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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: tqn on Fri, 25 June 2010, 04:47:39

Title: Looking For Standard Layout Without Numpad
Post by: tqn on Fri, 25 June 2010, 04:47:39
Hey all, my first post here.

The title says it all. I'm looking for a keyboard that has a standard layout (very important) but without the numpad. I know one of the popular ones on this forum is the Majestouch Tenkeyless. A keyboard like that would be exactly what I'm looking for, except I have no experience with mechanical keyboards, so I don't know whether I would like it (not to mention the price is higher than what I'm used to).

So I will keep in mind the Majestouch Tenkeyless as an option, but I'm also looking for the standard layout without Numpad keyboard in a more typical membrane keyboard.

I googled long and hard and saw many mini/compact keyboards that move and squish keys, so those don't meet the criteria. The closest I've come is the following HP modular keyboard:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000GKC1W4/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&condition=all

Now that particular link describes the Spanish version. Does that mean it's actually different than an "English" (i.e. North American) keyboard?

Is there anything else out there that you've come across?
thanks
Title: Looking For Standard Layout Without Numpad
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 25 June 2010, 04:55:01
Do you have a preference for low or full travel keys?

Quote
Now that particular link describes the Spanish version. Does that mean it's actually different than an "English" (i.e. North American) keyboard?


Yes.
Title: Looking For Standard Layout Without Numpad
Post by: tqn on Sat, 26 June 2010, 00:16:15
Quote from: ch_123;196205
Do you have a preference for low or full travel keys?


If by full travel you mean the distance for key depression that you normally find on mass market keyboards, and low travel the type normally found on low profile keyboards (e.g. I have a Logitech diNovo Edge that seems to fit this definition) - then I prefer full travel.
Title: Looking For Standard Layout Without Numpad
Post by: pfink on Sat, 26 June 2010, 10:29:22
Quote from: tqn;196202
So I will keep in mind the Majestouch Tenkeyless as an option, but I'm also looking for the standard layout without Numpad keyboard in a more typical membrane keyboard.


Outside of mechanicals the closest to a standard layout tenkeyless is probably the IBM Space Saver II (http://davidbau.com/archives/2005/05/21/worlds_best_computer_keyboard.html). The only deviation is that the PrntScrn/Numlk/Pause and Ins/Del/etc clusters are bumped down so that they're directly above the arrow keys.

(http://www.clickykeyboard.com/2006/sep012006/sep012006-004.jpg)
Title: Looking For Standard Layout Without Numpad
Post by: TexasFlood on Sat, 26 June 2010, 11:53:46
Quote from: pfink;196663
Outside of mechanicals the closest to a standard layout tenkeyless is probably the IBM Space Saver II (http://davidbau.com/archives/2005/05/21/worlds_best_computer_keyboard.html). The only deviation is that the PrntScrn/Numlk/Pause and Ins/Del/etc clusters are bumped down so that they're directly above the arrow keys.

Show Image
(http://www.clickykeyboard.com/2006/sep012006/sep012006-004.jpg)


I like the layout of the IBM Space Saver II.  Keys aren't the best, not the worse either.  The trackpoint is a bit plus for me.  There are certainly worse keyboards for moderate use where you want a compact keyboard.
Title: Looking For Standard Layout Without Numpad
Post by: tqn on Sun, 27 June 2010, 01:19:46
The IBM Space Saver II looks like it could do the job. Unfortunately, like other numpad-less non-mini keyboards, it's tough to find in stock. I'll set up a search alert on eBay for this. If I don't see one for a few months, I may take a chance on a Majestouch Tenkeyless (probably a brown switch).
Title: Looking For Standard Layout Without Numpad
Post by: British on Sun, 27 June 2010, 06:50:28
Just for the record, there's no universal "standard layout", even if you're from the US (because, you know, there's a world outside USA).

I could probably search through the wiki to some explanation on layouts, but roughly, that's how it is:
I'll grant you that having so many "standards" on ISO is a pain, moreso when some countries (Germany) have way more models available than others (France, heh).

That's missing details, but hey, said it was rough :smile:
Title: Looking For Standard Layout Without Numpad
Post by: pfink on Sun, 27 June 2010, 08:40:54
Quote from: tqn;196858
The IBM Space Saver II looks like it could do the job. Unfortunately, like other numpad-less non-mini keyboards, it's tough to find in stock. I'll set up a search alert on eBay for this. If I don't see one for a few months, I may take a chance on a Majestouch Tenkeyless (probably a brown switch).


They stopped making them a while ago (in 2004, according to this (http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-487PPW).) They do show up fairly regularly on eBay, though, usually in the $35-50 range. You can also try posting in the Classifieds forum here, another Geekhack member might have one to sell you.
Title: Looking For Standard Layout Without Numpad
Post by: TexasFlood on Sun, 27 June 2010, 11:06:59
Just googling around I found some Japanese pages about the IBM Spacesaver II, a look at the internals (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://mineko.fc2web.com/box/kb-room/items/ibm-spacesaverIIkeyboard-jp.html) it and disassembling/modding (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.tt.rim.or.jp/~naoz-i/keyboard/index.html) them.  I'm still looking this one over, looks like one thing tried was to make cuts into the edge of the rubber domes to change the key force.  Perhaps folks have already seen these pages but I hadn't & thought it was interesting.