Why are ThinkPad keyboards great?

I've been looking into thinkpads, especially the x220i, once i graduate from college. I know they're really tough notebooks, can handle most anything. But I read that their keyboards are the best, from any other company, including island style and conventional layouts. I want to try one out, but I can't seem to find a place that has them on display, so if someone can explain, why are they supposedly the best?

 

They have that perfect amount of "clicky feedback". They're just wonderful to type on. I personally always use an external mouse/keyboard, but I have used thinkpad keyboards before.

 

They have a great tactile feed back like the Macbook's keyboard, but they are concave which make it feed better in your hand.

On the side note I like the ability to move my mouse just near my fingertip, however that is another subject.

 

I can't tell you why, I just know it to be true. It's like asking me if the sky is blue!

Not ALL TP keyboards are great, sometimes you get a dud! But they have great clickyness to them as roger said.. And their firm with no flex.. its full sized 7 row keyboard, and it just looks sexy. The keyboard alone. Mmmm.

 

Your best shot probably is if you know someone with one. They're difficult to see in store.

As to the keyboard they're firm, every key is its own island, the key travel and pitch is perfect.

 

As the others have pointed out, ThinkPads, at least the older ones (_60/61, _00) the keyboards are very good. Feedback, keystroke length, feel, overall just the best keyboards out. The D series Latitudes come close, but don't match the ThinkPad's shape/overall feel. My T410s' keyboard did not feel right, they must have completely changed the material for the keyboard after Montevina platform. My X201's keyboard was like previous generations keyboard. But Arrandale and beyond, at least for the T series is only mediocre compared to my T60/Z61t's keyboards, they now rate the same as the new E series Latitude keyboards (squishy, not as much feedback as I like).

 

The only retail store in my area that has a ThinkPad is Fry's and they had the ThinkPad T410 as I recall.

This is part of the problem with the keyboard and screen debates that come up weekly or monthly. What sucks, is good, or great is a highly subjective matter and you can't decide unless you order a machine.

The problem with ordering direct from Lenovo is the return policy and potential restocking fees.

I'd recommend seeking out a supplier that has decent pricing and a good return policy.

 

When compared to the macbook and other chiclet-style keyboards, the strokes are deeper and the amount of feedback you get is more. Not everyone likes that, but a lot do.

 

I find typing on ThinkPad's keyboard pleasure, especially classical one, tho Edge has decent keyboard as well.
Its very close to desktop typing experience, thats why I love it, big keys, good travel, good feedback

 

For me, as a touch typer, the keys are nicely curved and spaced, they have enough travel while not requiring an obsessive amount of pressure to register the key stroke.

I wish I they made a Bluetooth version of their notebook keyboards (Maybe with a Numpad, not a deal breaking) with their Trackpoint (love that to no end).

PS I can type on average, above 110WPM on my Thinkpad keyboard, which matches my desktop keyboards (though the Logitech wave has some difficult keystrokes).... on other Laptop keyboards (especially Chiclet style keys) I find it to be a lot more difficult to reach that speed.

 

I heard they are the best, I've ever tried one out before I got my W520, and I have to say, I'm not disappointed in the slightest. It just feels so perfect.

I'm a touch typist and can type at around 120 WPM on an OEM Logitech keyboard from HP/Compaq. The best I can do with an ASUS chiclet keyboard is like 100 WPM on a VERY good day and I've used the computer quite a few times (my friend's laptop). I can do about 110 WPM on my ThinkPad's keyboard the moment I took it out of the box, though I haven't tested my typing speed recently.

 

Define "great".

Keyboards are subjective. People have their preferences, and short of a keyboard that's non-functional, no one design is objectively superior to another.

ThinkPad keyboards have a tremendous amount of user testing behind them, and Lenovo's ThinkPad division has a long history of producing good keyboard designs. That lineage means that they've got a pretty good idea of how to design a keyboard that people will like -- but there's nothing about a ThinkPad's keyboard that means it's automatically better for all users. Some people like 'em, some don't.

Find one and try it. If you like it, then it might be "great" for you. If not, try something else.

 

I'm envious. I've been typing since middle school and the best I can pull off without making mistakes is 65wpm.

 

I've been typing since before middle school.

Playing RuneScape got my WPM up to around 85-ish, and playing MapleStory took it to 120. I still make some mistakes when I type, so that includes the amount of time it takes me to hit the backspace key to correct the errors.

 

My sister can type more than 100wpm. She was just always a natural at it. But seriously 120wpm is crazy.

 

Thanks.

I still remember back in the days when i could barely type 25 WPM. Though, one downside is that my fingers hurt if I use the keyboard too much and I have a weak grip for someone my size.

 

Ha! I remember the days when I played RS as well. helped me get my wpm up to ~75, and I've been typing that fast since (with some mistakes, of course).

That game was way too addicting though. I started with the intent to have at least 80/80/80 att/def/str (ended up with ~75 each), then changed my mind and started trading on the GE for profit until I stopped playing. Also, I loved the construction skillset (had a very nice house at ~lvl50 con)

 

I think for me it is the responsiveness of the keys, the curve and most of all, how rigid the keyboard is, very little flex compared to other laptops, I bought a T500 which did flex and I called Lenovo, they shipped me a different model keyboard which was very rigid the next day.

I personally use a separate keyboard and mouse most of the time (Kinesis Advantage and Logitech Performance MX) (picture of them here) but I am sat working on a computer all day so it is important for me to have a good keyboard and mouse, I do rate the ThinkPad keyboards as the best for a laptop though.

