Hey, remember last year when Lenovo's UltraNav keyboard
made a (re)appearance on Flickr because the company was
soliciting feedback on how to make it better? Well check it -- there's a new version in town, and it incorporates all those user suggestions. Lenovo says people mostly wanted the exact same feel as their ThinkPad laptop keyboards in the desktop unit (no surprise there), but almost no one wanted wireless, a number pad or a trackpad -- so the new model pictured above is more or less a faithful wired replica of the
T400s board, right down to those liquid drainage holes. What's more, cutting the numeric keypad and trackpad allowed the company to reduce the price by $40, so this little slice of hotness is now just $60. Not bad, but we'll be honest -- we'd still throw down for a wireless version of the old UltraNav in a heartbeart.
[Thanks, Tian]
Read - Lenovo DesignMatters blog post on the keyboard design process
Read - ThinkPad Keyboard at the Lenovo online store
posted September 6th 2009 8:06AM
"almost no one wanted wireless". - Where did that come from? I definately want that with bluetooth wireless so I could use it with my iMac.
This is what people wanted? I have no idea why someone would buy a keyboard with no number pad. I also assume that because there's a trackpoint device, people will be using that instead of a mouse. Again, WTF? Thinkpad keyboards are great for laptops, but that's the point. They're great /for laptops/. When I buy a standalone keyboard, I'm looking for something a bit more functional.
We've been using the predecessors at point of sales with very cramped spaces where they needed a full keyboard. Worked very well.
I don't understand why David got low ranked. I completely agree. Someone enlighten us?
Makes me wanna say - "Who stole the screen of my laptop?" :D :D
Lenovo says people mostly wanted the exact same feel as their ThinkPad laptop keyboards in the desktop unit
Perhaps among people who choose Lenovo laptops. I was issued a ThinkPad at work, and hate it! A large part of that could be because of Vista, but the keyboard is aweful. It is loud, stiff, and uncomfortable. I'm more likely to go buy a third party keyboard to use with the BlinkPad than to want a keyboard that emulates the latter.
I have a DOS keyboard which makes a lovely noise as I bash the keys.
I didn't know they put DOS in a keyboard.. maybe your talking about an old Model-M style keyboard.
Opps I meant DAS keyboard...
Or you could just go with the iOne Scorpius M10 mechanical keyboard
http://www.ergogeek.com/index.php?target=products&product_id=407
Now if only someone would put the Lenovo/IBM TrackPoint IV into a keyboard with blue stem Cherry MX switches. (I love my M10, but...)
I love that mouse. It has made my fingers-skills so awesome that I can satisfy 10 women at a time.
LOL... "Woman seeks guy with minimum 5 years TrackPoint experience"...
Glad to have a cheap competitor to the Logitech DiNovo (the original). The first DiNovo keyboard looks a LOT like this and uses Bluetooth. The batteries last forever, it's sleek.
The keys are too noisy and the grey gun metal frame with black keys is sexxay. BUT Logitech wants way too much for it and the Bluetooth receiver is a huge mouse cradle.
Me likes this keyboard.
buuut, I lovee thinkpad touchpads :(
Read the article. This is NOT a wireless keyboard. It just looks like one.
your comment has no context.
but I wish there was a wireless one- great design for htpc.
And that was supposed to be in answer to Mark's post, where he questioned the appeal of a wireless keyboard.
stupid comment system.
I got the older version and I'm very happy. For me,
Pros:
1) Trackpoint (So much fun to use)
2) Thinkpad style keyboard without windows key--great for Mac and Windows gaming.
(Remap Alt into Command key, CTRL into Option key, and caps lock into Control Key)
3) Has touchpad so I won't need my stupid Wireless Mighty Mouse all the time.
Cons/My Wish list:
1) Please: USB 1.1?? Either give us USB 3.0 or bluetooth, and no RFs please.
2) Touchpad needs to be bigger so that Multitouch can make sense
3) The Left & Right click buttons bellow it should just blend with the whole form just like those on Thinkpads
4) Why the Contextual Menu Button? Then what good are the right click buttons?
