What's Your View On The Older Lenovo Keyboards?

I've had my X220 for a week. It's a fantastic little computer.

One of the things that I was slightly wary of before buying was the keyboard. I've been using isolated/chiclet keyboards for the last 2-3 years so I was slightly concerned I might not like it (on sony and samsung laptops and an imac). I read lots of reviews and every single one raved about how good the keyboard was on so that put my concerns at ease.

After a week of using it, I must say that it's one of the better non-chiclet style keyboards I have used. I am finding it frustrating though. I am not sure if I am just experiencing teething problems after using chiclet style keyboards over the last few years but it's difficult to type as quick and I occasionally make errors too.

With most computer companies introducing chiclet keyboards into their computers over the last few years, I know that this is a unique position I am in, as most people are moving towards chiclet keyboards whilst I have purchased one without one.

Has anyone went from using chiclet style keyboard to an older style keyboard on a Lenovo. Did you get used to the keyboard after a while?

I'd love to buy an X230 style keyboard for the X220 ...though I know that's wishful thinking

Kev

 

I use both types of keyboards, as my T500 has the traditional keys and my X120e has the island-style keys. I've gotten used to both, and can type about the same on either, perhaps a tad faster on the T500's. With Lenovo's implementation of the island-style keys, the feel is very similar to the older Thinkpad keyboards.

 

Yeah I love the feel of the new Lenovo style keyboards too. I've found my fingers catching the keys occasionally on the older style keyboard.

 

I actually don't like the newer FRU keyboards, like the one found on the X201 and X220, hence me trading my X201 and selling my X220 tablet, and I have since went back to an X61 tablet.

 

I just looked at a picture of the X61. The keyboard looks the same as the one on the X220. What's the main difference between them?

 

It's a bit different. Between the Tx00/X201 and Tx10/X220 generations, the keyboard was redesigned to have smaller gaps between the keys and larger Esc and Del buttons. The backplate also changed from a solid metal backplate to a perforated backplate that relied more on the laptop frame itself to provide a solid feel (although this change occurred with the X200 and T400/T500 as well).

Personally, I like those redesigned keyboards a lot (it's really convenient to have larger Esc and Del keys, and the microphone mute button is fantastic).

 

I hate chicklet keyboards....I have an x230t with the new island keyboards and I have gotten used to it and actually find it to be the best of all the island keyboards (also have a Macbook, which I HATE typing on).

So I will work with the x230t for several weeks and then every once in a while, I pick up one of the old x200s, x210s, or x220s at one of the offices I work with and immediately miss the old keyboard.

 

Perhaps I just get used to this style of keyboard again. I love the style of Lenovo computers. Very well made and easy to upgrade.

 

I had (and recently sold) my X230 tablet. In the time I used the keyboard, I really never warmed up to it. Now that I'm back with my only computer, my T520, I'm much happier.

The island layout seemed to have too much spacing between keys. I always felt like I was having to reach too far to type. Weird, maybe, but it's great to be back on the classic layout.

 

I am just getting used to the keyboard with larger Esc / Del and sometimes it's frustrating because I use both a T61 and a W520.

But I'm very happy that I got a W520 and avoided the W530 keyboard.