Thinkpads Forum

Just wanted to show you my latest setup.

• Samsung 2343NW Monitor (23", 16:9, 2048x1152)
• ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint (German)
• ThinkPad Bluetooth Laser Mouse

driven by a Intel graphics T60 (to the left of the picture), soon to be replaced by X200.

I like how it all matches. Keyboard and mouse are black with red accents and ThinkPad logos. Monitor is black and matte as well. Nice ThinkPad experience with a spacey display.

I use both TrackPoint and mouse depending on what I do.

Very nice, I have same monitor (two of them actually) and keyboard at work.

Nice setup, I really want to properly try out Windows 7!!

I'm thinking about purchasing that keyboard, too. However, I've read some reviews complaining about a sticky shift key. Have you had similar problems?

seungsohn wrote:I'm thinking about purchasing that keyboard, too. However, I've read some reviews complaining about a sticky shift key. Have you had similar problems?

Sticky shift key is a problem with this keyboard.

Some other issues include:

• The Fn+F9 combination doesn't work with my X200s either, although FWIW, Fn+F6 does with a recent Lenovo update.
• Also some issues with flex (although as with the X200s' keyboard this is largely a question of getting used to it and working out how hard you have to press the keys... I develop a light touch which eliminates the effect of flex if that makes sense.)
• Scrolling with the middle button and TrackPoint isn't as good as with the regular keyboard (how weird is that?)

Yes, this keyboard does have some issues. The TrackPoint scrolling seems to use a different method than in a ThinkPad (it looks as if it was sending cursor keys events, at least in some programs). It also seem to send some other key presses which prevent it from working with Firefox (there is a fix to that).

I haven't had a sticky shift problem but I don't type very fast. The main problem I'm having is pressing the same key in quick succession which results is missing letters, for instance typing "cool" very quickly will give you "col".

The case is just plastic so it's not very sturdy. I managed to improve that by taking it apart and reinforcing the innards a bit.

I got used to all that but I'm not sure that if I would buy it again.

Still, I like having the same layout as on my ThinkPad, all the Fn- shortcuts that I use, work as they should.

My setup changed considerably since the last picture so here's an update.



What you see here is an X200 in the UltraBase on a 3M LX550 notebook stand (cool stand that allows you to put the laptop almost vertically).

X200 has the AFFS screen mod.

The monitor is a HP ZR24w (24", e-IPS, WUXGA) connected to the UltraBase with a DisplayPort cable.

Speakers and keyboard remained the same from the previous setup.

The mouse is a Logitech VX Nano.

There's a Hitachi Simple Drive 1TB external USB HDD behind the notebook.

Since I work at home, this is my all-round setup and I'm quite happy with it. I have enough screen real estate to work productively while the laptop remains very portable if I need that.

Actually the notebook stand just came in today so I'll be checking out in the next days how it works for me. It blocks the front of the laptop so I can't use the card reader and it's hard/impossible to reach the lid latch and power button on the UltraBase. But it does put the screen in a lot nicer position -- higher and closer to me (without that I had problems reading the screen since I'm sitting much further away from the laptop than normally).

Both are very nice setups! The separate ThinkPad keyboard gives me that weird feeling that something is missing or has been removed by force

nice setup... very clean and simplistic.... all black... love that

Why did you end up getting rid of your Samsung 2343NW Monitor? Were you running the Samsung via the ultrabase? I was thinking about getting a similar monitor (the Dell equivalent), but am concerned that I will not be able to run it via the displayport on the ultrabase (displayport -> displayport to DVI adapter -> monitor).

Nice setup, very cool-looking, and I like the background. Astronomic images are exactly my thing.

modulationz wrote:Why did you end up getting rid of your Samsung 2343NW Monitor? Were you running the Samsung via the ultrabase? I was thinking about getting a similar monitor (the Dell equivalent), but am concerned that I will not be able to run it via the displayport on the ultrabase (displayport -> displayport to DVI adapter -> monitor).

I had the Samsung for some time and was generally satisfied with it as I mainly do programming on my computer (which means I don't need good color reproduction). However, I decided it's time for an upgrade so I switched to the HP which is an e-IPS monitor with digital input (Samsung was VGA only).

I had both monitors briefly, running simultaneously from the UltraBase (HP on DisplayPort, Samsung on VGA). Both worked as expected, there was no interference or anything on Samsung. However, I didn't have that much space on my desk and image quality of the Samsung compared to HP was pretty poor so I ended up with HP only.

