Top 10: Best laptop keyboard

From: Paul Braun <nerdware_at_laidbak.com>
Date: Mon Feb 21 23:39:57 2000

Date sent: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 20:30:40 -0700
From: "Shawn T. Rutledge" <rutledge_at_cx47646-a.phnx1.az.home.com>
To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: Top 10: Best laptop keyboard
Send reply to: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org

> On Mon, Feb 21, 2000 at 07:42:22PM -0000, Peter Pachla wrote:
> > My favourite keyboards of all are IBM made ones, they have a nice feel
> > and "clicky" keys. In fact, the keyboard I use the most is a 1985
> > vintage, 84 key, AT keyboard (with the function keys arranged down the
> > left hand end, where they should be).
>
> Me too but I like the function keys along the top. No point in having a
> preference that's so hard to find in modern keyboards; sometimes I get
> stuck using other types besides my IBM's (although I do have extras so I
> can use one at work and one at every extra computer around the house).
>

I agree on the IBM keyboards. I'm a Mac guy, but I also use wintel
boxen and nothing feels like a good, solid, cast-metal-frame IBM
keyboard. I've gotten used to Evilsoft Naturals, but really wish
they'd use the same keyswitch mechanism that IBM used instead
of the rubber dome thingy.

I did CAD for 5 years, and the older program we used before
AutoCAD had most of the major editing functions mapped to fn
keys. My keyboard had them arranged on the left, and I became
very proficient that way. My left hand knew what functions I needed
without even looking, and I could invoke most drawing commands
from the command line. Took me quite a while to untrain my hand
when we switched to AutoCAD and I couldn't replilcate the
mappings.

Right now, I'm using a good ol' IBM clicker as a remote control for
my Sony Minidisc deck here in my little studio. Sony put a PS/2
plug on the front for titling and remote control functions, evidently
after the realization that most guys hacked their own plug in
anyway.....

And for laptops, my vote is for ThinkPads. The keyboard on the
NEC Versa 4230 I used to used was probably the worst one ever
made. Almost made typing on an Atari 400 fun......my ThinkPad
760xl has a crisp, clean, postive feel to it.



Paul Braun
NerdWare -- The History of the PC and the Nerds who brought it to you.
nerdware_at_laidbak.com
www.laidbak.com/nerdware
Received on Mon Feb 21 2000 - 23:39:57 GMT