Best External Keyboard?

Message

#1 Post by **RonS** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:24 am

When my T60 is docked, I use an external keyboard. Currently it's a Microsoft Wireless Desktop Elite Keyboard. I just upgraded my mouse (Logitech VX Revolution - incredible mouse, by the way) and now I want to upgrade my keyboard.

What extenal keyboards do my fellow Thinkpad users (keyboard snobs almost by definition

) use?

tom lightbody · #2 Post by **tom lightbody** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:41 am

ibm model "M"

#3 Post by **GomJabbar** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 4:07 am

I admit I haven't used this one, but it is what I would buy if I was in the market. http://www.pckeyboard.com/ep104.html

zverg · #4 Post by **zverg** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:04 am

HAPPY HACKING KEYBOARD! I'll never go back to another brand. Not having to do registry hacks to use a unix layout is a nice plus too:

http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/en/hhkeyboard/

link to pic: http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/en/hhkeyboar ... s/200B.jpg

#5 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:06 pm

RonS wrote:When my T60 is docked, I use an external keyboard. Currently it's a Microsoft Wireless Desktop Elite Keyboard. I just upgraded my mouse (Logitech VX Revolution - incredible mouse, by the way) and now I want to upgrade my keyboard.

What extenal keyboards do my fellow Thinkpad users (keyboard snobs almost by definition ) use?

Either a model M2 (if you can find one somewhere) or my current choice -- the Ultranav (who needs a mouse?).

img]http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/ ... yboard.jpg[/img]

(fixed the image ...)

Note from Moderator: Fixed it back.

#6 Post by **Kyocera** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 6:56 pm

I think tomh009 is linking to the IBM usb travel keyboard with ultranav. I have one and really like it to. Second the "who needs a mouse" comment, but that really depends on what you are working on.

Dead1nside · #7 Post by **Dead1nside** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 6:49 am

I like my Saitek Eclipse, it's got quite quiet keys. The backlight is very good, I like the aesthetics.

The Saitek II looks pretty nice (has the media controls that the first was lacking.)

GXCross · #8 Post by **GXCross** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 4:59 pm

The IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav (or the travel version) is a good complement to the Thinkpad, as it has the exact same key layout, and matches aesthetically. However, it does not feel as good as the exact same keyboard in the Thinkpads. The keys feel plasticky comparatively - likely because of the light-weight, plastic base. Still a good keyboard, but if you expect it to feel like your Thinkpad keyboard, you'll be disappointed.

The Logitech DiNovo keyboard feels great, and also uses "laptop" style keys. But I'm not a big fan of wireless, so I use a cheaper OEM version that has the same key feel but without the frills & wireless:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6823126135
It feels better than the IBM UltraNav keyboard, is very thin, and looks okay. When the Logitech Edge keyboard comes out, I'll probably give it a try.

Then there's the Das Keyboard, which uses high quality key switches (like the old IBM's, Northgate Omnikeys, etc). It's a little funky in that it has no lettering on the keys, but the feel is supposed to be great. I'm tempted to order one, but am going to try the Logitech Edge first:
http://daskeyboard.com/

I used to be a big fan of the old Northgate Omnikey keyboards, but now find that they're too loud and prefer the softer-clicks of the newer generation keyboards. I'm glad that finally computer manufacturers have woken up and are starting to produce higher-quality keyboards vs the cheap mushy stuff that's been the norm for so many years.

#9 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:05 pm

If you can find one for less than $100, the ultimate keyboard is the Northgate OmniKey Ultra. For those who can't afford to pay that much (and/or wants a new keyboard), the Model M or Unicomp Customizer 101 is a good choice. Microsoft also makes some good keyboards.

My personal desktop keyboard is a circa 1993 IBM Model M.

GXCross · #10 Post by **GXCross** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:07 pm

AlphaKilo470 wrote:If you can find one for less than $100, the ultimate keyboard is the Northgate OmniKey Ultra. For those who can't afford to pay that much (and/or wants a new keyboard), the Model M or Unicomp Customizer 101 is a good choice. Microsoft also makes some good keyboards.

My personal desktop keyboard is a circa 1993 IBM Model M.

I have 4-6 good condition Omnikey Ultras sitting around if you want to buy em. I hoarded them back when I could only use Omnikeys but have since switched to the softer-sounding keyboards.

Initial D · #11 Post by **Initial D** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 2:23 am

IBM Model M.

I have an IBM Model M13 in black.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... &start=360

CeeDee · #12 Post by **CeeDee** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:31 pm

I am still using the model M that came with my first IBM AT Part # 139013. date Apr 04 1986. As long as it functions I would never change it, it is a wonderfull keyboard. Weighs a ton just don't make them like this anymore.

christopher_wolf · #13 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:42 pm

Go with the Model M; bar none the *best* keyboard I have ever used for a workstation or desktop PC. Always a professional choice.

If you want something quieter, you can get the IBM Enhanced keyboard from their site and it has just about the same feel, but with less noise. Me? I have gotten used to and grown fond of the noise a Model M makes.

#14 Post by **tomh009** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 11:05 pm

christopher_wolf wrote:Go with the Model M; bar none the *best* keyboard I have ever used for a workstation or desktop PC. Always a professional choice.

If you want something quieter, you can get the IBM Enhanced keyboard from their site and it has just about the same feel, but with less noise. Me? I have gotten used to and grown fond of the noise a Model M makes.

Best keyboard ... but very big. M2 is slimmer, but very hard to find, and not quite as durable. In the end that, combined with my increasing familiarity with the ThinkPad keyboard made me switch to the Ultranav.

seeplus · #15 Post by **seeplus** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 4:29 am

I am still using the model M that came with my first IBM AT Part # 139013. date Apr 04 1986. As long as it functions I would never change it, it is a wonderfull keyboard. Weighs a ton just don't make them like this anymore.

I still have the IBM kb that came with my IBM XT, though my favorite old school kb came with my ibm ps/2 286 (10mhz).

The other day I found the MS Ergonomic 4000:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouse ... px?pid=043

I remembered liking the original MS ergonomic (not the new basic one, which has cheaped-out), and I don't go for gimmicky stuff, but this keyboard has a solid, nearly silent keystroke, "ergonomic" split slope that, surprisingly, speeds up my typing, and was purchased at micro center for $39.00us.

I think I'd be willing to pay for an even quieter, more solid keyboard than this, though.

perry_78 · #16 Post by **perry_78** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:58 am

I use the keyboard that came with the Logitech Desktop MX for Bluetooth, has some 2 years on it, very good keyboard in my opinion.

For some reason, the feel is different to the regular MX keyboards? The blank keyboard looks awesome

Miller88 · #17 Post by **Miller88** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 7:12 am

I use an old Logitech Access keyboard. It has to be a good 5 years old by now.