IBM is still making ThinkPad keyboards • Hacker News Board

Re: IBM is still making ThinkPad keyboards

#81

Post by beginpanic » Mon, Oct 05, 2015, 7:37 PM UTC

binaryapparatus wrote: post #19

Glory days, can't not smile when I remember tech decades old. I still have two buckling spring Model M keyboards and they are really made to last. Oh and bought them when they were new and selling, that's how ancient I am. I really wish IBM starts doing complete PC line again.

Unfortunately it won't happen. As an IBMer, I see how quickly IBM sheds anything that is not a top earner, and hardware (especially consumer hardware) will never be a top earner again. The recent partnership with Apple (replacing employee ThinkPads with Macbooks) doesn't look favorably on them making consumer goods anymore either.

If you want IBM approved consumer hardware, it's not even the Thinkpads anymore. Apple makes the modern day IBM hardware.

Re: IBM is still making ThinkPad keyboards

#82

Post by dnr » Mon, Oct 05, 2015, 7:57 PM UTC

pkamb wrote: post #67

dnr wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you point to where that model is "widely available"? It doesn't seem to be on amazon or newegg, and I'd really like to get another one (or two). It's my favorite keyboard as well.

There seem to usually be a few available at any given time on eBay or Amazon. But yes, getting harder to find unfortunately. And now I have competition...

Yes, there are some used/refurbished on amazon for $200+ (or $300+ new). I don't like it _that_ much :)

But this prompted me to look on amazon again and I found an older revision for $80 and nabbed it. No luck on ebay.

Re: IBM is still making ThinkPad keyboards

#83

Post by dnr » Mon, Oct 05, 2015, 8:00 PM UTC

atallcostsky wrote: post #69

dnr wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you point to where that model is "widely available"? It doesn't seem to be on amazon or newegg, and I'd really like to get another one (or two). It's my favorite keyboard as well.

I'm not sure where to buy them separately, but I'm pretty sure they come on the Lenovo T410 and Lenovo X220i laptops.

That's why I like it so much: I've been using thinkpads for years and got used to the feel of the keyboard, and also the trackpoint, so I wanted it when I was at a desktop too. It's really nice to not have to move your hand to the mouse for small motions, although I do still use a mouse for extended things like aimless web browsing.

Re: IBM is still making ThinkPad keyboards

#84

Post by BorisMelnik » Mon, Oct 05, 2015, 8:01 PM UTC

p_eter_p wrote: post #46

There is a special place in hell reserved for the designer who swapped the function and control key placement on that keyboard. Thankfully you can change it in the bios.

it is a weird layout, but once you get used to it it is really really efficient. I used a thinkpad for about 5-7 years and would bang out a ton of code on that thing. particularly a big fan of the arrow key placement.

Re: IBM is still making ThinkPad keyboards

#85

Post by njharman » Mon, Oct 05, 2015, 8:01 PM UTC

Worst part of avoiding further RSI via split keyboard is no more home row fingerable pointer. Now I gotta leave home row to twiddle with mousey thing.

Re: IBM is still making ThinkPad keyboards

#86

Post by mercurial » Mon, Oct 05, 2015, 8:17 PM UTC

pkamb wrote: post #64

The "ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint" is the updated version of the OP's keyboard, with nice improvements such as the "big delete key" and slightly more modern build quality. Sold from ~2009 to ~2013. https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/pd005137 I use one of these full time at my desk. All TrackPoint, no mouse or trackpad. Lenovo is now unfortunately making only the "Compact" keyboard, with the same chic…

Hah, I got my old work to get me one, and I have one at home. They're small and light, and the awesome trackpoint means you don't need a mouse. I could never get the wheel emulator (middle click + trackpoint) to work on Windows, but works fine on Linux.

That said, I haven't tried the chicklet version, but I like the resistance of my chiclet T430 keyboard better than the standalone keyboard's.

Re: IBM is still making ThinkPad keyboards

#87

Post by mercurial » Mon, Oct 05, 2015, 8:24 PM UTC

srb- wrote: post #37

chrisBob wrote: post #10

This guy went out of his way to buy something with a trackpoint? Surely this is a hoax.

You must not be a programmer. Being able to move the mouse and scroll without your hands leaving the home row is genius.

Personally, I use the trackpoint exclusively, up to the point where I have the standalone Lenovo old-style keyboard.

Re: IBM is still making ThinkPad keyboards

#88

Post by mercurial » Mon, Oct 05, 2015, 8:25 PM UTC

thrownaway2424 wrote: post #16

chrisBob wrote: post #10

This guy went out of his way to buy something with a trackpoint? Surely this is a hoax.

The TrackPoint is God's own pointing device. If He had wanted us to use a mouse, He would have given us a third arm.

Yeah, but the Devil messed with Lenovo's design process when they started trying to ape Apple with their single-piece, absolutely terrible, attempt at a Mac-like touchpad. This makes the trackpoint nearly useless.

Apparently they got back to their senses with the more recent models, though...

Re: IBM is still making ThinkPad keyboards

#89

Post by bluecalm » Mon, Oct 05, 2015, 8:26 PM UTC

MichaelGG wrote: post #53

bad_user wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have both a ThinkPad and a MacBook Pro and MacBooks are also doing it. I prefer to override Caps Lock to be another Ctrl and I can't remember the last time I felt the need to use the normal left-Ctrl. The best part is that Caps Lock is here to stay because many users like to write ALL CAPS.

The Lenovo X1 Carbon actually did remove caps, instead putting home/end there. I believe it also removed the F keys, instead adding an "adaptive" touch strip. They undid it in the latest version. I wouldn't consider anything safe from the terrible designers at Lenovo. It is fine that they wanna experiment. I just wish they'd sell a premium option with the old style, good, keyboards.

At least they gave us the physical trackpoint buttons back.

Re: IBM is still making ThinkPad keyboards

#90

Post by stronglikedan » Mon, Oct 05, 2015, 8:27 PM UTC

p_eter_p wrote: post #46

There is a special place in hell reserved for the designer who swapped the function and control key placement on that keyboard. Thankfully you can change it in the bios.

Unfortunately, you can't switch them in every bios. I just ditched my SL510, but had to suffer with it for years. I tried everything to fix it, but to no avail. If I recall, it's not even a key that keyboard binding/remapping programs recognize, so I couldn't even remap it with 3rd party software. Ruined an otherwise perfect laptop keyboard.