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recommend a keyboard

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Marin85
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recommend a keyboard

#1 Post by Marin85 » Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:18 am

Hi,

I am looking for a good keyboard for my newly obtained Intellistation Z Pro 9228. Of course, I am looking for an IBM/Lenovo keyboard, preferably with a trackpoint as I am really hooked to it! 8) Since I don´t have much experience with desktop keyboards, I will be more than happy to receive some good pieces of advice on the matter from the IBM gurus here! :)

Thanks,
Marin
IBM Lenovo Z61p | 15.4'' WUXGA | Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 2x 2.16GHz | 4 GB Kingston HyperX | Hitachi 7K500 500 GB + WD 1TB (USB) | ATI Mobility FireGL V5200 | ThinkPad Atheros a/b/g | Analog Devices AD1981HD | Win 7 x86 + ArchLinux 2009.08 x64 (number crunching)

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Re: recommend a keyboard

#2 Post by dr_st » Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:39 am

There exist Ultranav (trackpoint/touchpad equipped) keyboard such as this and the newer version. These should provide the typing experience equivalent of a Thinkpad.

My favorite, though is the Lenovo Enhanced Performance USB Keyboard. It's your standard desktop keyboard (no trackpoint), but it feels great to type on and has useful shortcut keys, and USB hub (12Mbps only though).
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
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ThinkRob
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Re: recommend a keyboard

#3 Post by ThinkRob » Wed Jan 19, 2011 6:34 pm

Model M, preferably one of the early Lexmark-made ones.

In fact... I happen to have a couple that I can part with... ;)

Also, a 9228? I envy you! I've got a 6221 that's my current workstation, but I'm considering a 9228, a System x3500, or an IntelliStation POWER 285 for its successor.
Need help with Linux or FreeBSD? PM or catch me on IRC: I'm ThinkRob on FreeNode and EFnet.
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Re: recommend a keyboard

#4 Post by TTY » Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:49 pm

This is not an IBM/Lenovo keyboard, and i haven't tried it myself, but if i would have to buy a keyboard, i would get this:

http://uk.ts.fujitsu.com/products/prof_ ... bpc_e.html

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Re: recommend a keyboard

#5 Post by automobus » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:53 am

ClickyKeyboards has new UltraNavs in stock right now. Only three left; there were twelve when I checked yesterday! $40 price, plus shipping. Hurry if you want one of them.

2005 IBM keyboard with trackpad and trackpoint (89P8500)

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Re: recommend a keyboard

#6 Post by ThinkRob » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:44 am

automobus wrote:ClickyKeyboards has new UltraNavs in stock right now. Only three left; there were twelve when I checked yesterday! $40 price, plus shipping. Hurry if you want one of them.

2005 IBM keyboard with trackpad and trackpoint (89P8500)
And then there was one... ;)
Need help with Linux or FreeBSD? PM or catch me on IRC: I'm ThinkRob on FreeNode and EFnet.
Laptop: X270, running Fedora
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Re: recommend a keyboard

#7 Post by automobus » Sat Jan 29, 2011 12:24 pm

ThinkRob wrote:And then there was one...
And then they re-stocked. Now seven are available.

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Re: recommend a keyboard

#8 Post by ThinkRob » Sat Jan 29, 2011 12:59 pm

automobus wrote: And then they re-stocked. Now seven are available.
Get 'em while you can! They're great keyboards IMO -- they're light, have a solid feel, are very low-stress to type on, and have an excellent, compact footprint for those of us with cramped desks. :D
Need help with Linux or FreeBSD? PM or catch me on IRC: I'm ThinkRob on FreeNode and EFnet.
Laptop: X270, running Fedora
Desktop: Intellistation 285 (currently dead)
Workstation: owned by my employer ;)
Toy: Miata!

Marin85
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Re: recommend a keyboard

#9 Post by Marin85 » Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:46 pm

Oh, lol, I haven´t watched this thread for a while now and missed all that development! :) Thanks all for ´the input! That trackpoint keyboard looks really nice, but to be honest I imagined it would have the big enter key like some other laptop versions of that keyboard. I have to think about it.

Now, regarding that Model M keyboards, ThinkRob, what would be your offer? :) Do you also have some pics?

And btw, yes, the 9228 is a really really nice machine, especially considering the fact that I can attach 8 HDDs... And it was a real bargain as it turned out that the machine was shipped with both Xeons :D

Now, enough bragging, I have been lately also considering something more modern like the new models of Cherry. Maybe someone could comment on some particular model from them? I like the fact that they have some "spare" keys that can be assigned to one or another special letter that occur in all 3 languages I use (believe me, different layouts can be a real pain).
IBM Lenovo Z61p | 15.4'' WUXGA | Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 2x 2.16GHz | 4 GB Kingston HyperX | Hitachi 7K500 500 GB + WD 1TB (USB) | ATI Mobility FireGL V5200 | ThinkPad Atheros a/b/g | Analog Devices AD1981HD | Win 7 x86 + ArchLinux 2009.08 x64 (number crunching)

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Re: recommend a keyboard

#10 Post by Harryc » Sat Jan 29, 2011 5:06 pm

If I told everyone here what my favorite keyboard was, I'd probably be shot :). If you look at my sig you can probably guess. Good luck in your search. I've heard nothing but good things about Cherry.

Marin85
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Re: recommend a keyboard

#11 Post by Marin85 » Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:42 pm

Harryc wrote:If I told everyone here what my favorite keyboard was, I'd probably be shot :). If you look at my sig you can probably guess. Good luck in your search. I've heard nothing but good things about Cherry.
haha, that is a dangerous thing to keep in the signature nowadays :) Yes, I too have heard only good things about Cherry in the past, so I decided to check that guys out what they are doing nowadays. It turns out they offer some 'fancy' keyboards. Given their reputation, I definitely think they are a good candidate for what I am looking.

On the other hand, there are so many types of keyboards, high profile vs low profile, staggered vs. non-staggared, with or without windows key (though I tend to find it useful as I don´t like gaps between my keys and I always have plenty of stuff attached to the windows menu, lol), white vs. black, backlit, ergonomic vs. full, that I honestly don´t know what I want :help: Jokes aside, I am having some 'major' typing ahead of me (=texing my thesis), hence a good keyboard is a must for me (well, it is anyways as I always have to tex a lot), and with the 'new' machine (of which I am really proud) it is a double must :)

Anyways, no more non-sense from me, and thanks for the nice wishes! Let´s see what I´ll come up with...
IBM Lenovo Z61p | 15.4'' WUXGA | Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 2x 2.16GHz | 4 GB Kingston HyperX | Hitachi 7K500 500 GB + WD 1TB (USB) | ATI Mobility FireGL V5200 | ThinkPad Atheros a/b/g | Analog Devices AD1981HD | Win 7 x86 + ArchLinux 2009.08 x64 (number crunching)

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