Editing Datalux SpaceSaver

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{{TODO photo|more=true|reason=original MEI versions}}

{{infobox dkeyboard
| name         = Datalux SpaceSaver series
| image name   = Datalux3.jpg
| pn           = 
| fcc          = HE829NMICA (Microtype MT-1; 1988)<ref name="eBay-FCC-ID" />
| branding     = "microtype", [[Datalux]]
| manufacturer = 
| switch       = [[MEI T-15 series]], [[Cherry ML]]
| layouts      = [[ANSI]]-derived custom
| interface    = [[USB]]<br>Previously, [[AT/XT switchable]] and [[PS/2 interface|PS/2]]
| weight       = 
| introduced   = Ca. 1988<ref name="InfoWorld" />
| discontinued = Yes
| price        = $130 basic<br>$195 with GlidePoint (2012)
| website      = http://www.datalux.com/products/keyboards/
}}

The '''Datalux SpaceSaver''', introduced circa 1988 as the [[Mechanical Enterprises]] '''Microtype Space-Saver Keyboard''' (styled as "microtype"), was a long-standing family of compact keyboards from Mechanical Enterprises (MEI) and its successor, [[Datalux]]. Three form factors were available: desk model, tray model, and panel model; each form factor supported an optional [[Cirque GlidePoint]] [[trackpad]] in place of the central navigation cluster.

An infrared wireless version was available in the form of the [[nVIEW Toteboard]].

The SpaceSaver series is discontinued. The [http://www.datalux.com/embedded-systems/spacesaver-keyboards/ SpaceSaver Keyboards by Datalux: Product End of Life Notification] page does not cite a date of publication or date of discontinuation, but information from Devlin suggests that it would have been somewhere between 2013 and 2014, based on an estimate of when they stopped manufacturing the internals.<ref name="conv-Devlin" /> Datalux were only able to say that the product is superseded by a new model; no information about the SpaceSaver series is believed to remain in existence at Datalux.<ref name="conv-Datalux" />

==Description==
All three variants conserve width by placing the function keys, navigation cluster and number pad behind the alphanumeric area in four rows: the keyboards trade width for depth. Keycap spacing is standard 0.750″ (19.05 mm), but row spacing is reduced to 0.625″ (0.588 mm) to compensate for having nine rows instead of the usual six.

All three types use [[keyboard profile|flat profile]] keycaps; the tray and panel versions are completely flat, while the desk model has an ergonomic ramped backplane that elevates the rear half of the keyboard in line with its space-saving arrangement.

Datalux SpaceSaver keyboards have been made with both [[MEI T-15 series|MEI]] and [[Cherry ML]] switches. There is a general preference of the ML switches over the MEI switches in terms of feel.

On [[XT/AT switchable]] models, the [[keyboard protocol]] was selected using a jumper under the 1 key.<ref name="DT-CIDUC" /> Later models were [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]].

==Models==
Model codes are five characters, with the following possible meanings:

:SIGUC

;S
:Subfamily — M (desk), T (tray), C or P (panel)
;I
:Interface — U (USB), O or I (non-USB; the letters do not correspond to PS/2 vs XT/AT)
;G
:GlidePoint — G or P (has GlidePoint), R or D (has navigation cluster); no known explanation for the differences
;U
:Uncertain; typically 'U' (US English?), but also 'G' on a German MORGW model<ref name="eBay-MORGW" /> so this may indicate layout
;C
:Colour — W (white), C (charcoal); 'B' is assumed to be "black", but it's not adequately clear from photos on the Web whether this is true

