X200s keyboard vs T4x NMB keyboard?

X200, X201, X220 (including equivalent tablet models) and X300, X301 series specific matters only.
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sugo
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X200s keyboard vs T4x NMB keyboard?

#1 Post by sugo » Sun Mar 29, 2009 5:22 pm

Hello, for those X200s users who had a T4x NMB keyboard in the past, how would you compare the two?
Thanks.
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akitaen
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Re: X200s keyboard vs T4x NMB keyboard?

#2 Post by akitaen » Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:00 am

Hey Sugo, I don't quite have your answer, but I might have some related opinions & data. I had a mexican T22 with NMB (recently died) that I thought was excellent at the time, but I now rate it as the least appealing keyboard amongst those I use regularly (maybe it wore out). I have a lenovo T42 with Chicony that I feel is excellent (sorry haters, mine's really good & not the devil's keyboard). I have a lenovo T43 with Alps that is magical, my favorite ever. I have a NMB x300 that is excellent, similar to my fave Alps but firmer. It feels rather like the best quality thinkpad keys yet, but distinct from the familiar telepathic Alps, call it a toss up. I also have used a few T6X with Chicony, also a distinct feel (and sound) from all of my own, these aren't my faves but my feelings aren't really set on these. My T42 Chicony doesn't have the stiffest keypan (surprisingly no demerit), but the T6X's have a noticably stiff chassis or pan that feels good. However I also don't like typing on a T60 because the hot wristpads make my palms ache.

My feelings are that Lenovo hasn't dropped the ball on keyboard quality, but the makes do have distinct feels that may fuel subjective preferences. FWIW I don't like most non-thinkpad keyboards, and for my desktops I have a stack of old Alps keyswitch keyboards. I selected the same switches blind over and over every time I compared keyboards, I have the same models OEM'ed by Dell, SGI, CDC & others. I also have a bunch of IBM model M's that are good & fun, but not nearly as good as my faves for extended entry.

I've never seen an X200 though, I can't say if it's the same as the thinkpads I like.

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Re: X200s keyboard vs T4x NMB keyboard?

#3 Post by archer6 » Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:22 am

I currently have two NMB keyboards in my various T models as well as owning an X200s. While I share many users love of the NMB, I've also found the Alps & certain Chiconys to be wonderful. I might also add that based on the huge number of ThinkPads I own, I've noticed differences between two keyboards of the same brand designed for the same model of ThinkPad.
.
As far as the keyboard on my X200s I haven't looked to see who made it, but I find it very nice. And I am very picky about keyboards as I only use ThinkPads for hours on end, never a desktop. So while I don't know if that helps, as keyboard preference is such a personal thing, I will say that I would not hesitate to call it less than satisfactory if it was so. Tactile feedback and key response is excellent. Overall I feel very comfortable in giving it high marks.
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Workstations... T40p ~ T41p ~ T42p ~ T43p ~ T60p ~ T61p ~ W500 ~ W510
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X Series..... X20 ~ 30 ~ 40 ~ 60 ~ 60s ~ 200 ~ 200s ~ 301
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Re: X200s keyboard vs T4x NMB keyboard?

#4 Post by Initial D » Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:15 pm

archer6 wrote:I currently have two NMB keyboards in my various T models as well as owning an X200s. While I share many users love of the NMB, I've also found the Alps & certain Chiconys to be wonderful. I might also add that based on the huge number of ThinkPads I own, I've noticed differences between two keyboards of the same brand designed for the same model of ThinkPad.
.
As far as the keyboard on my X200s I haven't looked to see who made it, but I find it very nice. And I am very picky about keyboards as I only use ThinkPads for hours on end, never a desktop. So while I don't know if that helps, as keyboard preference is such a personal thing, I will say that I would not hesitate to call it less than satisfactory if it was so. Tactile feedback and key response is excellent. Overall I feel very comfortable in giving it high marks.
I know this is bringing up a very old thread, but I just recently purchased a X201s (still on its way). From the Hardware Maintenance Manual, it shows that the X20x has only two different keyboards part #s 42T3737 and 42T3671. From a quick search, one site (Japanese) list the 42T3671 as being the NMB keyboard (not sure if this statement is 100% correct). I had to purchase my NMB keyboard separately because my T43 didn't come with one originally, but boy it was WORTH it. The keyboard for the X20x series doesn't seem to be a much discussed topic as it did with the T4x series.

Anyway, I just wanted to ask which keyboard do you have on your X200s?

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... sLookup.vm
X201s|i7-640LM 2.13GHz|8GB|12.1" WXGA+|128GB SSD|Intel 6200|Chicony KB
T61|T9300 2.50GHz|4GB|Intel X3100|14.1" SXGA+|180GB SSD|DVD-RAM|Atheros AR5BXB72|NMB KB|Win7 + MacOSX 10.6.8
T43|P-M 2.0GHz|2GB|ATi x300|14.1" SXGA+|80GB HDD|DVD-RAM|IBM a/b/g|NMB KB

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