Are Thinkpad chiclet keyboards any good?

There's no doubt that the Thinkpad 25 has the best keyboard of any laptop you can buy BNIB today, but how do the standard Thinkpad models with chiclet keyboards fare?

 

Better than others out there, IMO, but from what I have read, the KB is quite different between different laptops (dumb statement, I know). Specifically, a X1C6 and a T480 will have different KB feel, favoring the larger T480.


For what its worth, I tried out a X1C6 for 20min, and I liked its keyboard a tiny bit more than my Dell E5450 (which is roughly the same size as the T480). I was mostly fixated on the superior TrackPoint, so I didn't actually do all that much of a typing comparison (Dell's trackpoint implementation isn't good at all, IMO).

 

really depends

because you have multiple manufacturers for the same keyboard model, lite-on from what I've heard is the best


the problem is that thinkpad keyboards don't have more than 3KRO

 

Personally I feel like all chiclet keyboards are more or less the same, but like others have said, usually the larger models are better off.

I recently upgraded from a W500 to a T480s which I really like, but the keyboards are just completely incomparable.

 

the chiclet on normal T series is 1.7mm I believe, and the carbons have 1.8, while non chiclet from old model is 2.5 (maybe less)


every year has a possibility of making compromises for thinness, leaving less room for key travel


but chiclet is more sturdy compared to the old keyboard for sure, but the layout is suboptimal

 

Many people seem to complain about the chiclet keyboards used on ThinkPads of today. Personally, I don't think they're too bad. The keyboard on my T440p is quite pleasant to type on and, honestly, I almost prefer it over my MacBook Pro (yes, I like the butterfly keyboard).

 

That's the sense I'm getting - lots of complaints, and even those who are OK with it are merely OK with it. Nobody thinks that the chiclet keyboard is an improvement over the "classic" keyboard.

 

Don't generalize. I have read posts from plenty people who prefer the Chiclet keys over the older ones. What most people do dislike compared with the Classic keyboards is the layout.

 

I could personally go either way with ThinkPad keyboards. I'm not going to get all bothered over a keyboard, like many others have.

 

chiclet is definitely better in terms of flex resistance compared to the old model

the layout is really bad though

 

Indeed, perhaps I was too vague, but the 6-row layout is part of the chiclet keyboard package, is it not? Or are there chiclet keyboards with the traditional 7-row layout?

 

no chiclet with 7-row

 

In theory you could create a 7 row Chiclet keyboard. I don't think that its really fair to say its a "package deal". Layout and key design are two separate things. I know plenty people who never cared about the layout and who like the Chiclet feel better (as Mobius said, they tend to be more flex-resistant).

 

I agree. In addition, since the Thinkpad 25 managed to greatly cut down on KB flex, the flex probably has more to do with older vs newer KB chassis design, moreso than classic vs chiclet. Well, short of wilder design choices like riveting the KB to a metal chassis with well over 20 rivets, like Apple does.

 

does it actually cut down on the kb flex?

my main problem with the chiclet keyboard is that they still offer less travel on the keys compared ot the actual 7-row keyboard