Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
My girlfriend is studying Russian and wanted her Thinkpad to have a trilingual keyboard. Since Lenovo offers no such option, we took her X61 to a keyboard customization shop and engraved Russian on the English/Hebrew keyboard.
The end result looks rather nice. Much better than stickers. Now I just hope that the paint lasts.
The end result looks rather nice. Much better than stickers. Now I just hope that the paint lasts.
Last edited by dr_st on Fri Apr 20, 2018 1:22 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
-
- Junior Member
- Posts: 395
- Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:46 am
- Location: Colo. Springs, CO
- Contact:
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
That's rather nice... I wish there were some services here that did that... at the very least I could refresh a keyboard with the letters worn off. I'm pretty picky about my TP keyboards and have replaced several older ones with brand new replacements... not cheap.
ThinkPads:T21(retired), X200(retired), T500(busted) T400(retiring), T430(upcoming)
Other: Dell Precision M6700(desk hog)
Other: Dell Precision M6700(desk hog)
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
That does look very nice, indeed.
I can't help but wondering... is there really a shop dedicated to keyboard customization?
I can't help but wondering... is there really a shop dedicated to keyboard customization?
Some call me...Tim.
Present: 13" 2015 MBP
Past: T420 || T500 || X61T || X60T || R50 || X30 || T30 || A31p || 3xx || 600E || Intellistation Z Pro
Present: 13" 2015 MBP
Past: T420 || T500 || X61T || X60T || R50 || X30 || T30 || A31p || 3xx || 600E || Intellistation Z Pro
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
Yes, and in fact much more than one.t140568 wrote:I can't help but wondering... is there really a shop dedicated to keyboard customization?
Many Israelis like to take advantage of significantly lower laptop prices in the US (and some countries in the far east, like China/Thailand), buy laptops on their trips and bring them back. Many of these would like to get Hebrew on their keyboards, and engraving is usually far cheaper than replacing the keyboard with an official localized one. In fact, for certain models not sold in Israel, such a localized keyboard may not even exist.
Furthermore, the ethnicity here is much more heterogeneous than in the typical country. With about 20% arab population, and additional 20% of the population who are immigrants (mostly from Russia and ex-USSR countries), there is interest in adding additional languages to laptop/desktop keyboards.
Overall, the demand is sufficient for the businesses to thrive.
And they also do other keyboard customizations, for instance assigning special labels for the keys, for application-specific macros (i.e. music-editing, gaming, etc.). Although these are probably are only about 2% or less of the total customization jobs.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
Wow. Very cool. I guess I didn't expect such diversity.
I'd love to get the Windows symbol removed from my desktop keyboard and have something more Linux-oriented.
Also, how much does a customization like you have cost?
I'd love to get the Windows symbol removed from my desktop keyboard and have something more Linux-oriented.
Also, how much does a customization like you have cost?
Some call me...Tim.
Present: 13" 2015 MBP
Past: T420 || T500 || X61T || X60T || R50 || X30 || T30 || A31p || 3xx || 600E || Intellistation Z Pro
Present: 13" 2015 MBP
Past: T420 || T500 || X61T || X60T || R50 || X30 || T30 || A31p || 3xx || 600E || Intellistation Z Pro
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
I paid $35. I've seen prices between $25 and $40.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
I learned to type in Russian by looking on keyboard layout on paper. So none of my keyboards (TP USB keyboard, T42p, X61T) have Russian letters but I type in Russian on all of them. It would be fun to have a Thinkpad with blank keyboard .
There are no engraving services here, you can buy stickers but those would spoil the feel and aesthetics of my Thinkpads.
There are no engraving services here, you can buy stickers but those would spoil the feel and aesthetics of my Thinkpads.
T540p, T420s, T400, R61, X61t, T60p, T42p, A21p
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
Been there, done that.Utwig wrote:There are no engraving services here, you can buy stickers but those would spoil the feel and aesthetics of my Thinkpads.
Most of my keyboards, like yours, don't have any Russian letters on them (including all my Thinkpads), but I type Russian blindly pretty OK, but not nearly as fast as English, and not as fast as Hebrew. I still end up hitting the key next to the key I need fairly often, especially when it comes to the edge keys (the ones at the right ends of rows, which are non-letter symbols in the standard English layout).
