures, it looks like it's still hard to see what the keys are. The way it is now, the keyboard as a whole is lit up, but the keys are dark splotches with the characters written in black. What's written on the keys is the most important thing to see!

      Companies wanting to make lit keyboards should have the bright light shining through where the characters would normally be printed. The keys themselves should be barely translucent, if at all. There should be a soft glow from underneath to show the

  • Conclusion:

    I forgot to mention before that you can even get a white version of this keyboard. So now all I'm waiting for is the natural version.


    I agree, using natural keyboards for years, I hate switching back to formfactor. Too bad Microsoft ruined the layout of the new naturals, and logitech and everyone else cant make a simple natural layout anymore.
  • Keyblocked (Score:3, Insightful)

    by kEnder242 ( 262421 ) on Sunday May 02, 2004 @03:26PM (#9035484)
    How well does it stress test with multiple keys pressed?

    I've found that every keyboard I've owned, (besides this CHERRY(tm) and an old giveaway) always keyblock me when I use the keypad. Since I heavily use the keypad in my gaming config I'd like to know if I can jump and fire (9 & 0) at the same time.

    Does USB fix this?

    Anyone remember starcon2 melee? It had a nice utility that reports the keys pressed so you can find the ones with conflicting scancodes.
  • What I really want is a (preferably transparent) label-less keyboard. I'm a touch-typist switching very often between ABNT-2, US-standard QWERTY and Dvorak, and key labels are just a nuisance.

    (I'm kind of a showoff typist, I must confess, and labelless keys would just make my act more dramatic with the chicks :P)
  • by adzoox ( 615327 ) * on Sunday May 02, 2004 @03:40PM (#9035553) Journal
    After trying to geta Mac version of the eluminX keyboard (the 1st company to market illuminated keyboards) - I found out that they were granted a patent on the illuminated keyboard - using luminous material.

    If you notice, they haven't released a USB version - I have been made aware that they will be seeking an injunction against ALL knockoffs before they release the new version.

  • When it's time to clean off the computer desk, everything gets wiped down with homemade "windex" (4vinegar+2ammonia+1isopropanol+drop of soap).


    Keyboard goes to the sink.


    I have not bought an illuminated kbd because the ones I've seen are nonwashable.


    If I can wash this one down without damage, I'll buy one!

    • I have an eluminX which I absolutely adore. My guy friends hate my keyboard because it seems smaller than normal ones, but for my small hands it's perfect. It's a very lightweight keyboard which is very comfortable for me to perch on my knees with my feet kicked up on my desk. (yah, great keyboarding habits, i know). Bright lights really hurt my eyes, so although I don't work at the computer in the dark, my light conditions are generally dim. Dim lighting is good for gaming too (reduces glare off the s
  • When I first saw the headline, I thought maybe this was the keyboard I've been waiting for since, oh, 1970 or so.

    Namely, a keyboard in which the legends on the function keys are replaced by LED readouts--or fiber-optic bundles to a single LED readout--or something--so that instead of memorizing what F1, F2, F3 do, they would display legends that state their functions--software-controlled legends that would change according to the application you were running.

    GUIs were supposed to get rid of all that, but
    • You must not've been around much in the DOS days. Print Screen did actually used to do exactly that. Now it is just used (in Windows at least) to grab an image of the screen to the clipboard.

      As far as keys with custom text, Preh makes an LCD button switch that has a (IIRC) 64x64 pixel tiny LCD on it. I have looooong wanted to get ahold of some of these keys to build a custom keypad, but never seem to actually find a distributor that returns calls. Online ordering would be great, but I have never found
  • Finally! I've been wanting a clearly illuminated view of all that dust and hair that collects between the keys for ages!
  • ACHTUNG! ALLES LOOKENSPEEPERS!

    Das keyboard ist nicht fuer gefingerpoken und
    mittengrabben. Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk,
    blowenfusen und poppencorken mit spitzensparken. Ist nicht
    fuer gewerken bei das dumpkopfen. Das rubbernecken
    sichtseeren keepen das cotten-pickenen hans in das pockets
    muss;
    relaxen und watchen das blinkenkeyboard.
  • What happened to touch typing? Or is proper keyboarding not taught anymore?
  • ... is a Model M [modelm.org] that lights up :-)
  • Do not use the review pictues as a judge as to how bright the keys are.

    Unless the author provided some sort of refrence-point or a reading from a light-meter, the photographs are complete rubbish. All you can infer from them is that the keyboard lights up blue (unless his white-balance is off. for the author's sake, I'll assume it's not).

    If I leave the shutter of my camera open long enough, I can make
    --My alarm clock look like a glowing bar of some radioactive substance
    --The bottom of my mouse look like
    • Useless pictures anyway, because the reviewer has apparently not learned the reason why one uses a tripod and remote shutter or timer for long-shots in the dark like this one. And in fact a crummy review; the reviewer spends more copy on his prepatory discussion than on factual recitation or summary, gives no details such as are often used in reviewing keyboards (break force, perceived resistance curve, decent travel, space between keycap edges, etc.) And I'm not sure where he got the idea, but "Natural"

Someday somebody has got to decide whether the typewriter is the machine, or the person who operates it.

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