I don't know much about the DVI adapters but I think many people use them as most monitors don't have DisplayPort inputs.

I like it. I need to get the Think - keyboards Then I'll post as well. PS: How's the mouse ? Wireless?

crashnburn wrote:I like it. I need to get the Think - keyboards Then I'll post as well. PS: How's the mouse ? Wireless?

Looking forward to it. However, be aware that these keyboards have some problems. If you hit the same key twice very fast, they sometimes register only one hit. Another problem is the case which is made of thin flexible plastic so even though the keyboard itself comes from a T400s, it isn't as stiff as in that ThinkPad. There are some problems with the TrackPoint and various software too.

I learned to live with all that and I like all the advantages: TrackPoint and ThinkPad layout. I actually made the keyboard stiffer by taking it apart and reinforcing with some pieces of metal.

As for the mice, both are wireless. The first one (ThinkPad Bluetooth Laser Mouse) used Bluetooth whereas my current one (Logitech VX Nano) has a USB receiver. So far the Logitech is much better, there are no connection problems, everything just works. With ThinkPad one I had occasional drop outs and buttons stopped working only couple of months after I got it.

Bottom line is, Lenovo makes good laptops but they aren't the first choice in peripherals.

nice setup. i love thinkpad.

yak wrote:Bottom line is, Lenovo makes good laptops but they aren't the first choice in peripherals.

Indeed that is the case. I have yet to find any real interesting external pointing device from Lenovo. However, I do use the Thinkplus Enhanced Performace USB Keyboard and I find it very nice. I love the layout, love the feel of the keys (shape, texture, travel) and find it a more pleasant typing experience than some well-regarded Logitech keyboards (like the one used in the Pro 2800 Cordless Desktop).

I've also been gaming on it, and its ability to recognize multiple keypresses without jamming is quite excellent, on par with the advanced keyboards (much better than any Thinkpad keyboard, for that matter). I've recently beaten Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands using this keyboard.

Also has the advantage of programmable shortcut buttons, dedicated multimedia/browser keys and a two-port USB hub (though operating at USB 1.1 speeds). The 64bit driver is a bit glitchy, though.

Need insights on IBM/Lenovo external keyboards w Trackpt Pic. Fullsize UltraNav Kbd vs ThinkPad USB kbd w Trackpoint?(Pic).

Anyone who has used one of these Thinkpad related keyboard (ideally both of these to give a comparative response).

Which of the following two have you used?
How was the experience?
If you've used both, which one would you prefer? Why?

At the moment I have a "slim" BTC 6200C desktop keyboard. It has laptop like scissor keyswitches, so I like it the slim notebook like profile. The way I have positioned my 30" LCD I'd like to be able to keep the keyboard in my lap on my chair at times and maybe on the desk at times.

ThinkPad Full-Size UltraNav USB Keyboard
The keyboard and trackpad of the IBM Lenovo Thinkplus USB Keyboard with Ultranav:


ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint
A 2009 replacement for the previous one but not the full keyboard nor wireless:

I'm using Thinkpad USB keyboard with trackpoint. It's very similar to Thinkpad keyboards, although it's a bit quieter, lighter and softer. It's a very nice keyboard, the only problem I had was that I accidentally ripped out left arrow key. (my fault)

I'm also using X61T with USA (small Enter) and T42p with Slovenian keyboard (T4x have no Windows key so I remap right CTRL). Generally I have no problem adjusting between them, though I sometimes hit Enter instead of Ž on my X61T.

It's also very portable, it's great if you need to go work in some rack since you can fit it somewhere or hold it in your hands and you don't need to connect a mouse and find a mousing surface. Also if you sometimes need to work on other people's computer you can just plug your keyboard in with instant productivity boost from faster typing and trackpoint without having to adjust to other's icky keyboards and too fast or too slow mice.

When I switched to laptops I missed the numeric pad untill I adjusted and learned where + - * / are. Still if you use some software or games which bind keys to numeric pad it can be an issue. In CorelDraw you need to press numeric + or - to add/remove a node to curves. In some games you need to redefine keys.

Another issue with this keyboard is if you use Insert key a lot. For instance in VMware workstation you press CTRL+ALT+INS instead of DEL for virtual machines. You often hit DEL instaead of INS at first which brings up Windows welcome screen.

If you get older keyboard without Windows key, you may use Thinkpad keyboard customizer utility (works on Win7 32-bit) to remap, though utility sometimes stops working untill next reboot.

If you really need numeric pad, then get first keyboard used, otherwise go with 2nd.