What bothers me is that my brain seems to have been stuck for the past several years, and my Russian typing skills have hardly improved. I'm starting to doubt whether I will ever go to "the next level".
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
awesomely beautiful, reminds me of a giant hp48, nice color scheme .. and quite cheap too.
X60s 1702-YAB `L2400 | T61 7659-12U `T7300
X32 2672-KJG `750 | X31 2672-CBG `705 |X41 | X41t 1867-A44 `758
[fs] x61s 3GB, 100GB, Batt+AC ... dead mobo & lcd
[sold] x60 T2400 1Gb wlan|eth
-
- ThinkPadder
- Posts: 1724
- Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:26 pm
- Location: TX, USA & Bombay, India
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
Nice.
It would be nice if you could share the contact info of any of these who could / would offer their services by mail / parcel.
It would be nice if you could share the contact info of any of these who could / would offer their services by mail / parcel.
T61 8892-02U: 14.1"SXGA+/2.2C2D/4G/XP|Adv Mini Dock|30" Gateway XHD3000 WQXGA via Dual-link DVI
X61T 7767-96U: 12.1"SXGA+/1.6C2D/3G/Vista|Ultrabase
W510 4319-2PU: 15.6"FHD/i7-720QM/4G/Win7Pro64 (for dad)
T43 1875-DLU: 14.1"XGA/1.7PM-740/1G/XP (Old)
X61T 7767-96U: 12.1"SXGA+/1.6C2D/3G/Vista|Ultrabase
W510 4319-2PU: 15.6"FHD/i7-720QM/4G/Win7Pro64 (for dad)
T43 1875-DLU: 14.1"XGA/1.7PM-740/1G/XP (Old)
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
I improved my Russian typing skills by adding lots of chat contacts who write in correct Cyrillic (most people from ex SU do, most people who moved out don't). There are also programs for improving typing: Windows: Typingmaster is not free and I'm not sure if it supports Russian. Linux: KDE has a learn to type game/utility and it supports different languages that KDE supports. It's free, if you have many Thinkpads you can install Linux with KDE one one of them and drill typing every day.
T540p, T420s, T400, R61, X61t, T60p, T42p, A21p
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
Recently I was doing some testing on my X32 vs X61, so here is a rare photo of them side-by-side (click for bigger).
You can see the different approach to trilingual keyboards - X32 on the left uses stickers, X61 has the keyboard engraved, as was shown in the earlier photo. The problem with stickers (other than they visibly look like an add-on and not an integral part of the machine), is that the paint will smear / get erased after several years of heavy use. Not that this X32 is expected to see such use...
You can see the different approach to trilingual keyboards - X32 on the left uses stickers, X61 has the keyboard engraved, as was shown in the earlier photo. The problem with stickers (other than they visibly look like an add-on and not an integral part of the machine), is that the paint will smear / get erased after several years of heavy use. Not that this X32 is expected to see such use...
And I am pleased to say that after 10 more years, I am at least somewhat better at typing Russian blindly than I used to be.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
This looks insanely beautiful, neat and tidy for sure. i think they use laser engravers don't they ? I have seen laser engraving done on top covers but never knew on key caps How long should one last , is it a repeat process to refresh the lettering after certain time ? Also , have you seen/(can it be done) a braille keyboard with this method ?
experimental engraving done here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z_p2BT_y4U
Vopu
experimental engraving done here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z_p2BT_y4U
Vopu
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
This one is not laser engraving, but a mechanical engraving with ink-filling of the grooves. I had it done in one of the most experienced, recommended shops that do this kind of thing, and the fact that 11 years later it still looks great, the ink hadn't faded or chipped off, is a testimony of the quality of their work.Vopu wrote: ↑Sat Oct 24, 2020 4:40 amThis looks insanely beautiful, neat and tidy for sure. i think they use laser engravers don't they ? I have seen laser engraving done on top covers but never knew on key caps How long should one last , is it a repeat process to refresh the lettering after certain time ? Also , have you seen/(can it be done) a braille keyboard with this method ?
I checked, and it looks like they do offer laser engraving now (mostly for backlit keyboards), which costs more than twice of a regular engraving. So far I haven't found anyone here adding braille to keyboards with this method, though.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
Well, for 35$ you really can't complaint can you And again this really looks awesome. Well done you.
