IBM external keyboards

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geobel · #1 Post by **geobel** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 4:49 pm

Does anybody have experience with external IBM keyboards? How do they feel relative to keyboards from other manufactures (e.g. Logitech or Microsoft)?
And these rubber dome keyboards… Do they feel differently from conventionall keyboards?

Thanks,
Gosha

BILLCROCKER · #2 Post by **BILLCROCKER** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 5:00 pm

I've used the rapid access keyboard for about a year and a half until the spacebar broke. The keys were smaller than on most keyboards and it was actually alot noisier than other keyboards I have used.

Now I'm using the Trackpoint IV keyboard with my T41p, and I like it. It has all the functionality of the Thinkpad keyboard, minus the ThinkLight. I was a little irritated when it arrived because it doesn't have a power button like the one on the IBM website.

I've never used a rubber dome keyboard.
-Bill

#3 Post by **BillMorrow** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 12:32 am

i believe that that IS a rubber dome keyboard..

i have two, with numeric keypads..
two until i beat the crap out of one for having the caps LOCK KEY TOO CLOSE TO THE sHIFT key..

now it types "A" whever it sees me coming..
"a".. well really a string of "a"'s.. like aaaaaaaaaaa which i guess is a keyboards way of screaming NOT AGAIN!!!..

so, do i like these ibm keyboards, yes, i do..
when i get a new one to replace the frightened aaaaaaaaaaaaaa keyboard, i'll use a utility to map that [censored] CAPS LOCK key out of !@#$%^#~!@ing existence..

in short, i'll kill the lousey caps lock key..

otherwise, terrific keyboards..
and, FWIW, ibm just announced one withOUT the numeric damkeypad..

sidomania · #4 Post by **sidomania** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 4:52 am

I like my USB Travel Keyboard with UltraNav

[Admin note: I changed this image to a link]
http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.ws ... yboard.gif

Its stable, compact, has 2xUSB Hub inside and has all the features I have on my Thinkpad.

Minecrot · #5 Post by **Minecrot** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 11:02 am

sidomania wrote:I like my USB Travel Keyboard with UltraNav
Its stable, compact, has 2xUSB Hub inside and has all the features I have on my Thinkpad.

cool

G-Man · #6 Post by **G-Man** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 2:11 pm

I think Miss Mouse (Nonny) is going to kill you guys for these pictures.

csv96 · #7 Post by **csv96** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 8:19 pm

What's the part number for the USB Travel Keyboard? I think I want one too!

G-Man · #8 Post by **G-Man** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:35 pm

csv96 wrote:What's the part number for the USB Travel Keyboard? I think I want one too!

31P9490 - US English
Price: $99
Availability: Within 2-4 weeks

This is the latest part number. It was announced on April 27th, so that's the reason you can't find it on IBM's online shop yet.

Regards,
G-Man

G-Man · #9 Post by **G-Man** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 11:57 pm

G-Man wrote:
csv96 wrote:What's the part number for the USB Travel Keyboard? I think I want one too!
31P9490 - US English
Price: $99
Availability: Within 2-4 weeks

This is the latest part number. It was announced on April 27th, so that's the reason you can't find it on IBM's online shop yet.

Regards,
G-Man

After a little digging I found its website. http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... &cntry=840

Regards,
G-Man

GreenLight · #10 Post by **GreenLight** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:44 am

sidomania wrote:I like my USB Travel Keyboard with UltraNav
Its stable, compact, has 2xUSB Hub inside and has all the features I have on my Thinkpad.

Wow, that is one of the nicest peripherals that I have ever seen. I don't own a ThinkPad (yet), but I think I will own one of these keyboards soon.

hausman · #11 Post by **hausman** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 8:14 am

The light and compact IBM USB Travel Keyboard with UltraNav is the ultimate accessory for mobile professionals. ... In addition, the IBM USB Travel Keyboard with UltraNav comes with its own carrying case which makes this accessory convenient for traveling."

Weight Metric 1.28 Kg
Weight US 2.8 lbs

Arrghhh! That's half the weigh of an entire TP!

#12 Post by **JaneL** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 3:50 pm

>I think Miss Mouse (Nonny) is going to kill you guys for these pictures.
>

Miss Mouse is feeling somewhat detached from the whole ThinkPad world these days. Between the OS wars raging elsewhere and the gratuitous graphics here, ennui has set in.

I know that sounds like I'm just pouting, and maybe I am. Or maybe I'm just tired.

JHEM · #13 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 8:24 pm

nonny wrote:>I think Miss Mouse (Nonny) is going to kill you guys for these pictures.

Miss Mouse is feeling somewhat detached from the whole ThinkPad world these days. Between the OS wars raging elsewhere and the gratuitous graphics here, ennui has set in.

I know that sounds like I'm just pouting, and maybe I am. Or maybe I'm just tired.

I'm editing the "gratuitous pics out as fast as I can and I want a BIG pat on the back for refraining from joining in the OS fray!

Regards,

James the Controlled

#14 Post by **JaneL** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 9:47 pm

>I want a BIG pat on the back for refraining from joining in the OS fray!
>

Well, when it got to the point that even the group's official curmudgeon was telling people to can the OS war, I decided it was time to move on. The jury is still (barely) out on this place, but if many more large pics trickle over the cell phone modem, Miss Mouse will be scuttling off into one of the walls to find a new hobby.

