The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    IBM keyboards

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Shiffman, Aug 20, 2006.

  1. Shiffman

    Shiffman Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Bought a T60 and like the keyboard (not sure which brand I actually have). Because I expected to like the keyboard, and use my laptop in dock station much of the time, I ordered two external keyboards, after being assured they were similar to laptop's in feel and layout. Neither is true: the external keyboards are cheap plastic crap, and layout is quite different. they're going back.

    Meantime, I'm hunting for desktop keyboards that are as close as possible to T60 keyboards. Any suggestions as to brand, model, source?

    Thanks
     
  2. AGNI

    AGNI Notebook Geek NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    91
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
  3. Cerebral_mamba

    Cerebral_mamba Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    63
    Messages:
    298
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Get the Model-M :D.....

    Its too bulky though and mine is now sitting on the shelves. I prefer the Notebook keyboard. Logitech has some really slim keyboards and IBM also has one that is basically the exact same Notebook keyboard fitted with a frame to from an external keyboard. Its got the tackstick, three buttons and one versio even has the touchpad (if at all anybody actually uses it on a ThinkPad)
     
  4. Fred from NYC

    Fred from NYC Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    64
    Messages:
    501
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Do you live near a computer store that has keyboards on display? You could try different models and pick the one you like most.
     
  5. Shiffman

    Shiffman Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Just likie the Thinkpad is what I'd like - but no such thing is shown on their web site. Or perhaps I missed it?

    S
     
  6. Shiffman

    Shiffman Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Good idea. Grown so used to shopping on Web, practically forgot the pleasures of tactile shopping.

    S
     
  7. Ethyriel

    Ethyriel Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    207
    Messages:
    1,531
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Check out Unicomp, it's the result of an employee buyout of an old IBM/Lexmark keyboard factory. They still make those excellent mechanical keyboards, as well as some older style laptop type keyboards (Mighty Mouse w/ or w/out stick). I own a couple of the Mighty Mouses, and they're pretty decent, but kind of clackity and loose feeling. The buckling spring types, though... those are wonderful, but a bit loud.

    Their typical rubber dome is pretty nice (the Might Mouse has shorter travel, but is also rubber dome), but nothing approaches the tactile joy that is buckling spring.
     
  8. pufftissue

    pufftissue Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    235
    Messages:
    607
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    sometimes the keyboards are all called the same thing/model number, but they are actually sourced by different companies....so that explains why some people swear by a thinkpad keyboard while others can say they are disappointed.

    i have experienced this personally....the "thai" keyboard on a t42 a few years ago was noticeably better.
     
  9. Cith

    Cith Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    24
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    AMEN! :D Unicomp's website is http://www.pckeyboard.com - they're wonderful, wonderful keyboards. (Oh, and the buckling spring models are the Endura's and the Customizer 102/104/105)
     
  10. EagleDevil

    EagleDevil Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    405
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    OK, I'm curious, because I type a lot. Can you put into words what's so great about these?
    Chris
     
  11. Cith

    Cith Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    24
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    They use a different mechanism from just about any keyboard out there (laptop or desktop), a buckling spring, which provides a definite, solid tactile respones with each keypress that, really just feels... good. They've really developed a fanatic following. The two drawbacks are that they are rather noisy, with audible clicks, and on the heavy side. But god they feel good to type on :)

    Wikipedia has some information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Model_M_Keyboard

    And more information is here: http://www.dansdata.com/clickykeyboards.htm
     
  12. Cerebral_mamba

    Cerebral_mamba Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    63
    Messages:
    298
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Here's one:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-PS-2-Space-...QQihZ014QQcategoryZ116290QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

    There are a few varients of this type like I said. Ones with and without the touchpad, 2 mouse button, 3 mouse buttons etc... You will have to do a bit of searching and you'll soon find the exact model number of the one you like. then finding a good price is easy.
     
  13. goga

    goga Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    229
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I really like MS natural keyboard for the desktop (the original one, no fancy buttons). But I'd never trade it for an IBM A30 keyboard, ever. Almost silent, never fails me in touch typing, always "there" for me.

    PS: even though I've got a T42, I still like A30's keyboard much better.
     
  14. Shiffman

    Shiffman Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    What model would yopu say is closest to the T60 laptop keyboard?
     
  15. Ethyriel

    Ethyriel Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    207
    Messages:
    1,531
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Cith said it all, but if you like peace and quiet buckling spring isn't for you. It's almost as loud as an old mechanical typewriter.

    I just wish they'd make an all black version, those grey keycaps are ugly.
     
  16. masteraleph

    masteraleph Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I like the one with the fancy buttons (from the wireless set), but the new one (natural 4000 or something like that) is absolutely terrible and incredibly mushy. The buttons can actually be useful, especially if you map them to specific programs- for example, Mail to Thunderbird, web to Firefox, my music to Foobar, My Docs to Word, etc.
     
  17. lazybum131

    lazybum131 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    203
    Messages:
    532
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
  18. Cith

    Cith Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    24
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Ethyriel: I agree - the grey keys are ugggggly. And all black model with white lettering would be gorgeous.

    Re windows key: A quick tip: All the windows key really is, is Ctrl+Esc. So you really don't have to live without the functionality it provides, if your keyboard lacks it. (Honestly even with keyboards with the windows key, I often fall back to ctrl+esc as it seems a more natural motion for my hands for some reason.)
     
  19. goga

    goga Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    229
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The reason I like old keyboard is because it is much quieter and softer to type on. Fancy keys aside I think it is as good between desktop keyboards as IBM's between laptops ;) .
     
  20. l33t_c0w

    l33t_c0w Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    174
    Messages:
    1,159
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I own an IBM M and a Unicomp M :)

    I like them very much. The Unicomp is made from a softer plastic, and types a bit softer as well. I actually like it just slightly better, though it feels a tiny bit less "solid"... Anyways, neither of the two is anything like a thinkpad keyboard in feel. They are quite nice though.

    Sad thing about ctrl+escape is that you can't use it with "m" to minimize everything.
     
  21. lazybum131

    lazybum131 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    203
    Messages:
    532
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    That's only one of the things the Windows key does. I regularly use Win+E (windows explorer), Win+D (all windows minimize, press again to restore), Win+L (lock), and Win+Pause (system properties).

    There's even more shortcuts if you install microsoft's intellitype keyboard software.
     
  22. Shiffman

    Shiffman Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Good site. This one appears to have EXACTLY the T60 keyboard, which sounded perfect until I realized I rely on a numeric keypad. So, I'll keep looking.....

    Saul
     
  23. Shiffman

    Shiffman Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Had not seen this model, even after searching IBM site uner "keyboard." This looks like what the doctor ordered. Has anyone tried one? Any reports on the keyboard "feel"?