===Known models===
The following table lists all models currently on sale or researched. The list is not exhaustive.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Subfamily||Model!!Central area!!Colour!!Connector!!Layout!!Switches
|-
|Panel||PURUC||Navigation cluster||Charcoal||USB|| ||
|-
|Desk||MUPUC||GlidePoint||Charcoal||USB|| ||ML
|-
|Desk||MUPUW||GlidePoint||White||USB|| ||ML
|-
|Desk||MURUC||Navigation cluster||Charcoal||USB|| ||ML
|-
|Desk||MURUW||Navigation cluster||White||USB|| ||ML
|-
|Tray||TUPUC||GlidePoint||Charcoal||USB|| ||ML
|-
|Tray||TUPUW||GlidePoint||White||USB|| ||ML
|-
|Tray||TURUC||Navigation cluster||Charcoal||USB|| ||ML
|-
|Tray||TURUW||Navigation cluster||White||USB|| ||ML
|-
|Desk||MOGUC||GlidePoint||Charcoal||—|| ||
|-
|Panel||CIDUC<ref name="DT-CIDUC" />||Custom keys||Charcoal||XT/AT||English||MEI
|-
|Panel||POGUC||GlidePoint||Charcoal||PS/2 and serial||English||
|-
|Desk||MORUW||Navigation cluster||White||PS/2||US English||MEI
|-
|Desk||MORUC||Navigation cluster||Charcoal||PS/2|| ||MEI<ref name="eBay-MORUC" />
|-
|Desk||MODUW||Navigation cluser||White||PS/2||US English||MEI
|-
|Desk||MORGW||Navigation cluster||White||PS/2||German||
|-
|Desk||MIRUW||Navigation cluster||White||5-pin DIN (XT/AT)||US English||MEI
|-
|Tray||TIDUB||Navigation cluster||Black?||5-pin DIN (XT/AT?)|| ||
|-
|Tray||TORUC||Navigation cluster||Charcoal||PS/2|| ||
|-
|Tray||TIRUC<ref name="eBay-TIRUC" />||Navigation cluster||Charcoal||XT/AT|| ||
|-
|Tray||TORUB||Navigation cluster||Black?||XT/AT|| ||
|-
|Tray||TOGUW||GlidePoint||White||PS/2 and serial||US English||MEI
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="167" heights="250">
File:MEI Microtype Space-Saver Keyboard magazine advert.jpg | BYTE magazine advert from 1992
</gallery>

===MORUW===
Datalux-branded MORUW with MEI switches.

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Datalux1.jpg|Front view.
File:Datalux2.jpg|Raised [[enter]] key.
File:Datalux3.jpg|Curved case design.
File:Datalux4.jpg|White MEI switch.
File:Datalux5.jpg|Horizontal comparison with standard key size.
File:Datalux6.jpg|Vertical comparison with standard key size.
</gallery>

===POGUC===
Datalux-branded POGUC; switch type is not known.

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Datalux POGUC -- top.jpg               | Top
File:Datalux POGUC -- panel form factor.jpg | Panel form factor, with lip
File:Datalux POGUC -- rear label.jpg        | Rear label
File:Datalux POGUC -- PS2 plug.jpg          | PS/2 plug, for the keyboard
File:Datalux POGUC -- serial plug.jpg       | Serial plug, for the GlidePoint trackpad
</gallery>

==Trivia==
Several models of the Datalux SpaceSaver were used as props for the 2nd and 3rd seasons of the TV-show ''Seaquest DSV''.
Some were in the submarine ''Seaquest'' itself, most notably on its bridge. Others were on computer control stations for undersea colonies that the Sequest visited.<ref name="propbay" />

==References==
<references>
<ref name="InfoWorld">Google Books — [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fToEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32 InfoWorld, September 12, 1988]</ref>
<ref name="eBay-MORGW">eBay — [http://www.ebay.de/itm/281194901096?orig_cvip=true Datalux (814940/MORGW) Spacesaver Tastatur deutsch PS/2] {{volatile}}</ref>
<ref name="DT-CIDUC">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/photos-f62/datalux-spacesaver-keyboard-tray-model-t3974.html Datalux SpaceSaver keyboard, Tray model]</ref>
<ref name="eBay-MORUC">eBay — [http://www.ebay.com/itm/321152286223?orig_cvip=true Datalux Moruc Space Saver Keyboard Police Responder Computer Terminal] {{volatile}}</ref>
<ref name="eBay-TIRUC"><del>eBay — [http://www.ebay.com/itm/141092504861 OT 20 Datalux Tiruc Space Saver Keyboard 65 135746 N8]</del> '''(DEAD!)'''</ref>
<ref name="propbay">PROPbay.com [http://www.propbay.com/original/computer-keyboard-seaquest-dsv-tv-1993-movie-prop-4204.html Computer Keyboard Movie Prop from SeaQuest DSV (TV)(1993)]. Retrieved 2016-07-02.</ref>
<ref name="conv-Devlin">Correspondence with Devlin, 2016-08-11</ref>
<ref name="conv-Datalux">Conversation with Datalux support, 2016-08-12</ref>
<ref name="eBay-FCC-ID">eBay — [http://www.ebay.com/itm/Retro-Vintage-Microtype-Mechanical-Enterprises-Inc-MT-1-Keyboard-Unique-Layout-/122438774261?orig_cvip=true Retro Vintage Microtype Mechanical Enterprises Inc. MT-1 Keyboard Unique Layout] {{volatile}}</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Datalux keyboards]]
[[Category:Keyboards with MEI switches]]
[[Category:Keyboards with Cherry ML switches]]
[[Category:Flat keyboards]]
[[Category:Protocol switchable keyboards]]
[[Category:Keyboards with integrated pointing device]]
[[Category:List of all keyboards]]