Author Topic: ThinkPad Edge 13 Keyboard (Read 5042 times)

salcan · « **on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 13:35:22 »

Hey all, I thought you guys might like some pictures of the isolated keyboard on the new ThinkPad Edge. It's a pretty big move for Lenovo to change the ThinkPad keyboard, even if this isn't affecting the R/T/X/W models...

I have to say, I like it more than I thought I would.

Also, the Fn and Ctrl keys are now swappable in BIOS.

ch_123 · « **Reply #1 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 13:42:23 »

I don't get why Lenovo don't do away with the touchpad on the compact models... On the other hand, with the move to widescreen format, they aren't as space restricted as they used to be.

kishy · « **Reply #2 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 13:47:21 »

Gotta wonder if at any point we'll be seeing trackpads to one or both sides (left/right, that is) of the keyboard...I would find it interesting, with ergonomics similar to an M5-2 I suppose, and for a lap-supported computer that makes more sense than below the keyboard.

ch_123 · « **Reply #3 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 13:53:31 »

Quote from: ripster;155659

Windows dome is pretty shallow, wonder how Microsoft let them get away with that?

There's also no "Useless key". Be afraid, be very afraid.

itlnstln · « **Reply #4 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 14:02:22 »

Quote from: ch_123;155657

I don't get why Lenovo don't do away with the touchpad on the compact models...

I understand the reasoning of this statement, but really, outside us geeks, I honestly don't know anyone who likes Touchpoints. If they dropped the Wackpad, they would lose a ton of business.

itlnstln · « **Reply #5 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 14:04:12 »

Quote from: ripster;155659

Windows dome is pretty shallow, wonder how Microsoft let them get away with that?

The new Dell Latitudes are like that, too. I guess they have a different set of criteria for laptop keyboards.

elservo · « **Reply #6 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 14:14:45 »

Always hated the touchpoints. Would accidentally tap the one on my old Dell while typing and it would move my cursor. Had to change settings to get it not to work while typing when it seemed like that should have been off by default.

ch_123 · « **Reply #7 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 14:34:42 »

Quote from: itlnstln;155666

I understand the reasoning of this statement, but really, outside us geeks, I honestly don't know anyone who likes Touchpoints. If they dropped the Wackpad, they would lose a ton of business.

My worry is that they'll drop the Trackpoint eventually. It's sad how people refuse superior solutions because it has a learning curve, or settle for an attitude of 'x works for me'. The market suffers from lack of innovation, or even worse; 'innovation' based on bad designs... A certain Cupertino-based company who makes laptops with touchpads the size of a football field comes to mind...

hyperlinked · « **Reply #8 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 15:46:16 »

Quote from: salcan;155656

Show Image

Oooh! I'm not a huge fan of chiclet keys, but I've learned that they're really not bad once you get used to it and I like the look of those curved chiclet keys... do they feel any different to type on than the square chiclets? How does it feel to type on in general?

That's cool that they're keeping some tie in the IBM tradition. I don't own a Thinkpad, but I've always liked them. I like the idea of having both a trackpoint and a trackpad.

I'm not sure why a large trackpad is a bad thing. Did I miss something?

elservo · « **Reply #9 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 17:00:44 »

The trackpads on Thinkpads are amazing. Love their texture and sensitivity.

I guess I should say "that's what she said," but I'm refusing to do it.

kishy · « **Reply #10 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 17:18:58 »

Wow, I thought I had a good idea and I got NOTHING...not even a "your idea is terrible".

That's gotta be a new one around here...

salcan · « **Reply #11 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 17:30:48 »

Quote from: ch_123;155690

My worry is that they'll drop the Trackpoint eventually.

Arimasa Naitoh, a thinkpad bigwig, has made it pretty clear that the trackpoint is here to stay.

@hyperlinked: The feel pretty nice. The key action is close that of the standard thinkpad, but you now have slightly cupped keys which is interesting. You don't have the beveled areas between the keys, so there really isn't any place for dust junk to collect either. I still think the X300 has the best feeling keyboard of any recent ThinkPads, but for a first shot and an isolated keyboard I think Lenovo nailed it.

As for the big trackapad, I can't speak for anyone else, but I was accidentally brushing it a lot with my hand. I disabled it and only use the trackpoint now.

D-EJ915 · « **Reply #12 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 20:38:00 »

eraserheads are the best pointers on craptops =3

hyperlinked · « **Reply #13 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 21:45:37 »

Quote from: salcan;155739

@hyperlinked: The feel pretty nice. The key action is close that of the standard thinkpad, but you now have slightly cupped keys which is interesting.

Ah, I thought it looked slightly cupped. I thought it was just an optical illusion from the curved keys. I want to try one of these guys out. Now that I'm not a complete chiclet hater anymore, I wonder if a slight cup would be what really feels missing from chiclet style keys.

