Need help on IBM/Lenovo external keyboards w Trackpoint? Pic

Need help on IBM/Lenovo external keyboards w Trackpoint? Pic

I started my journey with Thinkpads on a T42, then T43.. then T61, X61T, R61 & T410 (bought for 2 cousins & they love it), W510 (dads new laptop). I may be a much recent convert but I swear by them now.

MAJOR ISSUE: Recently started feeling RSI (Repetitive Stress) & Carpal Tunnel symptoms (already doing stretches.. adjusted the desk.. & finding new adjustable LCD stand) since I am not using the Thinkpad directly... but using it docked with an External keyboard. Lot of Mousing as well. I'd like to go back to Thinkpad FEEL... or atleast have keyboard with a pointing device so my hands dont have to keep moving back n forth.

So, it would be great it some of my fellow T4x/T6x/X6x 'ers would guide me a bit on this... share their first hand experience, or what they've seen on these keyboards and feel free to point me to reliable sources of information.

Currently this would greatly be use with T61 - Adv Mini Dock - 30" XHD3000 LCD as shown in my signature below.

Anyone who has used or know something about one of these Thinkpad related keyboard (ideally both of these to give a comparative response).
Which of the following have you used?
How was the experience?
(Maybe point me to thread with peoples experiences)
If you've used several, which one do you prefer / recommend? Why?

At the moment I have a "slim" BTC 6200C desktop keyboard. It has laptop like scissor keyswitches, so I like it the slim notebook like profile.
The way I have positioned my 30" LCD I'd like to be able to keep the keyboard on my lap at times while on my chair and maybe on the desk at times.

ThinkPad Full-Size UltraNav USB Keyboard
The keyboard and trackpad of the IBM Lenovo Thinkplus USB Keyboard with Ultranav:


ThinkPad Travel UltraNav USB Keyboard
The travel version of the above:


Newer:
ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint
A 2009 replacement for the previous one but not the full keyboard nor wireless:

 

i own the first one and use it all day every day.   my only complaints are the lack of windows key and the hub being USB 1.1 instead of 2.0.   key feel is akin to an alps or chicony T4x keyboard.

if you don't need a trackpad, numeric keypad, or care about a two-port USB 1.1 hub then i'd recommend the third one.   if you need that stuff and don't mind the lack of windows key then the first one is great.

 

i have used the second one for couple of months during work, it is great.

 

I prefer the first one due to the num pad. I have also typed on keyboard 2. Felt like keyboard 1. I am not sure if the keyboard units are of different manufacturers like the laptop keyboards, i.e. NMB, Alps, Chicony. Either way, keyboard 1 and 2 are great.

If I was to buy one myself though, I would want keyboard 3 with a num pad. I prefer the new design and I only use the TrackPoint, so no need for a trackpad. Have not typed on it though.

Edit: Just so there is no misunderstanding, keyboard 3 with a num pad does not exist - but I would like one

 

How about a trackball?

 

I am open to new pointing devices that are not MICE Suggestions / recommendations welcome..

PS: I have a 2560 x 1600 LCD so I hope you will take that kind of MOVEMENT into account.

 

I used 2nd and 3rd and would prefer the 2nd.

 

if you have RSI

 

whoa this keyboard looks really odd, is this a mechanical keyboard?

 

Yes it is, brown cherry switch in fact. It is called, kinesis advantage.

 

how much does this baby cost? while i don't have RSI or anything like that but it looks very interesting and i may get one for an old professor of mine.

Hi Warakawa, how much did you get your Filco for and where did you get it from? (ebay?). I am thinking of getting one or two of these keyboard.

 

I am not really going for the exotic Ergo variety. It will take a lot of changing and getting used to.

I think most of the RSI feel I have is due to recent bad schedule.. and the MOUSE. I have had no issues using my laptop & track... So..

 

you can get kinesis advantage on ebay for around $303 not including postage from the states. Personally I will need one soon because it is the only keyboard on the market that have a switch for QWERTY and DVORAK layout, and as a dvorak user it would convenient to have one of those.

You can get filco from either the elitekeyboard (American) or auspc (Australian). Or you can buy one from me. I have two filco, however I only use one, the other one is virtually new, stored in my draw, obviously I will be much cheaper than the two mentioned retailer. (white otaku with brown mx cherry). pm me if you are interested.

 

my friend just gave me a unicomp customiser 104 keyboard. Is your filco keyboard the one with no lettering?

 

yeah, otaku (お宅）= nerds/blank keys, these are good, forcing the user to touch type

 

rats, i wish the third one had a power button and a numpad. It'd be perfect if it did.

 

I have the second one but the trackpoint sucks. I cannot get it to scroll and I tried like 5 different drivers with no avail. Also the movement of the trackpoint is slow and frusterating. Also, the buttons for the trackpoint are not as good as on my T400. I usually have to push real hard to click. I'm not sure if it is simply the keyboard I got and it's faulty or if they are all the same. Finally, the touchpad is good but it also doesn't have scroll.

 

I have #2, the travel keyboard. I can't get it to work with my new X201 running Win 7 64-bit though. Is anyone running this configuration? It worked fine on my T61p running XP. I like the keyboard a lot for desktop use but it is not quite as good as a real TP keyboard.

Thanks for any help!

 

Which of the following have you used?
I've used the second one, the travel keyboard.
How was the experience?
Great. I use it with my desktop computer. I like using my left hand to click the mouse buttons on the keyboards, while my right hand uses a regular desktop mouse. I also like that it is small and doesn't take up much room on the desk.

I don't use it on my lap though. That seems crazy to me.

I also have another Lenovo keyboard. It's a regular desktop keyboard with number pad. I like it too, as far as regular keyboards go. No touchpad or pointerstick on it.

 

I assume these keyboards mentioned by op are scissors switch, same one as the one on thinkpads? If it gives you the same feeling as the thinkpad, why not just use the thinkpad?