How good is the T25 keyboard?

[Edward Mendelson]

Later this year, I'll be spending three months away from home, without a desktop machine, and I'm trying to decide which ThinkPad to bring with me. The choice is between a new-in-box T25 that I can get for a reasonable price from a friend, or a new model (X1 Gen 9 maybe) with a 16:10 screen. I'm trying to decide whether the keyboard on T25 is worth having, even with a five-year-old machine, or whether the taller screen is more useful for seeing what I'm writing.

I know this is all a matter of opinion, and that everyone's experience will be different, but if anyone has any strong opinions about the value (or lack of value) in the T25 keyboard, I'll be grateful.

I've been clearing out my closet, and the only ThinkPad I still have that's more or less usable in today's world is my treasured RBS-modded X240s, which isn't suitable as a main machine. So I'll need something newer - either the T25 or a current model - which is why I'm cluttering the board with this question.

[dr_st]

If the 7-row keyboard had been critical to you, you would have known it already, and no way would you have agreed to have been using an X240s.

Hence, it is probably not critical to you.

[Edward Mendelson]

If the 7-row keyboard had been critical to you, you would have known it already, and no way would you have agreed to have been using an X240s.

Hence, it is probably not critical to you.

Yes, but I'm asking about the laptop that I'm going to be using for a full day's work (the kind I normally do on a desktop machine with an IBM Model M keyboard). I use the X240s to browse the web and write e-mails.

[gtxaspec]

its good, really good. I'm starting to like it better than the X220, almost.

[theterminator93]

I enjoy using it. It's definitely less key travel than the 20/10 series but there is still good feedback. I greatly prefer that over adapting to a completely different layout.

[Edward Mendelson]

Thank you, @gtxaspec and @theterminator93. I think I'll go ahead and give the T25 a try, and hope...!

[mikemex]

Or you can get an external keyboard and mouse. Laptop ergonomics suck, classic Thinkpad or not.

[Jake.Werecat]

Oh, external keyboard and mouse is superior when it comes to convenience and ergonomics, but Edward Mendelson wrote that he's spending 3 months away from home, so external peripherals and not an option here

[Edward Mendelson]

Thank you to everyone who responded here. As it turns out, the T25 I had in mind eventually turned out NOT to be available, so I've been trying to find a current or recent model with a half-decent keyboard. I hope a 16:10 screen might compensate for the lack of a good keyboard, but it probably won't.

[Jake.Werecat]

If you're not that much focused on T25, try T470/T480 instead.

[Edward Mendelson]

This is now straying off-topic, but if I have to give up the best keyboard, I would want a 16:10 screen, and I think that means going to a T14 or recent-generation X1. If anyone knows of a list of ThinkPads with 16:10 screens, I'd be grateful to know about it.

[mikemex]

As far as I know, all the new releases this year have 16:10 screens, plus the X1C9, X13 G2...

[MBG0001]

Keyboard is awesome. I use my T25 as a Synergy server to remote control my workstation and T14.

If I'm just straight up typing, I prefer it to my full sized desktop keyboards.