Mystery ThinkPad keyboard pops up on Lenovo's Flickr page

While we may not know exactly what item we're looking at in the photo above, we do know that we like it. This hot peripheral showed up on Lenovo's photostream without any explanation, and from the image it seems pretty much like a keyboard-lover's dream; it looks to be wireless, psychotically thin, and boasts an integrated trackpad and numpad. If you've been itching to find a stylish companion to that ThinkPad USB Portable Secure HD, this may just be the keyboard for you. As expected, no info on pricing or availability, but we'll definitely keep our eyes out for more as it becomes available.

Update: Damn, it looks like this is just a super-hot pic of a new rev of Lenovo's already-released wired UltraNav keyboard -- as our astute commenters have pointed out, it's probably on Flickr because it was posted on Lenovo's Design Matters blog today. That's not to say we wouldn't take a wireless version of this bad boy in a heartbeat -- feel free to rock us, Lenovo.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:48PM]

WOULD BUY.

[Nzo Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:13PM]

I'd buy 2, one to use and one to frame on my wall. This thing just looks like hotsaucery.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 18th 2008 2:07AM]

I'm just waiting for the bluetooth version.

They have a wireless version, but with a dongle - what is this, 2003?

[scl23enN4m3 Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:50PM]

Would at least look better than my BT Crapple keyboard next my thinkpad.

[scl23enN4m3 Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:51PM]

Shit, I apologize for bringing that up...ignore that word. It's the booze...

[CheesusCrust Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:59PM]

What now?

[scl23enN4m3 Posted Dec 18th 2008 2:38AM]

I'm going to stick with: It's the booze...

[Leindurstit Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:50PM]

DO WANT.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 11:42PM]

AG- REED..?

[PyRo1509 Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:50PM]

a nicotine patch for people to go from laptop to desktop

[Raul7 Posted Dec 18th 2008 1:22AM]

I thought that nowadays people are going from desktop TO laptop? Or just skip the desktop altogether...

[dsstrainer Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:50PM]

GIVE NOW.

[Adamgs Posted Dec 18th 2008 12:32AM]

lol you poor thing, you were so close to getting high ranked.

[dsstrainer Posted Dec 18th 2008 1:07AM]

Well when I replied I "was" third.. but I guess it shifted me and broke the 2-word pattern. Epic Fail Engadget!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:50PM]

Its actually decent but the touch pad is a bit overkill.

[Ruben Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:09PM]

Its useful for a Media Center. Not really useful for a desktop, unless you dock your laptop and still want to be able to use it like a laptop.

The simple fact it has a TrackPoint makes me want it.

[patches66 Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:09PM]

no, no-- the touch pad is what makes it. i've been waiting years for exactly this. i've never fully understood the separate wireless keyboard and mouse combo. the joy of wireless is freedom from the desk, more than just freedom from clutter. you can't use a ball or laser mouse on your lap, on the floor, or in bed.

[gonintendo Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:19PM]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823111043
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823111011
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823111019
what you're looking for has been around for ages.

[njso18 Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:24PM]

@ gonintendo: yes, but this'n has a numpad, son.

[Ethyriel Posted Dec 17th 2008 11:08PM]

Plus, Solidtek and Adesso keyboards are generally mushy pieces of junk.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 18th 2008 3:37AM]

@gonintendo
And it has red button..

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 18th 2008 7:11PM]

@gonintendo: none of those have a usable layout, not even close.

@zioncat: I'm not interested in the touchpad at all, but the tit mouse is AWESOME.

Laptop style keys + bowl tip tit mouse + THREE mouse buttons + good key layout = almost perfect.

I've been using the IBM branded version of this keyboard for years, I don't even use a mouse anymore, or any other keyboard.

I only wish the ctrl and alt keys were slightly to the right of where they are now so they could be reached by thumb easier.

Also, the build quality of the recent Thinkpad branded version I got is not nearly as good as the IBM branded one I first got.

[maveric101 Posted Dec 18th 2008 8:38PM]

@m

have you used a Gyration mouse?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2008 5:17AM]

The first wireless keyboard with TWO pointing devices built in.

