Most Thinkpad like desktop keyboard

[AlexC1981]

Hi All,

My favourite keyboard is a Bluetooth Thinkpad keyboard I bought back in 2016, following buying a Thinkpad Edge 11 laptop in 2011. Both these keyboards are lovely to type on. Perfectly scalloped keys, good weighting, travel, and feedback.

This is a slightly updated version, but it looks very similar, only in British spec:



I would like to buy a new keyboard to take to work, but I can't find any Thinkpad keyboards for sale. I bought a Lenovo Essentials keyboard, which looks like it has the same keys as the Thinkpad, but they are all mushy.

Can anyone recommend a keyboard that is similar to a 10-15 year old Thinkpad? I have not tried a modern Thinkpad or a proper mechanical keyboard apart from a circa 30 year old one, but found the keys a bit firm and the travel too long for me.

Preferably with a number keypad. Bonus points if it has a trackpoint

Edited by AlexC1981 on Thursday 29th January 20:12

[AndyTR]

Not cheap but they do a version 2 and reviews looks ok. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenovo-ThinkPad-TrackPoin...

Or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenovo-KBD-TRACKPOINT-KBD...

Edited by AndyTR on Thursday 29th January 20:34

[AlexC1981]

Thanks for finding those, but they are US layout unfortunately and very expensive. I think that model was discontinued recently and the only ones available have doubled in price pretty much.

It was £60 when I bought it in 2016 and I thought that was very expensive at the time, however I must say it's been brilliant. It's been used nearly every day including weekends (albeit light home use) for 10 years and it still works perfectly and the battery still lasts months between charging.

[AndyTR]

Yes, it's a shame it was discontinued as it was pretty unique in the market. I had one years ago when I was working from home, I don't think anyone makes anything similar to be honest. I've switched to Mac for work and the apple wireless keyboard is luckily very similar in feel.

[JoshSm]

Not sure there's any cheap options around, even used.

I still have a vintage IBM M4 Space Saver on a USB adapter for the original 90s Thinkpad experience.

[GoodDoc]

I'm mainly a Mac user, but for the occasions when I need Windows I have a ThinkPad (every couple of years I buy a ex-corporate laptop from eBay) and I understand the appeal of ThinkPad keyboards, and the TrackPoint.

I use an Apple keyboard for my Mac Mini that is pretty close to the ThinkPad keyboard (the now discontinued Apple A1314), and a logitech MX Mechanical Mini when I'm using my ThinkPad on a docking station. That's very different to the built-in keyboard but as someone who like ThinkPad keyboards I find that a more than acceptable substitution.

Neither are cheap, the replacement for the Apple A1314 is £80+, £100+ if you want the number pad version, and the logitech MX is £120+ (weirdly the number pad version is currently cheaper than the non-num pad version, both are a lot more expensive than when I bought mine).

If you really, really want the ThinkPad keyboard experience, you can buy the laptop keyboards from eBay for between £15-25 (the older ones tend be nicer, my old ThinkPad T480 has a nicer keyboard than my current T14 Gen 1), and you can get adapters that convert them to USB (e.g. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1890016956/circuit-bo... which should cost than £50 for both, but you'd need some kind of case which kind of turns it into a project.

Unless the TrackPoint is a deal breaker try the apple keyboard if you can find a friend/colleague with one, but as someone who has tried lots of keyboards you really need to try them in person to see if you like them.

[biggiles]

You may need to visit a shop to try them out, as every keyboard is different!

I have a "Logitech K400" keyboard I use for servers, which is laptop-sized and has keys which are similar to a good laptop, perhaps see if you can try one?

[AlexC1981]

A few options there thanks. I saw some recommendations for the Apple keyboard. They might be expensive new, but they are very cheap second hand, however I'm put off those because the keys appear to be totally flat. I have tried keyboards like that before and without the (scalloping?) concave indentation on each key, it's strangely off-putting. My work Dell laptop is like that and I feel like my hands wander around more without the indentations to tell me exactly where my fingers are hitting each key.

I did some reading and my current Thinkpad keyboard has a scissor mechanism with 1.8mm of travel. I managed to find a Cherry KC 6000 Slim open box/unused on ebay for £30 so I have ordered that. It has the right mechanism and has 2.4mm of travel, which I think I can live with. I don't mind not having a trackpoint as I mainly use that for sofa browsing, but I need a number pad for work. I don't mind a separate one.

I'll let you know how I get on with this. I like the backspace arrow above the number pad. That's a feature I have found very handy on my Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard that I'm using at work at the moment. I can't type fast on it though!