Thinkpads Forum

I was thinking of buying one of those Thinkpad-like external keyboards with the UltraNav and TrackPoint, but I'd like to try one out first, to see how big it is and how the keys feel compared to my Thinkpads themselves.

If anyone lives in the San Francisco area, and has one, and would be willing to let me try it out some weekend, I'd much appreciate it!

I sure wish IBM/Lenovo stuff was available at stores so I could test drive their equipment. Ah well.

- Tim

LOL! This gives me some flashbacks! IBM had a "mini" keyboard that was similar in size to a TP keyboard; their cost was around $200 (from what I could remember) I got TWO NEW keyboards for $100/each; they were awesome, I used ONE of them all the time; the other one was in mint condition for a rainy day! I ended up giving away the new keyboard to a friend, mine died sometime later and I was never able to find another keyboard like that, by then it had been discontinued for a while.

The keyboard that you talk about, is a FULL size keyboard that has the look of a TP keyboard, correct? I have not used one of these keyboards, but they look interesting!! Good luck with your search....

... the full-sized one. I'd like to have one, since who else would ever make a keyboard with a TrackPoint on it? And it'd be nice to have that option into the future.

I may just get one, spend the cash (weep!) and have it in case I ever want it.

- Tim

I had one of these external Thinkpad keyboards. They are really good and also very light so you can pack it in a briefcase for travel. The downsides, from memory, where:

1. The cursor keys are not physically separate as they normally are in an external keyboard.

2. Price and availability.

Separately, and unrelatedly, my wife developed an RSI problem using a mouse. So, she borrowed the Thinkpad keyboard, along with its built in ultra-nav, to use at work. It works very well for her.


I replaced the Thinkpad keyboard with a finger print scanning keyboard, whose scanner is cool but keys are mushy.

Rgds - Alan.

tbessie wrote:I was thinking of buying one of those Thinkpad-like external keyboards with the UltraNav and TrackPoint, but I'd like to try one out first, to see how big it is and how the keys feel compared to my Thinkpads themselves.

If anyone lives in the San Francisco area, and has one, and would be willing to let me try it out some weekend, I'd much appreciate it!

I sure wish IBM/Lenovo stuff was available at stores so I could test drive their equipment. Ah well.

- Tim

If you're using a Thinkpad, you've already had your hands on one. These newer (and vastly over-hyped, imho) keyboards are little more than a TP keyboard in an external enclosure and with USB cord. Pshaw. Better getting a true external keyboard. I have a Preferred Pro (with a 2-port usb hub on the underside), and use it from time to time. Much nicer.

I have a preferred pro, too (the one with USB2 hub on it, at least), and I like it quite a lot. I just have gotten used to not having to use a mouse (my hands like the trackpoint better), which is why I was wondering.

I don't like the track pad, or all that wasted space it takes up, but I may get one just for the use of the trackpoint. The ones without the trackpad are expensive even tho' they're used now.

- Tim

P.S. You might get more bang for your buck from the Enhanced performance or Rapid Access keyboards. Just my 2¢.

Best...Keyboard...Ever:

http://www.clickykeyboard.com/modelsm/i ... al-001.jpg

Top notch quality and such a great color. Hard to find Model M's of this dark green color. Was lucky to find one at work and it really stands out at my desk there.