X230 Keyboard on an X220?

[blink]

Hi Does anybody know if an x230 style keyboard works on an x220?
Just seen this & i may be interested but it looks like an x220i with an x230 style keyboard on?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LENOVO-THINKP ... SwcUBYIwNz

Many Thanks

[RealBlackStuff]

On this Forum we want to get rid of the crappy X230 KB and put on a classic X220KB on an X230 instead.
Yours is a rather peculiar question...

[emeraldgirl08]

@blink. Here are some comments from others who have tried the swap. Copy and paste the address into your browser address bar.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads ... 20.761255/

If it is an X230 keyboard experience you want you might be better off just purchasing an X230. You would be getting the proper keybindings and in addition - improved graphics and improved power management of the Ivy bridge generation. Good luck!

[TPFanatic]

Well the i3-2310m is a Sandy Bridge processor only offered on the X220i so there goes my (incorrect) idea that it could be an X230 with an X220i lid....

Some keys might do different things on this laptop.

[blink]

Thanks very much for the replies guys. Yeah i was worried some keys may not work?
RBS I know its sacrilege however i have never tried an Island keyboard & thought this may be a way to simply experiment on the cheap.
Also it was really just an idea of mine to possibly use this to replace my x200s as a media server with dock & ultrabay drive so i would actually very rarely tap the keys anyway.
Thought it would perhaps be a better option than an x220 non i as it may run cooler & i would still presume get the m-sata option?

Dont worry though i will go to confession & do some Hail Mary's to repent later lol

Strangely on this review the Island kb got some good feedback


http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/think ... r-or-worse

Even on here surely it must at least have 1 or 2 converts?

emeraldgirl08 Many Thanks for the advice & links as said just looking at a possible cheap option for a media server so dont really want to spring more cash on an x230. TBH my x200s is working fine for my needs but just thought it may be a cheapish upgrade option with the m-sata bonus?

TPfanatic. Cheers Yeah when i 1st looked i wondered if it may be an x230 with a x220 lid but alas no. I wouldve snapped it up if it was
Like you say some keys may not function correctly?

Thanks again

Oh & RIP Leonard Cohen

[TPFanatic]

I think Thinkpad fans tend to agree the island keyboards aren't bad as keyboards, especially compared to other manufacturers. A lot of us just like the classic style more, since if it aint broke don't fix it, or in case of losing a row, losing keys, and rearranging others, if it aint broke don't break it....

Also there are a few reasons why one Thinkpad keyboard may be clicker or noisier than others. Chicony keyboards are especially quiet and mushy and Alps seem to be the loudest in my opinion, so the Laptopmag review might have been able to get a better Classic keyboard to beat a worse Island keyboard if the keyboard lottery went in the other favor.

[blink]

Yes thats a Very Good Point TPFanatic
I certainly find the keyboard on my T420s (current Daily Driver) not as good as the one on my T400 or my 2 X200s tbf.
Having said that none of them compare to the kb on my old 600x.
I do not do a lot of typing so can live with it & obviously i get better performance. However I think anyone who does a lot of word processing or is a touch typist may certainly need to choose more carefully.
Kindest Regards

[Tasurinchi]

Strangely on this review the Island kb got some good feedback

The keyboards per se are not bad (depending on the manufacturer), I used some of the island KB and in my opinion they're not bad for typing, the main issue for me (and other TP fans) is the layout: Tiny F-keys, lack of dedicated browser buttons, PgDw, PgUp, Home, End keys in different places, tiny ESC key and so on...

i have never tried an Island keyboard & thought this may be a way to simply experiment on the cheap

You could get a cheaper X1xxe series or an Edge model

[dogeitrade]

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[blink]

Took a stab & bought this. Negotiated a bit better price so worth a punt?

Anyhow TPFanatic was correct, a couple of the keys are not responding correctly.
The 1 that bothers me is the delete key does not delete it is page up i think lol.
I have had a quick look at a key remapping program but not sure if it can be done or not?
I would certainly like to get the delete key correct & the fn spacebar to operate the thinklight if possible?

Any suggestions?

On another note early days but the Island KB is not as bad as i was expecting . I know it is not as good as the original style but at least i think i could live with it.
So perhaps i wouldnt be as put off getting am xx30 series or beyond in the future as i had thought?
Cheers

[FryPpy]

Any suggestions?

i have never tried an Island keyboard & thought this may be a way to simply experiment on the cheap.

Too late - but this USB or wireless chiclet keyboards can halp you (0B47189 or 0B47190).

I would certainly like to get the delete key correct & the fn spacebar to operate the thinklight if possible?

If it possible to make all keys of x20 KB on x30 Thinkpad (ThinkWiki) - i think reverse movement is possible too. But you need reprogramm EC. Try to contact initial (x20 KB -> x30) patch maker - may be he can help you.

[blink]

Many Thanks FryPpy Busy at the moment but when i have time i will do some further research on it though as you say it may be hard as the delete key is not present?

[Fusion]

Anyone get any further with this?
The reason I ask is that it is very hard to find a xx20 keyboard in my localisation, but there are some xx30 keyboards being sold.

[RealBlackStuff]

The xx10 keyboards are the same as the xx20 group, if that's any help.

[dr_st]

Yep, as RBS mentioned - T400s-T420s, T410-T420, W510-W520 and X220 all share the same keyboard. I would be surprised if the Lenovo service center would not be able to sell you a brand new keyboard in your language.

There should also be an option of getting a generic (English only) keyboard and having someone engrave the local language (I assume Czech). Anything should be better than getting a keyboard that has fewer keys, and some of them would not work right.

[Fusion]

Found one on ebay a bit after my post.
Afaik, local Lenovo has sold them out and the last price they had online was ridiculous.

[wojtekS]

You can order one on aliexpress. That's what we do here in Poland. They also have a lot of cheap spare parts like palmrests, LCD covers etc. The only problem is you have to wait for delivery from 2-3 weeks to 2 months.

Ebay is also good, some things are even cheaper there (keyboards for example) - coming from chinese sellers. Buy an item from US is currently pointless because of stupid ebay Global Shipping Program.