Thinkpads Forum

What is it with Lenovo? First they change the keyboard technology to be more like the dreck Apple peddles. Now they don't offer any 15'' models without a numeric keypad. My main issue is that the unit stops being a *laptop* and becomes a *thightop*. Typing on a laptop keyboard is already worse than typing on a real keyboard (I'm still using 20-year-old Type M keyboards with a trackpoint on all my workstations), why make it even more annoying by having to choose between having my hands skewed to the left or my screen skewed to the right? How many people really do numeric entry frequently enough that this should be the default?

They already must have a lot of tooling in place to accommodate all sorts of different layouts for different country options. Why is it so hard to have one more without a numeric keypad?

Yeah, I agree it's strange like that.

On a desktop keyboard, I use the numpad for gaming regularly. However, a laptop keyboard is already mostly unsuitable for gaming as most 3-key combinations jam. Plus, on a desktop keyboard, I can shift the keyboard slightly to one side or the other, depending on whether I'm typing or gaming. On a laptop it's impossible.

Hsve you seen the W700. Now thats a numpad done right.

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jayeye wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2017 6:36 pm

They already must have a lot of tooling in place to accommodate all sorts of different layouts for different country options. Why is it so hard to have one more without a numeric keypad?

Its not that easy. The different language layouts don´t require a different palmrest. If you want to do a keyboard option without numpad, you have to redesign the keyboard area completely, the palmrest design would have to be very different. Which is why they don´t do that.

Its either all units with numpad or all units without a numpad.

For many years I have programmed on a TKL (TenKeyLess) keyboard like this:



Who needs a numpad, other than a bean counter?

You can still get similar, more modern ones, like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/292099136203

Thinkpads are not consumer kit for that reason they will always have numeric keybads that are standard in accounting. Lenovo have other segments/brands more oriented to the consumer/pro-sumer that don't have the numeric keypad.

Accountants aren't the only ones who use Thinkpads. And accountants use laptops? Don't they have proper desktops? What fraction of the user base do they (ahem) account for anyway?

RealBlackStuff wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:59 am

For many years I have programmed on a TKL (TenKeyLess) keyboard like this:



Who needs a numpad, other than a bean counter?

You can still get similar, more modern ones, like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/292099136203

Ah yes. I still have several of those in storage, along with the 5-pin-DIN to 6-pin-miniDIN adaptors

The one you linked to doesn't have the buckling-spring keys; who would want it?

Never been much a fan of the numeric keypad myself either. I'd much prefer a classic 7 row layout keyboard (even if they stick with chicklet) and maybe some programmable macro keys.

What happened to the keys like on the A31. They should comeback a keyboard like that with the 7 buttons on the left. Also, they should be programmable macros. Now THAT would be pretty useful.

Also on a second thought, someone should reprogram every one of the keys on the numpad with one we lost from the 7 row layout. Screw a numpad for dedicated volume, and put a numlock for that one accountant who needs it. Basically the fn lock for the numpad.

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Dekks wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 05, 2017 7:09 am

Thinkpads are not consumer kit for that reason they will always have numeric keybads that are standard in accounting. Lenovo have other segments/brands more oriented to the consumer/pro-sumer that don't have the numeric keypad.

None with a trackpoint, which is the ONLY reason to buy a Thinkpad, and a 15'' screen. If I didn't need a trackpoint I wouldn't even consider Lenovo.

Thinkpad4by3 wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 05, 2017 5:48 am

Hsve you seen the W700. Now thats a numpad done right.

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I don't want a behemoth like the W700. And I don't want a numpad in the first place.

Ibthink wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:34 am

jayeye wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2017 6:36 pm

They already must have a lot of tooling in place to accommodate all sorts of different layouts for different country options. Why is it so hard to have one more without a numeric keypad?

Its not that easy. The different language layouts don´t require a different palmrest. If you want to do a keyboard option without numpad, you have to redesign the keyboard area completely, the palmrest design would have to be very different. Which is why they don´t do that.

Its either all units with numpad or all units without a numpad.

I don't buy that. They have a zillion lines of nearly-identical machines, and each line requires different tooling. They could kill one of the stupider series of thinkpads and offer a proper keyboard.

jayeye wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2017 1:36 am

I don't buy that. They have a zillion lines of nearly-identical machines, and each line requires different tooling. They could kill one of the stupider series of thinkpads and offer a proper keyboard.

maybe they just don't see the sales to justify the tooling costs.