ThinkPad Travel Keyboard

[ulrich.von.lich]

I was wondering if anyone has tried it and can tell me if the Fn key will work on T4 systems. On an eBay auction, it says:

Functions with ThinkPad Fn key combinations will work with following ThinkPad Models 2366, 2367, 2652, 2653, 2658, 2659, 2672, 2673, 2677, 2681, 2682, 2683. All other ThinkPad models, desktops, and non-IBM computers may not have this function available.

Is 02R0430 same as 31P9490? What's the FRU number for the one with numeric pad?

I would also like to know the quality of the keyboard. Does it feel more like NMB or Alps etc?

Thanks in advance!

[AdeC]

Hello,

I've bought the exact keyboard (from the exact seller) and almost everything works on my T42 (only buttons that turn volume up&down don't work; mute button works; all Fn buttons work as well).
One thing is that unfortunately I'm quite disappointed with its quality. It just does not feel like "the IBM keyboard" I was buying the keyboard as I wanted to connect external monitor, and to have still this "notebook feeling".
Finally, I've connected the keyboard to my media center (it works quite nice - you don't need mouse - but you also do not have to use the keyboard all the time) and I'm still working on my T42's keyboard on everyday basis.

[runixd]

I have the same keyboard, only with the numpad. It's ok and everything works but it's not as good as your thinkpad keyboard whatever the make is.

[ulrich.von.lich]

Thanks for the feedbacks! I just bought a used one to give it a try. Some seller is selling it on eBay for only 20 dollars. The only inconvenience is the azerty layout. (Not a problem here )

The reason I bought it is also to use with an external monitor. It's disappointing to learn the fact that they don't feel as good as thinkpad keyboards. I've never used a Chicony keyboard, which seems to be considered as the worst one of the three by many people on the forum. But I found the Alps keyboard on my T60p is quite acceptable.

Have anyone ever tried the Space Saver II keyboard? It seems IBM has made a lot of keyboards. I can't find a complete list of them but there are at least 4 or 5 different ones sold on Amazon.fr(some are really old though). Any other recommendations? (IBM or non-IBM branded)

[RealBlackStuff]

My all-time favorite is my venerable 'antique' Northgate Omnikey 102 keyboard. It had 24 Function keys, 12 on top, and 12 on the left.
It was, and still is, considered the best keyboard ever made. It was also nicknamed the 'Rolls Royce' of keyboards.
Logitech 'stole' that description years later!
The Omnikey is still available today as Avant Stellar, or with only 12 F-keys, Avant Prime.

Review here
Order here

[ulrich.von.lich]

Thanks RealBlackStuff for the heads up! But it seems pretty hard to find such a keyboard in France. And they seem quite expansive..

I just received the UltraNav keyboard I ordered a couple of days ago. It feels kinda like the ALPS keyboard on my T60p but has more flex. It's definitely not the worst keyboard I've used though. And for the price I paid, I can't really complain.

Now I'm having a problem: the Fn keys don't work. The volume up & down don't work either but the mute button works. Any idea where the problem might come from? Are those keys not compatible with my T43 (running XP Pro)? Adec and runixd, may I know if you have installed any driver for the keyboard? Thanks in advance!

Edit: I just found this from Lenovo's site:

Note: Some or all of the FN + Key functions of the external USB UNAV keyboard may not work when the UNAV keyboard is plugged into your ThinkPad. This is working as designed and is not a failure of external UNAV keyboard function.

[ulrich.von.lich]

Just a follow up, I downloaded and installed the 60MB driver and all Function keys are working now.