Mystery ThinkPad keyboard pops up on Lenovo's Flickr page
By Jacob Schulman 
posted Dec 17th 2008 9:43PM
posted Dec 17th 2008 9:43PM
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.
WOULD BUY.
I'd buy 2, one to use and one to frame on my wall. This thing just looks like hotsaucery.
I'm just waiting for the bluetooth version.
They have a wireless version, but with a dongle - what is this, 2003?
Would at least look better than my BT Crapple keyboard next my thinkpad.
Shit, I apologize for bringing that up...ignore that word. It's the booze...
What now?
I'm going to stick with: It's the booze...
DO WANT.
AG- REED..?
a nicotine patch for people to go from laptop to desktop
I thought that nowadays people are going from desktop TO laptop? Or just skip the desktop altogether...
GIVE NOW.
lol you poor thing, you were so close to getting high ranked.
Well when I replied I "was" third.. but I guess it shifted me and broke the 2-word pattern. Epic Fail Engadget!
Its actually decent but the touch pad is a bit overkill.
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.
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.
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.
@ gonintendo: yes, but this'n has a numpad, son.
Plus, Solidtek and Adesso keyboards are generally mushy pieces of junk.
@gonintendo
And it has red button..
@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.
@m
have you used a Gyration mouse?
The first wireless keyboard with TWO pointing devices built in.
I'll take it.
I love ThinkPad keyboards, but they seriously have to put the control key in the right space. My fingers cannot adapt.
Mine did...
Yeah, but almost everybody puts a control key their. Luckily a simple Option line in xorg.conf, or registry key in Windows fixes this.
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...
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
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.
it's the keyboard from the W700.
but without the drawing pad
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.
Nipple.
Im digging that industrial function > form style. And a built in track pad and nipple? Sold.
Lol, nipple.
industrial function > form style?
I'm LOVING the style... I think this is possibly the only keyboard with BOTH function AND style!
Bleh.. it's not white/silver and the keys are too close together :\
/sarcasm
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.
I hope it comes out before my birthday in 3 months.
First the Android Ophone and now is this.
:drool:
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
That's an IBM UltraNav keyboard. I have 2 of them!!! They are AWESOME!!
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
and pete is right, it is an IBM design.
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.)
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
Showing up on Flickr might have something to do with Lenovo's blog post on Design Matters today - http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/?p=438
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.
This looks like the input device already shipping with the HMC KVM head unit in the enterprise space...
its great i would by this if the price was right.
i do like the touch pad, it jusy have to be wireless, then perfect
and now it comes back, maybe they thought the one above would be a better buy for us,
We took it down while we tried to figure out what exactly was going on -- the picture isn't exactly the same as the product on shelves, but it turns out that this is just a doctored-up press shot. We would have left it down since it's old, but enough people were wondering that we re-posted with an update.
Now you know how we spend our action-packed evenings. Glamorous, isn't it?
is this mac compatible? i've been looking for a new keyboard and this looks perfect.
You may need some key translation, but it's just a USB keyboard. Though I would suggest use on a ThinkPad over a Macintosh, it'll work fantastic.
As I am about to replace my dieing T42 with a eee I would love to have this to go with my desktop computer as I am going to severly miss the trackpoint in day to day comp use. I love the trackpoint and almost prefer it to a normal mouse in regular computer use, not having to move your fingers when typing to using the mouse is a definite productivity increase.
If this is not highly overpriced I will buy for sure, basically anything under $100 would be an instant buy.
Never buy
Can someone tell me *why* wireless for keyboard and mice, when a minimal wire means ya never haf'ta use or change a battery for the next 10 years (or even respond to the stupid pop-up messages telling you the battery's almost dead)?
- Less desktop clutter
- No cables to collect dust
- No cables to get entangled with
Yeah, batteries are a trade-off, but to each his own.
HTPC
A wireless Lenovo keyboard with a finger cl.... trackpoint
I ordered the set last week with my W700 =]
Can't wait!
At a book store here in Dusseldorf, Germany, they have many internet terminals equipped with these keyboards!
I don't think this is something new. My mother works for IBM and I've been using this exact same keyboard with my laptop for the past 6 months. It was just lying around her office apparently and she brought it home one day. The one I have is NOT wireless and the trackpad does not work when I use it as a secondary keyboard for my laptop. Not sure what other differences there could be, but the layout is exactly the same. email me at syed769 at lycos.com if you want pictures or 'proof."
I love the thinkpad keyboards both the feel and layout, but why's this missing the windows key? I thought after Lenovo bought out thinkpads they started adding the windows key back to all keyboards.
Newer thinkpads (I think since Lenovo took over) have had the Windows key. But this keyboard predates that, it's an IBM design. And IBM was fighting with Microsoft since their spat over OS/2 in 1991 and refused to put a Windows key on their keyboards when MS suggested it in 1995. CTRL-ESC does the same thing, and there is an official utility from Lenovo that lets you remap an existing key.
It's a server rack mountable keyboard. They have been our for years, they fit in a 2U slot and typically an LCD would help share the 2U and fold up/down over the keyboard. Nothing special.
HTPC
It's the old Thinkpad keyboard, I am typing on one right now. Been out for years.
These have been around for a long time. I've used them in several data centers, connected to KVMs in server racks. I do agree they're awesome - it's just a Thinkpad keyboard in a really nice case. Of course, I'm a biased Thinkpad user, so I love using these.
These have been around since the IBM Thinkpad T30 series laptops were available. I have one for home and one for work. The one for work is just for server rooms.
Love you lenovo.....
i bought one of these, it was awesome... but it turns out that it is missing the windows keys, wtf? so i returned it... wtf were they thinking? If they made one of these with IDENTICAL layout to the thinkpad t61p keyboard i'd buy it in a second, no matter the cost. but the fact that they left off the windows keys is mind bogglingly frustrating.
product designer #1: I have a great product idea, lets make an external version of our laptop keyboards, make the layout identical, it will selll like mad.
designer #2: great idea, but have you considered leaving off keys so that its *almost* identical, close enough make any thinkpad owner constantly bump the wrong key when looking for the windows key?
designer #1: perfect! lets ship it
@vitriolix: I use the windows key constantly, but I don't miss it on this keyboard.
Since I always put the ctrl key where capslock usually is, making the real ctrl key on this keyboard be the windows key, works almost perfectly, it just needs to be moved slightly to the right for easier thumb access...
Am I the only one left on the planet that wants absolutely nothing to do with a thin keyboard on the desktop? I mean thin overall is one thing, but using laptop style keys with such little travel makes typing awful!
Also...a touchpad on a desktop keyboard? I guess the only thing it wants to be used for is a media pc.
I'll stick with my Logitech lx710. Superb typefeel, lots of media keys, built in wrist rest, and full height keys!
Saw this keyboard at a Sears Catalog Kiosk this weekend.