Best current Thinkpad keyboard?

Hi,

So, I'm the owner of a Thinkpad T410. I previously had a Thinkpad Edge 13. While the T410 is very fast, etc, I cannot say that I am totally getting on with the keyboard. It just doesn't feel as responsive as I'd like. Something about it isn't harmonising with my typing. I actually prefer the Edge keyboard in many respects.

I also find the build quality of the T410 slightly suspect.

What is the most responsive keyboard on the current range of Thinkpads? Is there a big difference between the T410 and the X series? Also, I hear the older Thinkpads such as the T42 are much better in their build. Obviously, the cpu is slower. Would it be worth downgrading for a better keyboard?

Thanks.

 

-The X1 keyboard is generally considered the best for typing feel. I personally like my X220 keyboard since it has the full 7 rows.
-The X220, T#20, and W520 have the same keyboard I believe.
-The X120e keyboard has a slightly shorter depth than the other Edge style keyboards.
-The X1 keyboard, like the X120e keyboard looks like the typical Edge keyboard, but it has backlighting and is generally considered to have a better typing feel.

 

It also depends which manufacturer keyboard you have.

I got an ALPS (which I really don't like), and it just doesn't jive with my typing either. Hoping to grab an NMB or Chicony manufactured one... if they still exist on this generation.

 

The NMB keyboard on my T61 was a pleasure to type on while the one on my T420s feels much stiffer.

 

Many people say that the keyboard on the 600X is the best, some other people say that the X1 has the best keyboard. The best keyboards on the T420 comes from NMB. I´m happy with the keyboard of my L520 too, although the feel ist different to my old R60.

 

I liked the keyboard on my x120e better than the one on my x220 Tablet, with the exception of pg up, pg dn, home and end keys.

 

I'm a fan of the T420/T520/X220 keyboard, particularly as mounted in the X220 chassis.

I think it's better than the 600X keyboard, and I use both regularly.

 

i think this is a subjective matter, best would be to go to a lenovo showroom and try out the keyboards of the different models.

 

I would personally prefer the T420/520 chassis to the X220 one. I have fairly small hands and still find the palmrest a bit short.

 

The palm rest is a bit short, but overall, I really like the keyboard. It was one of the selling points for me when I was looking for a new laptop. Regardless, it beats the crap out of my lat few chicklet keyboards I was using.

 

The best is like the _60/61 styled keyboards. T410/T410s must be a new design as the top portions do NOT feel the same.

Current gen ThinkPads IIRC are all the same...X220/T420/T520/W520 so can't really compare them. Edge should mostly be all the same as well..

 

I agree with the _60/61 generation keyboards, they were a joy to use with the solid backplates and felt more tactile. Not a fan of what they did after with the perforated design to save weight, trying a R400 with the perforated design was like night and day from the old keyboards - far more flexy. The T420 keyboards are decent though, the enlarged Escape and Delete buttons is a well thought out idea once you get the hang of it.

 

X300/X301, T23 keyboard is pretty good, T4x NMB keyboards, T6x NMB keyboards. 600x keyboards.

 

I prefer the T520 palmrests myself, but the mounting in the X220 is (again, IMHO) much better. The T420 is actually the worst for me, palmrest-wise. I find myself with my wrists angled in a rather poor pose most of the time. Obviously that's just one of those individual ergonomics quirks though, and isn't really the fault of the laptop design or the keyboard design.

 

I wasn't aware the X1 keyboards were 'generally' considered the best feel... read several of its reviews and never saw it mentioned... I'd like to know who considers a chiclet keyboard better than all the classic, 'real' Thinkpad keyboards?

Personally, in my experience - the best Thinkpad keyboard would be the T61's, which should be the same as the T400's. The T410 I have, has a shorter 'throw' than the T61's and I never fully got used to it. On my recently-purchased T420, the 'throw' is back almost to where it was on the T61, and feels much better to me.

My W500 has the same keyboard part as the T400, but (strangely to me) when installed in the W500 it seems to have a different feel (kind of a totally flex-less feeling, hard to explain in words!).

I've never tried any of the chiclet keyboards and honestly cannot contemplate spending any extended amount of time on any other keyboard than a classic Thinkpad's.

 

The (TR)60/(TR)61/(TXWR)(245)00 all use interchangeable keyboards.

The **10 and **20 also use interchangeable keyboards.

Curious, what color is the rubber dome on the keyboard you have in the T420?

 

Rubber dome under the keyboard? How do I check?

I thought that Lenovo had gone the way of the 'shorter-throw' keyboards with the *10 series onwards, and had resigned myself to having to get used to them if I wanted a modern generation Thinkpad. I was pleasantly surprised when the T420 I received had somewhat the same typing feel as the T61 I still have.

I say 'somewhat'.. because the feel is still not the exactly the same.. but is certainly close enough, unlike the T410 which had a drastically different feel (to me!).

Also, I hope I am not crazy, but as mentioned the EXACT SAME keyboard in a T400 and W500 feel VERY different to me, and I have no explanation for this!

 

While I'm by no means an expert in ThinkPads, as my current W520 is my first ThinkPad (and laptop), I believe that Lenovo sources keyboards from NMB, Chicony, and ALPS, and each manufacturer makes them slightly differently.

 

Just a quick question, but after two years I've already worn away my T400's keys so that they're actually shiny and partially rounded (thank you, writing-intensive comparative literature class).

How long do your keyboards last? I bought the extended warranty for my T520 as it would actually prove cheaper if/when I need a replacement.

What's interesting is that my T520 (not next to me right now)'s keys feel much much different than my T400. Even if you take into account wear, there's a rougher feeling and the keys emit a different sound when you type. The T400 makes a louder, if not more satisfying, click-clack sound but the T520 has a softer feel and sound.

 

Yeah they changed the keyboard, it's worse after _00 series, though my X201 keyboard was good (didn't feel like the new type).

You mean how long do they last before they get that shine and become curvy? Depends on your typing habits/cleanliness. If you don't type that much and clean it often, it'll take awhile. Personally I just replace the keyboard after years and years.

 

For the X1 keyboard. Typing feel. Not the layout. If it had 7 rows, I'd rate it over the T/X/W keyboards.

also, Lenovo has multiple suppliers for Thinkpad keyboards. That might explain your T vs W difference.

The chiclets are really nice, especially the X1 one. I wouldn't mind if Lenovo decided to switch classic Thinkpads to the chiclet keycap as long as the layout is the same.

 

Have a W500...the layout is great, but there is an empty hollow sound resonating from the chassis, drives me mad.

 

I love the keyboard on my old T60 and current T500. It has a great feel, very responsive and 0 flex. I was worried that Lenovo would ruin the Thinkpad when they took over but they've done a good job keeping standards high.