Reply to: Say it ain't so...

[doodab]

Anyway, back to my original topic. I think they *might* just persuade me to give these new keyboards a go....

ThinkPad X1 Carbon - tough, reliable Ultrabook Laptop from Lenovo (US)

1600x900 14" screen so you can actually use it for real work, built in 3G, proper i7 processors (allegedly, but the old ones had i7-2640 in them so should be OK). I really hope they've put two RAM slots in it...

[suityou01]

Cheaper if you order from the company that makes them:

Unicomp, Inc.: Product List

And dearer if you have to put international haulage costs on it as I don't live in the states.

[doodab]

They're not cheap, but still in production, see here

Cheaper if you order from the company that makes them:

Unicomp, Inc.: Product List

[Diver]

They're not cheap, but still in production, see here

Ooh!

Cheers

Guess what I'm going to get (although I will have to reserve it for the home office)

[suityou01]

Microswitch keyboards. they were the best.

Cheapo squidgy keyboards are way too quiet (and squidgy)

They're not cheap, but still in production, see here

[Diver]

Have to agree. The best keyboard I ever owned had an old 9 pin din connector on it, the keys were like cubes and made a lovely click when they got to the bottom of their travel. It was so old the plastic had gone a nicotine yellow (although it wasn't nicotine that had caused this), and I think it was from an old IBM XT.

Lovely chunky tactile response. God how I miss that keyboard.

Microswitch keyboards. they were the best.

Cheapo squidgy keyboards are way too quiet (and squidgy)

[suityou01]

I've been waiting for the ivy bridge thinkpads to emerge before taking the plunge and it seems that they are doing away with the traditional keyboards in favour of one of those island jobs.

WHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?????????????

Have to agree. The best keyboard I ever owned had an old 9 pin din connector on it, the keys were like cubes and made a lovely click when they got to the bottom of their travel. It was so old the plastic had gone a nicotine yellow (although it wasn't nicotine that had caused this), and I think it was from an old IBM XT.

Lovely chunky tactile response. God how I miss that keyboard.

Edit : It seems I am not alone

The Model M keyboard, colloquially called a clicky keyboard, is a class of computer keyboards manufactured by IBM, Lexmark and Unicomp, starting in 1984. The many different variations of the keyboard have their own distinct characteristics, with the vast majority having a buckling spring key design and many having fully swappable keycaps. Model M keyboards have been prized by computer enthusiasts and heavy typists because of the tactile and auditory feedback resulting from a keystroke.

The Model M is also regarded as a timeless and durable piece of hardware. Many units manufactured since the mid 1980s are still in use today, while the computers and monitors of the day are obsolete. Unicomp, which now owns the rights to the design, continues to sell Model M keyboards. Recently, the keyboards have made a comeback amongst writers and computer techs.[1] Unicomp has had difficulty making them profitable because they rarely break, and most retailers will not stock such an expensive keyboard.[1]

[doodab]

+1

I have a even bought an additional wireless one for when I am working on my thunderbolt screens, I don't have to have the lid open on the laptop...

Can't believe anyone ever uses the little red tits that IBM seem to insist on sticking in the middle of their laptops in the name of a mouse... my track pad laughs at it

I use the tit when I don't have a mouse. I tend to switch the pad off because it's easy to hit it with thumbs and make the cursor jump all over the place. Have apple solved this problem?

[bobspud]

<fanboi>
I actually like the one on my Macbook Pro, takes a few minutes to get used the shorter travel on the keys but then it's great.
</fanboi>

+1

I have a even bought an additional wireless one for when I am working on my thunderbolt screens, I don't have to have the lid open on the laptop...

Can't believe anyone ever uses the little red tits that IBM seem to insist on sticking in the middle of their laptops in the name of a mouse... my track pad laughs at it

[doodab]

Reminds me of an 80s pocket calculator

[Sysman]

I believe they're known as chiclet keyboards.And I think you can blame Apple for their recent popularity. You're welcome

You are right about Apple being guilty as charged.

You can still get an Apple USB keyboard with numeric pad, but the wireless version is only available without a numeric keypad.

There is of course Bluetooth Keypad adds numeric keypad to Apple Wireless Keyboard

[Bunk]

<fanboi>
I actually like the one on my Macbook Pro, takes a few minutes to get used the shorter travel on the keys but then it's great.
</fanboi>

[doodab]

Well, I'm hoping (somewhat forlornly) that as thinkpad keyboards are something of a selling point they have actually made a decent one.

I can always invest in another one of these

[vetran]

yep back to the Sinclair spectrum ergonomics without the softness.

[Bunk]

I believe they're known as chiclet keyboards.And I think you can blame Apple for their recent popularity. You're welcome