Quote from: salcan;155739

As for the big trackapad, I can't speak for anyone else, but I was accidentally brushing it a lot with my hand. I disabled it and only use the trackpoint now.

The trackpads on the latest line of MacBookPro laptops work very very well. I'm usually one of those people who constantly creates accidental inputs by brushing the pad while typing, but that hasn't happened even once in the two months I've had a new MBP... not that I use it all that often though. My wife gets to use it most of the time and I only pick it up when I'm going to go crazy in the office or I have to take a trip.

Xuan · « **Reply #14 on:** Tue, 02 February 2010, 21:55:38 »

Those're bad news, thinkpads keyboard where maintaining most of the quality over the years.
The layout was the best, and the few changes (bigger esc and delete) the introduce recently where nice, but this is total crap.

* Print screen?
* PgUp/Dwn Home/End block
* Fx keys need Fn modificator

And the flatness... :nono:

In Stereo! · « **Reply #15 on:** Thu, 04 February 2010, 03:09:30 »

Wait,
what?

Why then not have like no bazel at all?

ch_123 · « **Reply #16 on:** Thu, 04 February 2010, 03:56:40 »

Quote from: Xuan;155796

* Fx keys need Fn modificator

Im pretty sure that can be changed in the BIOS.

kishy · « **Reply #17 on:** Thu, 04 February 2010, 05:42:42 »

Quote from: ripster;156126

Dang, Kishy, maybe it wasn't a terrible idea.

Apple patents smart screen bezels.

...but Apple's version of it is pretty stupid. While holding the iFail, one would have their thumb right on that edge.

In what I proposed with a traditional trackpad beside the keyboard, the ergonomics of the laptop are improved AND the trackpad is moved out of the way such that you can't accidentally rest any part of your hand on it unless you're using the computer sideways.

hyperlinked · « **Reply #18 on:** Thu, 18 February 2010, 08:37:54 »

Well, I got to try out the Thinkpad Edge when I went to go get a new monitor at Fry's Electronics. I didn't like the keyboard as much as I thought I would. I didn't like the trackpoint's feel as much as I thought I would either. The trackpoint felt cheap and though the slightly sculpted keys were a nice touch, they were barely perceptible and they didn't make up for the loose feel of the keypresses. It reminded me a lot of the first generation MacBook chiclet keyboards. I hated those. These looked nicer, but reminded me of that feel.

On the plus side, it's a very nice looking laptop.

Manyak · « **Reply #19 on:** Thu, 18 February 2010, 08:53:15 »

They already have dropped the touchpad on some models. Just look at the X series (except the X301).

TexasFlood · « **Reply #20 on:** Thu, 18 February 2010, 22:45:28 »

Quote from: ripster;155761

I didn't see that the keys were cupped - they look flat as a ruler in the pics.

Pretty sure I see some cupping in the bottom picture above. The cupping on the thinkpad keyboard I'm typing on very noticeable from many angles, but it's there.

TexasFlood · « **Reply #21 on:** Thu, 18 February 2010, 23:07:45 »

Quote from: Xuan;155796

Those're bad news, thinkpads keyboard where maintaining most of the quality over the years.
The layout was the best, and the few changes (bigger esc and delete) the introduce recently where nice, but this is total crap.

* Print screen?
* PgUp/Dwn Home/End block
* Fx keys need Fn modificator

And the flatness... :nono:

I suspect that it isn't any flatter than the thinkpad keyboard I'm typing on right now. I admit to being a bit thrown by the redesign of the PgUp/Dwn Home/End block but I might be able to get used to it, I've seen worse. Print screen is sure in an odd position but maybe I could adjust. I also don't see Pause/Break. Unless some of these keys have alternate ways to access them and perhaps keys like the function keys can be reconfigured, could be a struggle. But I bet it feels good either way. Could always plug in an external keyboard, but shouldn't have to.

HaaTa · « **Reply #22 on:** Fri, 19 February 2010, 00:33:00 »

I tried the keyboard out while I was killing time in Sapporo (I went cheap that night, slept in a Mcdonalds. Definitely not recommended, but doable as McDonalds is the Timmy's of Japan).

Its definitely one of the nicest laptop keyboards I've typed on. The cupped keys feel a lot better than the typical flat ones for chiclet boards.

hyperlinked · « **Reply #23 on:** Fri, 19 February 2010, 02:39:09 »

BTW, this flatter keyboard so far is only replacing the keyboard on their 13" ThinkPad Edge line. The other models still seem to be going with their old style of keyboard... at least for now.

News:

Author Topic: ThinkPad Edge 13 Keyboard (Read 5042 times)