What kind of external keyboard do you use??

Message

getlow · #1 Post by **getlow** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:15 am

I was looking at an external keyboard for my x60s, and i was just curious what other people have. anybody have those ibm/lenovo keyboards with the ultra-nav and pointer in the middle of the keyboard??

christopher_wolf · #2 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:22 am

Model M from 1993 usually; either that or the keyboard on my own T43. Some of the IBM Enhanced keyboards when I get to work on multiple systems in the labs are great as well.

#3 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:37 am

getlow wrote:I was looking at an external keyboard for my x60s, and i was just curious what other people have. anybody have those ibm/lenovo keyboards with the ultra-nav and pointer in the middle of the keyboard??

I have the ultranav keyboard, for a few months now. My trusty old IBM Model M2 died (only 20 years ... sigh) and I decided to go with the Ultranav, which is very similar in feel to the ThinkPad keyboard.

And I no longer use an external mouse -- it's TrackPoint all the way for me now.

#4 Post by **Kyocera** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:42 am

I have an ultra nav keyboard, it is great. I use it for my desktop mostly, you just download the driver and blam.

This way I can wheel my desktop to whichever chair or room I want to use it in and the keyboard sits in the lap.

I have not really configured it completely to use on one of my thinkpads, but it does have all the functionalities of the machine keyboard.

DIGITALgimpus · #5 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:37 pm

I'm a fan of the Logitechs, since they tend to not suck on various platforms (mine even has mac/win lettering on command keys). Also work rather well on KVM's, which apparently not all USB keyboards and mice do.

greg025 · #6 Post by **greg025** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 11:03 am

Related to this topic, does anyone know if IBM has a wireless version of the UtraNav keyboard?

I was thinking of the Microsoft MCE one, but the mouse is noted as terrible. So I thought an UtraNav would be nice, but for an MCE installation it needs to be either Wireless or Bluetooth.

Thanks,

Greg

tilneford · #7 Post by **tilneford** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:34 am

once upon a time, getlow asked

I was looking at an external keyboard for my x60s, and i was just curious what other people have. anybody have those ibm/lenovo keyboards with the ultra-nav and pointer in the middle of the keyboard??

I bought the ultra nav in July (full one, not travel) to see if I was able to adapt to the trackpoint. Received the x60s in October and have been on an extended honeymoon with it. When Lenovo added the windows keys to the keyboard, they may have changed the keycodes transmitted by the keyboard, because some of the thinkpad specific keys on the ultranav do not work to control the x60s, as is advertised. Some work, just not all. There usually is some way to change/intercept keycodes but I have not explored it further. It is not a big deal, but I would like to buy a travel keyboard, but am reticent to do so until they redesign it to be fully compatible with the x60s. Anybody have any info on a redesigned ultranav with the windows keys? On the other hand, if you don't like the new windows keys on the keyboard, the ultranav gives you that comfortable old style feel.

greg025 · #8 Post by **greg025** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:01 pm

I should have mentioned in my previous posting.

I use a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000

Microsoft Link:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouse ... 00_v1.html

Really comfortable with the reverse tilt and you hands resting on the front.

#9 Post by **tomh009** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:01 pm

tilneford wrote:I bought the ultra nav in July (full one, not travel) to see if I was able to adapt to the trackpoint. Received the x60s in October and have been on an extended honeymoon with it. When Lenovo added the windows keys to the keyboard, they may have changed the keycodes transmitted by the keyboard, because some of the thinkpad specific keys on the ultranav do not work to control the x60s, as is advertised. Some work, just not all. There usually is some way to change/intercept keycodes but I have not explored it further.

I use one with my X31 (with the old-style keyboard layout). I'm not on the ultranav at the moment, but from memory ...

- Volume up/down keys control Windows volume, not hardware volume
- Mute key switches sound on/off (built-in one only does off)
- Never tried the Access IBM key
- Can't remember trying Fn key combinations -- most of them don't make sense when docked

Which keys are not working for you?

#10 Post by **gator** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 6:23 pm

Just hooked up a IBM model M to my T60 (thanks for tomh009 for the cable). It is a 1991 model, part #1391401 with the grey IBM logo. Simply love it - if you haven't used one ever, you are missing something.

NS · #11 Post by NS » Sun Feb 04, 2007 3:27 am

I use the black and silver Hewlett Packard (DT527A) (DT527AB15)
keyboard as my external keyboard. It is quiet and you will have a pleasant experience typing on 1 of this keyboard.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/sg/en/ho ... R1002_SGEN

Miller88 · #12 Post by **Miller88** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:04 am

img]http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic/14430ceL9g/501032.jpg[/img]

NS · #13 Post by NS » Sun Feb 04, 2007 11:26 am

@Miller88,

You faster edit that image into a URL link. Cannot post image directly into the forum thread without a warning in the subject title. Quickly edit before nonny appears.

*No offence, nonny*

SafeHarbor · #14 Post by **SafeHarbor** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:02 pm

Like Greg25, I use a Microsoft split keyboard. I have a 4000 (black) that I use with the Thinkpad. It's not as nice or as durable as the older white "Elite" which I use with my work box. This is actually the second one that I've purchased. The SDF and J?L, M and left < are completely worn off, as is the text on the Enter key. Is that a K between J and L? I know, but I switched to a Dvorak layout several years ago and I find it's a pain to type on a Qwerty layout now.

Dvorak works GREAT on the split keyboards. Research has shown that the layout does not have great efficiency for those that RETRAIN to use it, but many English word combinations can be typed with a strumming motion, and the noisy Microsoft split keyboards can do this very well.

Interestingly, this keyboard has the Ins - Home - PgUp keys in the same arrangement as my Thinkpad. This really annoys me when I've been using the older Elite all day.

One effect I found I had on the ThinkPad that I didn't notice on my T-21 is that I have a tendency to bump into the Cap Lock key. This was REALLY annoying - I guess because I really use the A key as my "home" key on the split keyboard. I was taught to use the F and J as home when I first learned to type, but resting a finger on the A is more comfortable on the leaning split keyboard.

This did not translate well to the R-52's keyboard. I was so happy when they released the keyboard configuration tool for it. I set the Caps Lock key to the longest possible press, and my problem of the spurious caps went away.

On the T-21, the same keys as the MS keyboard had their labels worn off. I've used the external keyboard so often with the newer machine that the TP's keyboard still looks like new.

In Oct, I'll have had it for two years. Knock on wood, not a single problem from it so far. It's run everything I've ever wanted to one it, and it's never crashed. Tomorrow, I'll bag it up and take it to work with me. It'll sit on the side table until lunch, and then I'll log in and check on some forums. Tomorrow evening, it'll go back in the bag and come home with me.

I also never turn this machine OFF except to install software. I always hibernate it to disk. It's currently showing an uptime of 5 days, 3 hrs, and 52 minutes.

If everything else in my life worked as well as my ThinkPad, I'd have a pretty pleasant life.

Lamar

Stargate199 · #15 Post by **Stargate199** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:42 am

I had a Microsoft Internet Keyboard for almost a year. I liked it a lot, but sometimes my fingers were too fast for the keys, so I bought a IBM Model M for Alphakilo470.

#16 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:00 pm

The very best!
Northgate Omnikey/102 from 1986
Still going strong!