Which external keyboard?

[ansible212]

I've got my X200s hooked up to an external monitor via DisplayPort and am now looking for a keyboard to go with it. I want to keep the lid closed on my X200s when tethered, and use the power button on the front of the UltraBase to turn it on and off.

In many respects, therefore, the ThinkPad USB keyboard would be the logical choice. I keep access to the FN key combinations, volume keys etc, and also maintain a consistent environment. Additionally I really like the ergonomics of the TrackPoint and get to keep that advantage too.

The fly in the ointment is the lack of a fingerprint reader. An option therefore would be the Lenovo fingerprint USB keyboard, but I obviously lose the FN key etc although I would gain a numeric keypad. (I can live without the TrackPoint, despite my comments about it above.)

Any suggestions to solve my dilemma? What do others do? One option would be to get a separate USB fingerprint reader do complement the ThinkPad USB keyboard like this one:

http://www.techstore.co.uk/browse.php?a ... eID=128493

(This option obviously adds to the overall expense, mitigated I suppose by not requiring a mouse)

Finally, I suppose it's too much to hope that Lenovo might release a ThinkPad USB keyboard with an integrated fingerprint reader?

[dr_st]

Do note that the Thinkpad keyboard customizer utility allows you to set external key combinations for most of the Fn+ combinations, albeit not all of them.

[ansible212]

Do note that the Thinkpad keyboard customizer utility allows you to set external key combinations for most of the Fn+ combinations, albeit not all of them.

Good point... I'd forgotten that.

[TTY]

Consider this keyboard with an external fingerprint reader.

[ansible212]

Ended up deciding to buy the ThinkPad USB keyboard, and will buy an external fingerprint reader to complement it. Less elegant than an integrated solution, but didn't want to lose the TrackPoint... thx for the input (pun unintended) for those who contributed.

[Utwig]

I'm typing this on USB keyboard with trackpoint. My work desktop has no fingerprint reader and I just type passwords or copy-paste them from password safe (free OSS utility).

At home when my X61T is closed I also just type passwords.

[ansible212]

So the USB keyboard with TrackPoint arrived yesterday.

I miss the fingerprint reader, but only because it takes several extra clicks to log on. Shame the Lenovo fingerprint reader software can't detect that the lid is closed and disable the reader. Maybe that's too joined up!

Whilst nice to type on, and I especially like the low profile nature of the design with the feet folded away, I'm slightly disappointed with flex/bounce (particularly if you're using the feet), and the different feel to some of the keys (e.g. Delete, Home, Page Up). I can understand why Lenovo would want to build a lightweight keyboard, but since I expect most people will leave it tethered to their desktop setup I would have preferred if they'd made it a bit more solid.

Should stop moaning I suppose because overall it's just what I wanted.

Would be nice if a wireless version was available too... not for use with my X200s but with my Acer Revo 3610 connected to my TV.