Mystery ThinkPad keyboard pops up on Lenovo's Flickr page
By Jacob Schulman 
posted December 17th 2008 9:43PM
posted December 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.
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.