Keyboard showdown!

[Quardah]

Hi.

Now that i have both a Classic gen and a newer gen ThinkPad, i got to try both keyboards.

This has been a pretty heated debate in the last few years, and now that most of us had to try both, i would like to know what you have to say.

I'll say later which one is my favorite First let me read you out.

Thx

[MikalE]

Classic, and I've had both.

[theterminator93]

I've always preferred the classic layout. It's what I learned to type [well] on and I don't type nearly as well on anything else. If I had to use the chiclet design I would manage, but it would never feel like I was "at home" with the different layout and feel. I've never had the new design for any length of time, though I do work with them on a regular basis since I deploy and support them at work.

Thus my collection stops with the *20 series (maybe *30 someday with the recent keyboard BIOS mod).

[TPFanatic]

I voted for Classic.

I've only used the classic ones, from A31 to T500. I feel the layout changes were unnecessary and Lenovo shouldn't have messed with success. Windows key was an acceptable / useful addition with Z60m, but I don't like the shifting over of the Fn keys on the T410. Since I use the fn hotkeys, it's another mistake I'll make going every time I go between my T500 and T410.

Based on that I shouldn't like the misplacement of the Printscreen and loss of other keys on the Island style keyboards, but since I've never tried one I don't have much else to say.

[brchan]

I think most people here prefer the classic style boards. The chiclet keyboards have about the same feedback, but the layout is not nearly as functional for some tasks.

[ajkula66]

Classic.

What else is there?

[Quardah]

Wow look at all these quick responses! I am glad you are sharing your thoughts.

I have to say, i am sitting on the opposite side of the pond right now. I had a classic board while running the T420 and now i have been using the new keyboard for a little while and i have to say i am genuinely impressed by it's feel.

I feel like the new board has a better feedback feel. I also like the new trackpoint position too, being a little lower than they keys. The back-light (although i never turn it on) looks very cool when on.

On the downside, i have to agree with TPFanatic. I think the new layout is somewhat weird. I think i'll have a hard time getting used to it but not because it's different, but mostly because some placements are inefficient/weird. The pageup/pagedown next to the arrows are a pain. Also, the new board is a fingerprint magnet.

If you want to know something fun which is maybe the first time you will read this:
Above the trackpad are 4 keys (Calc, Lock, Browser and Folder) in which both Lock and Folder are hardwired to WIN + L and WIN + E respectively (because those are the windows shortcuts). Currently running linux, i reallt think these are just unbindable to anything else. The Calc and Browser are usable, but both the other ones are practically useless lol.

I'll come back tomorrow to read some more.

Cheers and thanks for the responses.
JP BD

[ajkula66]

On the downside, i have to agree with TPFanatic. I think the new layout is somewhat weird. I think i'll have a hard time getting used to it but not because it's different, but mostly because some placements are inefficient/weird. The pageup/pagedown next to the arrows are a pain. Also, the new board is a fingerprint magnet.

The layout(s) found on post-*20 systems is what most of us oldtimers have complained about, not the quality of the keyboard itself.

Mind you, I'm a big fan of Panasonic laptops and have owned quite a few of them - not to mention the ones that I came across in my workplace - but could never get used to the keyboard layout.

If I could bring myself to adopting a different layout altogether, there's an excellent chance that I would be typing this post on an EliteBook 8740W and looking at the best screen ever to be found on any laptop...

My $0.02 only...

[TPFanatic]

Looks like I'll be the one to drag this topic off topic...

I didn't know IPS 16:10 screens existed. Has anyone figured out how to put that in a W700?

[Quardah]

Looks like I'll be the one to drag this topic off topic...

I didn't know IPS 16:10 screens existed. Has anyone figured out how to put that in a W700?

keyboard discussion only here >:[

[evening_hunger]

the poll should include theoretical possibilities, such as 'chicklet keys but with old layout'. Or the oposite.

[Saucey]

Short answer, classic - preferably the keyboard from the X300




Long answer...

I'm going to be peculiar about this subject, but not each classic keyboard was built the same, nor are the current chicklets are the same.
After owning an X1C3 for a few months, currently use a T430s & had a few T440p's, Helix to flip... At a local Fry's, I found out that typing on a recent E-Series laptop, the quality of the chicklet is terrible.

Although I didn't mind the standard keyboard feel of the T430s, when I bought a backlit keyboard, my typing got worse. I don't know if there's a NMB/Alps/Chicony thing still for that machine, but I mostly think that the smooth texture of the keyboards might of attributed to it.

As far as classic v chicklet, specifically the T410/20 vs a T430, I really don't feel that much of a difference other than the change of layout (totally used to it by now) to really spite the T430 new design. However to me there is a world difference in classic v chicklet when it comes to T6x keyboards, same with T4x, T/A3x. My favorite of the Lenovo era is the X300, it just has better feedback, the raised arrows on the directional keys & texture from the keys/palmrest just feel great. I didn't care for the big Esc & Delete keys of the T410, it just feels off. Had I need a machine from that time, I would totally go for the X201 for it having the last true iteration of the classic series.

I have my classics for the best typewriting experience, maybe I am a bit too bitter at this time as I am typing on a UK layout Pixel.