G-Man · #15 Post by **G-Man** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:36 pm

nonny wrote:if many more large pics trickle over the cell phone modem, Miss Mouse will be scuttling off into one of the walls to find a new hobby.

You wouldn't do that.

Thinkpads.com wouldn't be the same without you. You know that. James is working hard to get rid of those large pics, and he does it just for you. So, don't even think about finding a new hobby!

JHEM · #16 Post by **JHEM** » Sat May 01, 2004 9:09 am

nonny wrote:Well, when it got to the point that even the group's official curmudgeon was telling people to can the OS war, I decided it was time to move on.

I have to admit that I laughed aloud when Bruce chimed in to suggest temperance in the thread. Even HE saw the irony in his post!

nonny wrote:The jury is still (barely) out on this place, but if many more large pics trickle over the cell phone modem, Miss Mouse will be scuttling off into one of the walls to find a new hobby.

We're nipping them in the bud, and you could always set your cellphone to not download them. Plus, if you were to leave, I'd have to go through all that trouble to hunt you down and drag you back!

Hang in there, we're just suffering from some teething pains.

Regards,

James

#17 Post by **JaneL** » Sat May 01, 2004 7:33 pm

>Hang in there, we're just suffering from some teething pains.
>

Sigh... I know, but I spend more and more time away from my cable modem and on a slower connection these days. Even on the cable modem, there's so many *things* in the page format itself distracting me when I'm reading. It's kind of like trying to pick out an interesting item in those K-Mart Dollar Days ad sections from the newspaper where every page is covered with tiny pictures. It's visually confusing.

Oh, I forgot to give you your pat on the back for staying out of the OS war in the Other Place - here you go: PAT, PAT!

#18 Post by **JaneL** » Sat May 01, 2004 8:23 pm

>James is working hard to get rid of those large pics, and he does it just for you.
>

And I appreciate his efforts!

I think I'm just tired. I have a new job that is occupying 8-12 hours a day right now and at the same time am having to spend more and more time handling things for my elderly father. I'm having to re-evaluate where I spend what little free time I have left. I unsubscribed from two separate mailing lists this week because, after many years of participation, the volume was overwhelming for the little bit of value I was getting out of them. Like I said earlier, jury's still out.

JHEM · #19 Post by **JHEM** » Sat May 01, 2004 9:34 pm

nonny wrote:Oh, I forgot to give you your pat on the back for staying out of the OS war in the Other Place - here you go: PAT, PAT!

Thanks, considering the source it's greatly appreciated.

Now scratch my ears!

Regards,

James

PS: Email me if you want to talk about how your Dad's doing.

ian · #20 Post by **ian** » Mon May 10, 2004 5:51 pm

Can someone PLEASE explain to me the logic of buying (you know, with money) a external Thinkpad keyboard?

What possible use could it have, aside from helping to keep the original keys nice and clean?

I suppose you could put a very long wire on it and then stand the Thinkpad on a pedestal and admire it while you're typing - of course that would then require an external monitor - why not an external hard-disk, a CD burner too?

Or why not a VERY long wire and pretend you're JHEM down by the lake (not quite wireless wireless...)

Seems to me it defeats the object of the principle word that sells Thinkpads "Portable"

Still, I own 2 UNOs so what could I possible know about anything...

cynic · #21 Post by **cynic** » Tue May 11, 2004 2:33 am

I think the point would be if you enjoy the feel of your ThinkPad keyboard, you could have the same keyboard for use with a desktop

ian · #22 Post by **ian** » Tue May 11, 2004 6:20 am

Thanks Cynic, hadn't thought of that. I had however wondered if it had been designed by the Japanese (who, in fact, design and buid most of our Thinkpads) for their children...

hausman · #23 Post by **hausman** » Tue May 11, 2004 6:42 am

cynic wrote:I think the point would be if you enjoy the feel of your ThinkPad keyboard, you could have the same keyboard for use with a desktop

Actually, I prefer the size, heft, and feel of my genuine IBM (now Lexmark) "loud click" keyboard. Problem is that it weighs as much as my ThinkPad

cynic · #24 Post by **cynic** » Tue May 11, 2004 4:15 pm

ian wrote:Thanks Cynic, hadn't thought of that. I had however wondered if it had been designed by the Japanese (who, in fact, design and buid most of our Thinkpads) for their children...

I also think it is a great compact keyboard for rack systems (verses the usual rack keyboard that feels like cheap plastic and have no pointer/scroller)

The makers of the keyboards (at least two of the OEM makers--NMB and someone else) are both Japanese. Maybe the kids do need some keyboards...

geobel · #25 Post by **geobel** » Tue May 11, 2004 6:16 pm

Can someone PLEASE explain to me the logic of buying (you know, with money) a external Thinkpad keyboard?

Key words: dock; external monitor; Fn botton, volume control; trackpoint

But I cannot understand the need to travel with keyboard...

Gosha

.exeCutionStyle · #26 Post by **.exeCutionStyle** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:44 pm

Does the external USB keyboard with UltraNav implement USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 in the integrated USB hub?

I called IBM directly (sales, tech support and IBM options) - none of them could answer this question.

IBM external keyboards

IBM external keyboards

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