IBM ThinkPad external keyboard with UltraNav

[netwebber]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310242428819&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT



These sell for more than the current price on eBay: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F1YJ92/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00009APTK&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=19WY7VVPNYEFJR9R3SBE

Interestingly, these "discontinued" IBM keyboards are still manufactured new. They're intended for rack-mount systems.

[EverythingIBM]

They're just standard switch domes, OK, but short keys really bother me. I think all keycaps should be nice and tall.

Definitely not worth $70 to be used at a home computer, you could get a model M13 for that price. Buckling springs & a trackpoint.

If they were $20, I'd buy one.

[shem]

I have one with numpad and touchpad that I use at home, and another without numpad ("travel" model) that I take with me when I visit data centers to work on rack-mounted servers.

I chose it for home use because I have a quite cramped keyboard tray that can only just accommodate a small keyboard and a trackball. I don't type very much at home and I've been quite satisfied with the Ultranav. I've grown used to using mouse buttons on the keyboard and using the trackball mostly for moving the pointer. That said, the typing feel of this keyboard is nothing special and I think I'll replace it at some point with something having mechanical switches.

The travel model on the other hand is ideal for travel use. It's compact and has a pointing device if I happen to use a windowing system. The standard USB cable can be coiled neatly under the keyboard but it is very short and I always carry a USB extender. It comes with a carrying case.