I'll take it.

[Vance Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:53PM]

I love ThinkPad keyboards, but they seriously have to put the control key in the right space. My fingers cannot adapt.

[Lando Calrissian Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:58PM]

Mine did...

[Ethyriel Posted Dec 17th 2008 11:09PM]

Yeah, but almost everybody puts a control key their. Luckily a simple Option line in xorg.conf, or registry key in Windows fixes this.

[Lando Calrissian Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:55PM]

This photo has been on Lenovo's website for a while. It is just a version of the current wired one without wires (hopefully) and a carrying case and it has a number pad. I'll die before I have to give up my ThinkPad keyboard...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 18th 2008 2:41AM]

This picture is of a rather old product, but with the new ThinkPad logo. Even Lenovo blogged about them way back in 2006. Not really news here.

http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/?p=58

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY Posted Dec 20th 2008 12:37AM]

If you died, you'd end up giving up your keyboard anyways.


So do your self a favor, give me yours or die. Then go buy another on ebay.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:56PM]

it's the keyboard from the W700.

[Gizmo Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:04PM]

but without the drawing pad

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:57PM]

This would also be great for a portable live audio or video setup when there's no place for a mouse. Also makes me wonder if that IBM nipple can ever be an analog replacement for WASD.

[Greg F Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:04PM]

Nipple.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:01PM]

Im digging that industrial function > form style. And a built in track pad and nipple? Sold.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:22PM]

Lol, nipple.

[Lord Farkward Posted Dec 17th 2008 11:04PM]

industrial function > form style?

I'm LOVING the style... I think this is possibly the only keyboard with BOTH function AND style!

[Raul7 Posted Dec 18th 2008 1:27AM]

Bleh.. it's not white/silver and the keys are too close together :\


/sarcasm

[Bad Cyborg Posted Dec 18th 2008 7:47AM]

You do know, that the market is saturated with black coated products for the longest time. Nobody pay any heed to them, some even expressed boredom. And then came Vista and lo and behold it was the coming out party for black plastic, only this time they gave it a shine.

[pidge Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:57PM]

I hope it comes out before my birthday in 3 months.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:00PM]

First the Android Ophone and now is this.

:drool:

[FILA Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:04PM]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be Bluetooth! Its kinda hard to find a really good bluetooth board out there that has the NUM pad, this is hot, i would def buy, go great for a HTPC

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:06PM]

That's an IBM UltraNav keyboard. I have 2 of them!!! They are AWESOME!!

[g00fba11 Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:12PM]

you do know that the wired version of this UltraNav keyboard, with 2 USB ports, have been available for years, right? I've been using this exact keyboard now for 3 years at least, and have been begging them to come up with a wireless version.
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=38&Code=31P8950¤t-category-id=E9ADAEB6787146E29B78400A33E7FE8A

[g00fba11 Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:24PM]

and pete is right, it is an IBM design.

[bhtooefr Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:15PM]

And it really is a version of that, and not something truly new - note the lack of Windows keys.

There are better spacesavers than that, although a real TrackPoint is a nice thing to have.

(I'm on a keyboard forum - http://geekhack.org - and they tend to like full-stroke spacesavers. There's actually one member designing a new spacesaver that is similar in size to a Happy Hacking Keyboard, but with a more complete layout, and an integrated TrackPoint.)

[dbs Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:30PM]

You do know you can get a space saving one of these without a number pad? I've had one for about three years.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=38&Code=31P9490¤t-category-id=E9ADAEB6787146E29B78400A33E7FE8A

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:29PM]

Showing up on Flickr might have something to do with Lenovo's blog post on Design Matters today - http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/?p=438

[KO Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:34PM]

It's rather ironic that when I need an external wireless keyboard for my ThinkPads, I use a diNovo Edge. IF this thing is some new BT one, it'd be a good alternative if you need a numpad or don't like the odd round touchpad on the Edge. IMO the Edge's feel is fairly close to a recent TP. But for REAL typing I will always go to my Model Ms.

[RogerX Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:54PM]

This looks like the input device already shipping with the HMC KVM head unit in the enterprise space...