5) Please ditch the Windows button altogether, it's so annoying during counter strike
US$100.00?? If Lenovo gives buetooth, preserve the old layout Fn CTRL ALT SPACE
ALT CTRL and no Contextual Menus, upgrades to huge multitouch, levels the left&right click with the form factor, Heck, I'll still buy it even if it is $200.00
So I hope Lenovo announce early if they are willing to preserve the old layout, otherwise I'm gonna have to stock up, just in case.
-ND
It would be awesome if they added a screen to this keyboard, just look how thin it is.
Then Sony's X series will then face off with Lenovo's X series......
why on earth isn't this wireless?
This keyboard = Lame. "Crowdsourcing" = annoying web word. Cmon. Seems they "sourced" a turd. Trackpads are the standard now, and for good reason.
And don't you guys re-read your posts after posting them? You need a proofreader, sheesh. Any of you guys have English degrees? "...slice of hotness not just $60"? You mean to use the word "now". Wait, isn't this all you do? Write words? Then you should at least get that right (or, wait, "rite"...).
And it is not a "slice of hotness", but thanks for your opinion (which is the readers' job, btw). But thankfully you left out the most annoying "after the break" phrase that you creatively challenged posters put in practically every post. Sometimes reading this blog is like suffering through nails on a chalkboard.
Whew, now I feel better.
Have you ever used a trackpoint? I'm sure most people who use it are going to like it because it's simply easier to use—from control of point movement, to pointer speed, and you don't really have to move your finger around like a crazy person.
And why can't give these folks some slack?
All your bitching, and you left the comma out of your contraction. It's "C'mon", not "Cmon".
IRONY!
Pads aren't the standard, they're the only thing left. No one else can successfully produce a trackpoint device because Lenovo owns the patents. The patent states the trackpoint is between the G,H, and B keys (the center of the keyboard.). Any one else wanting to produce a trackpoint style device has to place it somewhere else on the keyboard, which makes it awkward.
Nothing is more painful than watching some clown use his touchpad, taking an eternity to move around the screen. A trackpoint is as fast as a real mouse, hands down. When you start going uber nerd, using the trackpoint in combination with the touchpad for scrolling, then you're king.
@ Mondo
You missed the point. Track pads may be standard on most laptops, but this is not a laptop. Track points are standard on Thinkpads. And this is who the keyboard is aimed at.
Would you honestly choose a track pad over a mouse, if both were available? Because as it is a desktop keyboard, why would you not have a mouse sitting right beside it?
Looks like I'll be upgrading a lot soon than planned.
i am definitely going to upgrade. Question is when will it be available in Canada.
though a Die hard Thinkpad person, i want a trackpad. Sorry, the nub just doesnt do it for me
Make it wireless, and I'm sold. I'm so tired of using the Logitech Di Novo Mini for my HTPC.
I had a T61p, never ever used the trackpoint. When I got the x200t, it didn't have a trackpad and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. After using it for a week it became clear - I will never use a trackpad again. The trackpoint is just miles better once you get used to it. Faster, more accurate, take up less space and never accidentally move the cursor around with your palm.
As far as keys go, I love the Thinkpad keys, but not all of them are the same. Lenovo uses a few different vendors they and some are better than others.
Hey! Hey listen!
$10 Keyboard ftw.
Nice looking, but it has that damn little eraser head pointer. No touch-pad no sale. Those eraser heads are useless. The worst pointer ever designed.
I often find myself using the trackpoint instead of my wireless mouse, even when it's already sitting there. It works so well that I disabled my touchpad in the BIOS.
Yeah if I had a machine with both I would disable the touchpad. It would only be an annoyance.
Wow! My stupid Logitech DiNovo has nothing on this. Ha Ha! Finally a keyboard and mouse in one! Trackpoint will rule the earth!
I wanna bluetooth edition
I'll stick with my Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2, thanks.
9/15/09
I just received this keyboard from LENOVO. Absolutely great! Confortable, nice key stroke, key key spacing and just EVERYTHING. I hate keyboarding or in lay terms: typing. I hated it in college on my Selectric and in grad school on the Apple // keyboard, but this keyboard makes the task truly enjoyable! I MUST be getting old, I am getting excited by this thing.