Time for a New Business Laptop

[ajkula66]

Are people just not typing as much anymore?

You've answered your own question, IMO...right here:

The chiclet keyboard is "good enough" for social media posts and typing in a search query, so I imagine people only doing that wouldn't be bothered too much by it.

I mean - all nostalgia aside - the reason why I still own a fully functional A31p is to type on it, plain and simple. My favourite laptop keyboard ever.

[pianowizard]

Are people just not typing as much anymore?

Students everywhere are still typing a lot, perhaps more than ever because an increasing amount of homework can now be done on computers.

I suspect that students aren't complaining about chiclet keyboards because they are young and can easily adapt to change. Some of them can even type fast (>80 wpm) on virtual keyboards, using all ten fingers. I was sort of typing like that when I had an iPad Air last year, but didn't feel very comfortable.

[Nigellus]

Are people just not typing as much anymore?

Some of them can even type fast (>80 wpm) on virtual keyboards, using all ten fingers. I was sort of typing like that when I had an iPad Air last year, but didn't feel very comfortable.

You know, when Star Trek went 100% touch-screen in TNG, I knew that was going to be trouble.

What is the "sleek and modern" crowd's prejudice against real keys anyway?

It's like the stupid tracking buttons replacing knobs on VCRs. Someone somewhere decided that a tracking button was more modern looking than knobs... and ignored the fact that knobs make adjusting the tracking about a dozen times easier than it is with buttons.

Just because something can do a job doesn't mean it's the best suited tool for that job.

I'm sure if Lenovo bought Craftsman, we'd see sets of combination wrenches phased out completely replaced with a single adjustable crescent wrench. And enough young people would become adept at making a crescent wrench work in situations where it might not really be the best tool that Lenovo would claim there is no use to produce sets of "expensive" combination wrenches anymore.

[brchan]

Are people just not typing as much anymore?

Students everywhere are still typing a lot, perhaps more than ever because an increasing amount of homework can now be done on computers.

I suspect that students aren't complaining about chiclet keyboards because they are young and can easily adapt to change. Some of them can even type fast (>80 wpm) on virtual keyboards, using all ten fingers. I was sort of typing like that when I had an iPad Air last year, but didn't feel very comfortable.

I agree. Nearly all written assignments at my uni are submitted online.

Another reason why younger people may not have a problem with 6 row layout and poor quality keyboards may be that they have never typed on a proper classic keyboard to know the difference. And, most desktop keyboards have mushy, rattling keys compared to thinkpad keyboards. The average consumer frequently looks for the cheapest laptop that looks sleek, new, and has a decent screen.

[KentT]

This last post is a very good reason. Too many of our students and youth do not know the experience of a fine classic IBM keyboard layout. I have and have loved the IBM keyboards since the first time my motor impaired fingers ever saw a Selectric Keyboard way back in 1971. And no other keyboard ever since has been as fine as that on an IBM. And when the IBM PC was introduced, things still were familiar with additions. So for me, classic ThinkPad keyboards are an extension of myself. And will continue to be. Can't go back easily once you have experienced the finest.