[GTALUG] Lenovo ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard with TrackPoint

[David Ing isss@daviding.com]

The current Thinkpad Wired USB Keyboard with Trackpoint matches the layout
on current Thinkpads (i.e. later than T430, X230, ...).

I preferred the predecessor model as better built, matching the original
Thinkpad keyboard layouts (i.e. earlier than T420, X220, ...).  However,
that model has been discontinued for some years, and available on eBay only
at outrageous prices.

I just replaced my keyboard of 2015 with the exact same model.  It's the
only practical choice if you want a keyboard with a Trackpoint.  After I
got the replacement, my friend Don tried to fix the old one -- see
http://dontai.com/wp/2018/09/06/thinkpad-wired-usb-keyboard-with-trackpoint-0b47190-disassembly-and-cleaning/
-- but the fix only works intermittently.  (I use the right mouse button, a
lot!)

The external keyboard, as an alternative to a built-in keyboard on a
Thinkpad, has been a standard for me for many decades.  Way back, the
company had to get the built-in keyboard replaced because I have a heavy
touch, and would wear it out.  It's much cheaper (and ergonomically better)
to have an external keyboard that plugs into my Thinkpad dock, that is
field-replaceable.  I'm so used to the Trackpoint that working on a
trackpad or mouse really slows me down.

On Fri, Sep 21, 2018 at 11:56 PM William Park via talk <talk at gtalug.org>
wrote:

> On Tue, Aug 28, 2018 at 06:35:42PM -0400, Scott Sullivan via talk wrote:
> > The also make a USB only version, which I have two of as daily drivers
> for
> > at home and work.
> >
> https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47190
>
> I bought one for $60 from lenovo.ca, and just got it this morning.
> After using it for 1 full day, I found that its $60 price is reasonable.
> Think of it as $30 keyboard and $20 mouse, plus $10 premium for
> integrating into one package.
>
>     - UPS delivered the package crushed and ripped on one side.  But, I
>       don't see any physical damage to the content or missing parts.
>       There is only 2 parts: keyboard and micro-USB cable.
>
>     - Key press feels and sounds cheap.  Keyboard on real ThinkPad
>       laptop is way better.
>
>     - The keyboard is light, compact, and it flexes.  But, rubber feets
>       and risers don't slip.
>
>     - PAGEUP and PAGEDOWN are with inverted-T arrows.  And, HOME, END,
>       INSERT, DELETE are located linearly on top row.  I have to look
>       down to see where all the keys are.
>
>     - Fn key is left-most key where Ctrl should be.  I'll never get used
>       to this.
>
>     - ESC is too small, and I'm a vi-guy.
>
> In conclusion, if you're short of desk space, then it's good option.
> It's not for doing real work, at least for me.
> --
> William Park <opengeometry at yahoo.ca>
> ---
> Talk Mailing List
> talk at gtalug.org
> https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gtalug.org/pipermail/talk/attachments/20180922/51c2b5b9/attachment.html>