Looking for an external Thinkpad keyboard

it's time to retire my old keyboard. i'm considering to buy a thinkpad external keyboard, here's my needs:

1, original thinkpad keyboard feel
2, wireless preferred.

anyone tried the latest one?
55Y9003 ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint - US English





it looks great except the fact that it's not a wireless version. i kinda like the t400s layout, but i found negative reviews everywhere:
Amazon.com: Thinkpad USB Keyboard W Track: Electronics

amazon buyers criticized it so badly, and even in lenovo website it received less than 2 stars...is it really bad???

i remembered there's a older wireless version but couldn't find it from lenovo site.

your suggestion is greatly appreciated!

 

I have this keyboard. It is okay and feels pretty good, but if you read the amazon reviews about people who were fast typist then you saw the one about the shift key. I have had that happen a view times as well.

All and all though I like the keyboard. If you press really hard when you type the whole plastic will flex. But mine is rather light on the key presses so I never have an issue with that.

I enjoy it for what it is though. Slim and light. I type fine on it for the most part, and the trackpoint works fine.

I type over 100wpm when I actually know what I want to type .

 

Honestly, that thing is so ugly in my honest opinion. It would be great if they cut off the palmrest (including the trackpad). Seriously, if someone is using an external keyboard, does it not stand to reason they will also use an external mouse?
I'd totally buy one if it didn't have the palmrest.

 

I think the keyboard is trying to mimic the Thinkpad laptop.

 

I know. I love the thinkpad keyboards, but as an external does it really need a palmrest and trackpad?

 

yes.

 

Why? ^^ I can't tell if you agree with my thoughts on it, or not.

 

I use external UltraNav keyboards daily (PS/2 model at home, USB model in the office, both have IBM branding and regular-sized Esc and Del keys), and I love them. I love them so much that I bought a few extra on eBay (a seller was dumping the PS/2 version by the 10-pcs case for cheap) as backups. I have no problem with sticky or unresponsive keys during fast typing.

I do not use the trackpad (a trackpoint man myself), but I find the palmrest absolutely essential for typing comfort. Without the palmrest, my wrists will be sitting on the desk, I will have to raise my fingers higher, and I will have to worry about the keyboard shifting during typing. With a deep palmrest, all these problems disappear.

I hope this answers your question. Yes, palmrest is very important.

Edit: I just took an online typing test, and my typing speed is only 63 wpm. So perhaps my "fast typing" is not really that fast after all.

 

Where is there a trackpad? I don't see a trackpad.

And, yes, the palm rest is important. Who cares what a keyboard looks like. Come on talin...

 

Well to me it looks ugly. I can't vouch for the typing comfort as I've never used one, but I did used to have the microsoft natural keyboard and it really helped my wrists a lot (I have carpal tunnel).

 

I have one of those as well. I actually found most of my discomfort was from constantly moving my arm to use the mouse and un-ergonomically having my arm/shoulder turned slightly. Having a trackpoint actually helps me because I am mostly centered.

I do have a mouse though for faster movement when I need it.

 

haha... well, i was answering your question saying yes to the fact that the keyboard needs a palmrest.   i could live without the trackpad but use it for scrolling by setting the active areas as large as possible and turning off clicking.

i use the original USB ultranav keyboard 10+ hours per day with my thinkstation and enjoy every feature of it minus the lack of windows key and built-in fingerprint scanner.

 

is this keyboard compatible with other laptop, do you guys know? I have an external monitor and external keyboard from MS and it really sucked! i love the trackpoint...

 

Yes, it is a regular USB keyboard and there are drivers for the trackpoint portion of it.

Just the FN keys obviously don't have the use like on a Thinkpad.

 

So how many people here are using the current version (with the enlarged Esc and Del)? Is the sticky Shift not THAT bad as Amazon reviews suggest?

I really like the feel of the keyboard on my T510, maybe even more so than on my T42p. So I'd really like that on my desktop where it can be centered - thanks to the lack of numpad - to the big screen.

More opinions on the sticky shift matter would be appreciated!

 

I completely agree with you. That palm rest just makes the keyboard look ugly. The ultranav also seems kind of useless since most people use a mouse when they are using a keyboard.

 

I disagree with you. When need to typing large document, I would rather prefer using a trackpoint than a mouse. This way I don't even have to take my hand off my laptop. It waste time and I tend to lose my concentration. However doing graphic work and web surfing mouse is the way to go.

 

Yes, the trackpoint is easy for scrolling up and down a large document but for doing anything else a mouse seems much more conventional. Also, I don't want to come off as rude or anything but I find it hard to believe that if you take your hand off of your keyboard to scroll with a mouse, you lose your concentration.

Well, I'm off to bed. It's nearly midnight here :S

 

I am not really a good typist so I would have visually realign my hand to the key, with trackpoint I do not need to do this extra step, save time and energy.

 

Some people can be like that....

 

If you want a similar keyboard without the palmrest I suggest you try and locate one of the discontinued "Space Saver II" keyboards (I have three). The PS/2 version is slightly superior (heavier with a superior key action), but the USB version is more compatible (especially with laptops).

davidbau.com: World's best Computer Keyboard

 

I have the model pictured as I mentioned before. I bought it pretty close to launch time. There was a driver update to the keyboard pretty quickly.

I don't notice the sticky problem very much but as I mentioned I have run into it.

I mostly only have trouble when typing in a particular password that has a capped letter first. However, in normal typing I usually don't have that much trouble. Hope that helps.

 

Well, what can I say? I could personally forego the palmrest, but I suppose it's useful for others who need it. I still would buy one in an instant if it didn't have it.

 

That's funny, because I'm the same way. Though maybe it's not so much as concentration as efficiency. When I work, I try to move my hands as little as possible, be it to the mouse, papers, whatever. So using the touchpad/nub is far closer/faster than having to move all the way to a mouse, and back. Then again, I'm the kind of person who memorizes keboard shortcuts in most applications to avoid using the menus (context or toolbar).