 

Nice keyboard, I don't think I've ever seen one like that. No kidding that 300 bucks.

 

Well worth it, one of the best things I ever did for myself was buy this, I had tried other ergonomic keyboards but was still getting pain in my hands, after about 3wks of using this is went away and has not come back. Oh and I touch type much faster with it.

 

Well it's not all about the tactile feedback; it's the overall design that's appealing. The pgup/dn home end delete keys are grouped together like they are on a desktop keyboard for example. The back and forward buttons near the arrow keys are very useful. The function keys up top are in groups of four, which helps with finding and accessing them; the seven row design really enables this. Recent models have enlarged delete and escape keys, which makes good sense. And newer models have tighter spacing as well. Even the tilted numpad on the right side of the keyboard is a useful feature at times. I think it's a thought-out design that has years of engineering and design work built into it.

 

I like it for the tactile feedback, although personal preference may vary between styles and between manufacturers.

I'm not too much a fan of the enlarged Esc, Del keys.

I got an ALPS manufacturered keyboard (which I really, really didn't like in the T400, and still don't like in the W520). Hoping to replace with a Chicony or NMB (if they still exist).

 

My e6520 keyboard is better than any thinkpad I have used.

Think durable, soft surface (with a hard click), and spacious.

 

My new X200 Tablet keyboard is kinda clackity. I should get that replaced..

 

I just wish I understood the reason for the Fn/Ctrl key reverse locations. Other than that, the TP keyboard has no peer in terms of tactile feel, key travel, bounceback, etc.

 

Thinklight, and this was original setup....

 

I'm not sure, but I've gotten use to it (never bothered to switch them in BIOS)

 

lead_org got it. Originally, the Fn key was placed at the far lower-left of the keyboard to make it easier to trigger the Fn + PgUp key sequence for the ThinkLight when you are in the dark.

 

For me at least, the Fn key does not seem to be in the right place to act as a control key . . . too far to the left it seems or maybe I've just gotten used to it as well. I would appreciate some volume buttons that aren't keys though so that I could disable the function keys.

 

As far as I know, all of the T/X series ThinkPads at least have dedicated volume buttons. The current models also have a mic mute button, and both mute buttons (mic and speaker/headphone) light up when they are active which is quite nice.

 

I'm just curious.. since much of Lenovo's Thinkpad brand loyalty is due to the keyboard feel (I know that's the main reason for me buying Thinkpads over and over).

What's stopping NMB, Chicony, and Alps from supplying keyboards with the SAME feel to other brands, such as Dell and HP? That would surely take away much of Lenovo's edge, and what agreement could possibly be in place for them not to be able to do so?

 

Uhh it's not just the keyboard, at least for me. Lenovo changed the keyboard after X_00 series, it feels worse, (T410s, T410 were rubbish for me).

Build quality, the look, the feel, everything is why I jumped ship from Dell's Latitude line to ThinkPad. Manual fan control is also nice, Lenovo's batteries rate much higher than Dell's comprarable batteries.

 

For some reason the keyboard on my X220 feels amazing, but the same keyboard on the T400s feels little underwhelming.

 

Lenovo might have protective patents that prevent them from doing so. The latitude D series probably has the layout most similar to that of the thinkpad keyboard, but it's not quite the same (no middle button for trackpoint, no back and forward buttons next to the arrow keys, no menu key between alt and ctrl on the right side, flatter shaped keys). The non-flexing nature of most thinkpad keyboards is not because of the keyboard itself but the well-designed underlying structure; metal components brace the keyboard. so maybe it's just difficult to imitate too.

 

Sorry, but no. The Fn key has been in the lower left corner since long before the ThinkLight was even a glimmer in David Hill's eye.

 

Fn key: 19 years old
thinklight: 10 years old

jane wins with math.

given that, it would be valid to say that the PgUp key was chosen to mirror the Fn key and help find the thinklight.

 

I prefer Ctrl on the inside mostly because it's a lot more comfortable to hold down for extended periods of time.

 

Probably due to the smaller size. The T400s likely has fewer contact points and enough of a gap to allow some distortion, while the X220 is internally rather well-stuffed.

 

Probably the only time anyone has ever been able to say that of me, math not being my strong suit!

I always thought putting the function key to the far left had something to do with the way a 3270 terminal keyboard was laid out. It's been a long time since I've actually used one, but the reset or CTRL key was located where the CNTL key is now. I do remember that it was simple for me to transition to at the time, and IBM never did anything without a Darned Good Reason.

You can see 3270 keyboard layouts in figures 2-1 and 2-2 in this document.

 

Greenville? I'm only 30min away. Never seen another NBR member so close...

 

Well, actually, my office was in Greenville. I live in the next county up 85.

 

Ah, I'm just in the upstate for the time being. I've actually at the end of 20 near the coast. Clemson ftw though!

 

Nothing like being in Death Valley on a Saturday afternoon in the fall watching them run down the hill. Go Tigers!

 

I can actually see it during game day (Shoeboxes). However, I hate having to always move my car to Kite Hill and then walking all the way back. I suppose the fans' dollar is stronger than my tuition dollar. =/

 

I think the best thing about Thinkpad inputs (keyboard and the nipple) is that they get out of your way so you can work. Working on a Thinkpad feels the closest to a direct connection between me and my work.