One would think due to the process of engraving say mechanical or laser , braille should not work as the letters/symbols are carved to caps then filled with ink as braille is designed to be a raised surface symbols against a flat base yet i have no idea if one in need can also feel the engraving instead of protrude letters/symbols for touch. A friend asked me about this a long time ago and as far as i could search back then, stickers or the transperent overlays were the only options other than specially designed braille keyboards/readers/note takers or smart displays. A use of technology on improving the disabilities of millions in need with special needs has always been fascinating to me.
Vopu
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
wow, keyboard engraving, that's really nice. I've been thinking of rigging something like that with my university's hacker-space CNC machine, I prefer the Latin American layout that is sadly quite rare for mechanical keyboard keycap sets (don't blame them, Latin America is quite a small market for 'luxury' computer products like that), so I was thinking of using the CNC machine to mill out symbols on blank keycaps, and use acetone-free nail polish to color the lettering. Nice to know someone in the world actually does that.
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
Really good idea! I sent my laptop to guy who can engrave with laser. I'll post photos after the work is done.
-
- ThinkPadder
- Posts: 1724
- Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:26 pm
- Location: TX, USA & Bombay, India
Re: X61 - adding third language to the keyboard
Could you link to some of these shops/ that have an online presence? Maybe if I ever want, I'll ship them some "keys caps"dr_st wrote: ↑Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:08 amYes, and in fact much more than one.t140568 wrote:I can't help but wondering... is there really a shop dedicated to keyboard customization?
Many Israelis like to take advantage of significantly lower laptop prices in the US (and some countries in the far east, like China/Thailand), buy laptops on their trips and bring them back. Many of these would like to get Hebrew on their keyboards, and engraving is usually far cheaper than replacing the keyboard with an official localized one. In fact, for certain models not sold in Israel, such a localized keyboard may not even exist.
Furthermore, the ethnicity here is much more heterogeneous than in the typical country. With about 20% arab population, and additional 20% of the population who are immigrants (mostly from Russia and ex-USSR countries), there is interest in adding additional languages to laptop/desktop keyboards.
Overall, the demand is sufficient for the businesses to thrive.
And they also do other keyboard customizations, for instance assigning special labels for the keys, for application-specific macros (i.e. music-editing, gaming, etc.). Although these are probably are only about 2% or less of the total customization jobs.
T61 8892-02U: 14.1"SXGA+/2.2C2D/4G/XP|Adv Mini Dock|30" Gateway XHD3000 WQXGA via Dual-link DVI
X61T 7767-96U: 12.1"SXGA+/1.6C2D/3G/Vista|Ultrabase
W510 4319-2PU: 15.6"FHD/i7-720QM/4G/Win7Pro64 (for dad)
T43 1875-DLU: 14.1"XGA/1.7PM-740/1G/XP (Old)
X61T 7767-96U: 12.1"SXGA+/1.6C2D/3G/Vista|Ultrabase
W510 4319-2PU: 15.6"FHD/i7-720QM/4G/Win7Pro64 (for dad)
T43 1875-DLU: 14.1"XGA/1.7PM-740/1G/XP (Old)
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
Adding a barrel or slim tip DC-IN socket to a USB-C laptop.
by RealBlackStuff » Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:59 am » in ThinkPad T430-T490 / T530-T590 Series - 0 Replies
- 742 Views
-
Last post by RealBlackStuff
Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:59 am
-
-
-
P1 5th gen - Swapping keyboard with WWan antenna for keyboard without Wwan. Possible?
by Phidelio » Mon Jan 15, 2024 9:21 am » in ThinkPad P1/P40/P50/P70 and later Series - 1 Replies
- 2136 Views
-
Last post by H-Atkinson
Fri Jan 19, 2024 2:56 pm
-
-
-
Wi-Fi card recommendation for X61
by karotlopj » Thu Dec 14, 2023 4:26 am » in Thinkpad X60/X61 Series incl. Tablets - 14 Replies
- 16728 Views
-
Last post by axur-delmeria
Tue Jan 23, 2024 6:12 am
-
-
-
X61 battery - 40Y7001
by karotlopj » Fri Dec 15, 2023 4:22 am » in Thinkpad X60/X61 Series incl. Tablets - 0 Replies
- 1376 Views
-
Last post by karotlopj
Fri Dec 15, 2023 4:22 am
-
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests