[GTALUG] Lenovo ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard with TrackPoint

[Scott Sullivan via talk]

I've had a number of folks express interest after seeing me use mine.
So I'm just going to drop the links here for general reference.

Lenovo ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard with TrackPoint

https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823218058CVF
https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47189

The also make a USB only version, which I have two of as daily drivers
for at home and work.
https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47190

[Evan Leibovitch via talk]

Thanks for this, Scott

What does the trackpoint do under Android?

- Evan

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
I've had a number of folks express interest after seeing me use mine.
So I'm just going to drop the links here for general reference.
Lenovo ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard with TrackPoint
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823218058CVF
https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47189
The also make a USB only version, which I have two of as daily drivers
for at home and work.
https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47190
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Scott Sullivan
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[Scott Sullivan via talk]

You get a mouse cursor and typical mouse behaviour. Android it's self doesn't conform to desktop expectation for left and right click. But that isn't the fault of the hardware.

Post by Evan Leibovitch via talk
Thanks for this, Scott
What does the trackpoint do under Android?
- Evan

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
I've had a number of folks express interest after seeing me use mine.
So I'm just going to drop the links here for general reference.
Lenovo ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard with TrackPoint
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823218058CVF

https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47189

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
The also make a USB only version, which I have two of as daily

drivers

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
for at home and work.

https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47190

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
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[William Park via talk]

Thanks for the links. For the bluetooth model,
- does the battery really last 1 month?
- is it bluetooth only, or can you use USB on it?

I'm looking for something I can carry between work and home, and
use for laptop and desktop.
--

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
I've had a number of folks express interest after seeing me use mine.
So I'm just going to drop the links here for general reference.
Lenovo ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard with TrackPoint
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823218058CVF
https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47189
The also make a USB only version, which I have two of as daily drivers for
at home and work.
https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47190
--
Scott Sullivan
---
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[Scott Sullivan via talk]

For the battery, I've never put it through heavy enough use to test that claim.

The bluetooth model can't dual mode, the usb port is for charging only.

Post by William Park via talk
Thanks for the links. For the bluetooth model,
- does the battery really last 1 month?
- is it bluetooth only, or can you use USB on it?
I'm looking for something I can carry between work and home, and
use for laptop and desktop.
--

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
I've had a number of folks express interest after seeing me use mine.
So I'm just going to drop the links here for general reference.
Lenovo ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard with TrackPoint
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823218058CVF

https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47189

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
The also make a USB only version, which I have two of as daily

drivers for

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
at home and work.

https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47190

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
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[William Park via talk]

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
The also make a USB only version, which I have two of as daily drivers for
at home and work.
https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47190

I bought one for $60 from lenovo.ca, and just got it this morning.
After using it for 1 full day, I found that its $60 price is reasonable.
Think of it as $30 keyboard and $20 mouse, plus $10 premium for
integrating into one package.

- UPS delivered the package crushed and ripped on one side. But, I
don't see any physical damage to the content or missing parts.
There is only 2 parts: keyboard and micro-USB cable.

- Key press feels and sounds cheap. Keyboard on real ThinkPad
laptop is way better.

- The keyboard is light, compact, and it flexes. But, rubber feets
and risers don't slip.

- PAGEUP and PAGEDOWN are with inverted-T arrows. And, HOME, END,
INSERT, DELETE are located linearly on top row. I have to look
down to see where all the keys are.

- Fn key is left-most key where Ctrl should be. I'll never get used
to this.

- ESC is too small, and I'm a vi-guy.

In conclusion, if you're short of desk space, then it's good option.
It's not for doing real work, at least for me.

[David Ing isss--- via talk]

The current Thinkpad Wired USB Keyboard with Trackpoint matches the layout
on current Thinkpads (i.e. later than T430, X230, ...).

I preferred the predecessor model as better built, matching the original
Thinkpad keyboard layouts (i.e. earlier than T420, X220, ...). However,
that model has been discontinued for some years, and available on eBay only
at outrageous prices.

I just replaced my keyboard of 2015 with the exact same model. It's the
only practical choice if you want a keyboard with a Trackpoint. After I
got the replacement, my friend Don tried to fix the old one -- see
http://dontai.com/wp/2018/09/06/thinkpad-wired-usb-keyboard-with-trackpoint-0b47190-disassembly-and-cleaning/
-- but the fix only works intermittently. (I use the right mouse button, a
lot!)

The external keyboard, as an alternative to a built-in keyboard on a
Thinkpad, has been a standard for me for many decades. Way back, the
company had to get the built-in keyboard replaced because I have a heavy
touch, and would wear it out. It's much cheaper (and ergonomically better)
to have an external keyboard that plugs into my Thinkpad dock, that is
field-replaceable. I'm so used to the Trackpoint that working on a
trackpad or mouse really slows me down.

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
The also make a USB only version, which I have two of as daily drivers

for

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
at home and work.

https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47190
I bought one for $60 from lenovo.ca, and just got it this morning.
After using it for 1 full day, I found that its $60 price is reasonable.
Think of it as $30 keyboard and $20 mouse, plus $10 premium for
integrating into one package.
- UPS delivered the package crushed and ripped on one side. But, I
don't see any physical damage to the content or missing parts.
There is only 2 parts: keyboard and micro-USB cable.
- Key press feels and sounds cheap. Keyboard on real ThinkPad
laptop is way better.
- The keyboard is light, compact, and it flexes. But, rubber feets
and risers don't slip.
- PAGEUP and PAGEDOWN are with inverted-T arrows. And, HOME, END,
INSERT, DELETE are located linearly on top row. I have to look
down to see where all the keys are.
- Fn key is left-most key where Ctrl should be. I'll never get used
to this.
- ESC is too small, and I'm a vi-guy.
In conclusion, if you're short of desk space, then it's good option.
It's not for doing real work, at least for me.
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[William Park via talk]

I have the same layout... model KU-1255, manufactured 2018-08-21. :-)

All our laptops at work are ThinkPad, so I'm used to ThinkPad layout. I
was planning to buy 3 of this, one for work desktop, work test area, and
home. Unfortunately, it's not panning out that way. I don't think it
was a bad purchase, though. I'm typing on it at home where I'm running
out of desk space and USB ports.
--

Post by David Ing isss--- via talk
The current Thinkpad Wired USB Keyboard with Trackpoint matches the layout
on current Thinkpads (i.e. later than T430, X230, ...).
I preferred the predecessor model as better built, matching the original
Thinkpad keyboard layouts (i.e. earlier than T420, X220, ...). However,
that model has been discontinued for some years, and available on eBay only
at outrageous prices.
I just replaced my keyboard of 2015 with the exact same model. It's the
only practical choice if you want a keyboard with a Trackpoint. After I
got the replacement, my friend Don tried to fix the old one -- see
http://dontai.com/wp/2018/09/06/thinkpad-wired-usb-keyboard-with-trackpoint-0b47190-disassembly-and-cleaning/
-- but the fix only works intermittently. (I use the right mouse button, a
lot!)
The external keyboard, as an alternative to a built-in keyboard on a
Thinkpad, has been a standard for me for many decades. Way back, the
company had to get the built-in keyboard replaced because I have a heavy
touch, and would wear it out. It's much cheaper (and ergonomically better)
to have an external keyboard that plugs into my Thinkpad dock, that is
field-replaceable. I'm so used to the Trackpoint that working on a
trackpad or mouse really slows me down.

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
The also make a USB only version, which I have two of as daily drivers

for

Post by Scott Sullivan via talk
at home and work.

https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KEYBOARD-US-English/p/0B47190
I bought one for $60 from lenovo.ca, and just got it this morning.
After using it for 1 full day, I found that its $60 price is reasonable.
Think of it as $30 keyboard and $20 mouse, plus $10 premium for
integrating into one package.
- UPS delivered the package crushed and ripped on one side. But, I
don't see any physical damage to the content or missing parts.
There is only 2 parts: keyboard and micro-USB cable.
- Key press feels and sounds cheap. Keyboard on real ThinkPad
laptop is way better.
- The keyboard is light, compact, and it flexes. But, rubber feets
and risers don't slip.
- PAGEUP and PAGEDOWN are with inverted-T arrows. And, HOME, END,
INSERT, DELETE are located linearly on top row. I have to look
down to see where all the keys are.
- Fn key is left-most key where Ctrl should be. I'll never get used
to this.
- ESC is too small, and I'm a vi-guy.
In conclusion, if you're short of desk space, then it's good option.
It's not for doing real work, at least for me.
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[D. Joe via talk]

It's the only practical choice if you want a keyboard with a Trackpoint. 

So far, the cost has disqualified this as a "practical" choice for an external keyboard with a Trackpoint-like device:

https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/UB40PGA

but it's the only option I found beyond the USB version of the keyboard that's been discussed here (not Bluetooth--I'm not a fan so that wasn't an option for me).

[Howard Gibson via talk]

On Fri, 21 Sep 2018 23:55:58 -0400

Post by William Park via talk
I bought one for $60 from lenovo.ca, and just got it this morning.
After using it for 1 full day, I found that its $60 price is reasonable.
Think of it as $30 keyboard and $20 mouse, plus $10 premium for
integrating into one package.

I wrote a piece on one of my keyboards. I should write up the one I am using now.

http://home.eol.ca/~hgibson/GearheadKeyboard.html