4 ms·

I have a Thinkpad X200t from about 10 years ago and a maxed-out Thinkpad X1 Carbon from 2 years ago. I am selling the X1 soon, simply because I hate the keyboar

I have a Thinkpad X200t from about 10 years ago and a maxed-out Thinkpad X1 Carbon from 2 years ago. I am selling the X1 soon, simply because I hate the keyboard on modern laptops. I don't understand why people tolerate crappy keyboards on their laptops for the sake of their laptops getting thinner and thinner (and don't get me started on the clicky, insect-like sound of the Macintosh butterfly keys). Why is a more thin laptop more desirable than one that is enjoyable to type on? The other option, however -- the Alien wares with mechanical keyboards have a video-gamer do-the-dew aesthetic that I would be embarrassed to walk into an office with. I spend 8 hours a day typing, the tactile sensation is a vital part of enjoying it. My kingdom for a modern laptop with a keyboard that is an inch thick, anonymous-box with a good keyboard that is repairable and upgradable. I hope the frame.work laptop can provide a version with an excellent mechanical keyboard soon.

HanaShiratori 5y ago
Why don't you just use any external keyboard you like? That way you're not narrowing down your laptop purchasing options that much. In case you upgrade your laptop / leave your current work that use other laptops you won't have to get used to the new keyboard layout.
- voakbasda 5y ago
  Because then it will no longer be usable in your lap? The word “lap” is in the name.
  - HanaShiratori 5y ago
    Who says that? I can use my laptop with an external keyboard attached on my lap without any additional discomfort
    - 0des 5y ago
      However this practice is not common nor most-practical or favored. It is possible, and it may be ideal for you, but it is not ideal for most.
      - HanaShiratori 5y ago
        Well working with your laptop on your lap is not practical for most people to begin with, therefore I'm not seeing a problem with providing a solution to at least have a better typing experience. And I don't think what I described is that uncommon, there are plenty of people using this combination... https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/1*v0kF6eGo2AO1YKsEP9gd_A.jpeg https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/1*v0kF6eGo2AO1YKsEP9gd_A.jp... Obviously if you're having to work with your laptop on your lap for 8 hours a day without wanting any external input devices and still require a very specific typing experience then there might not be too many options out there...
        0des 5y ago
        Unfortunately I don't have a reply for this as it seems the topic of conversation has drifted from 'I do this, it is fine' to 'well this isn't practical but nobody does that anyway, nor should they'. I only have issue with the first case, I won't refute your personal experiences.
        HanaShiratori 5y ago
        I don't see how stating something being fine for me and something being impractical for most people is a drift in a discussion. But in the end you fortunately did have a reply to this! (which is good, since that's what discussion forums are for...)
marianov 5y ago
X220 owner here. Do all modern laptops (even thinkpads) have those crappy keyboards? Need to upgrade soon, or maybe I'll RDP to a bigger system
- lindseymysse 5y ago
  Just below here someone recommended the MNT Reform. I'm curious -- it is a lower powered device with a modern GPU, so it will be an upgrade to both of our devices. There is also this: https://geoff.greer.fm/2019/03/04/thinkpad-x210/ https://geoff.greer.fm/2019/03/04/thinkpad-x210/ Which seems interesting, but the MNT seems like the better long-term option.
cjbconnor 5y ago
Have you seen the MNT Reform? It sounds like what you're looking for
- lindseymysse 5y ago
  A trackball module? That's even better than a pointing stick! Thanks for the tip, I'm interested!
  - 0des 5y ago
    > a pointing stick Is this a reference to the esteemed Ross Perot?
    - lindseymysse 5y ago
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_stick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_stick
Tagbert 5y ago
One of the things people complained about with the Apple butterfly keyboard was that they keys were noisier. They also had less travel, less space between the keys but still were only slightly thinner. When then replaced those with the older scissor-switch keyboards in 2019, the new ones were quieter and did not require the laptops to be thicker. the new ones also seem to be much more reliable. There seem to be two preferences for keyboards. Some prefer quiet typing keyboards (which often have less travel). Others prefer the mechanical keyboard with more travel and a tendency for “clacky” sounds.
- brokenmachine 5y ago
  Cherry MX Reds are the most popular type of mechanical switch, and they are "silent".
kalleboo 5y ago
Depending on what you use your laptop for, you may spend more time carrying it than typing on the built-in keyboard

HanaShiratori 5y ago

Why don't you just use any external keyboard you like? That way you're not narrowing down your laptop purchasing options that much. In case you upgrade your laptop / leave your current work that use other laptops you won't have to get used to the new keyboard layout.

voakbasda 5y ago
Because then it will no longer be usable in your lap? The word “lap” is in the name.
- HanaShiratori 5y ago
  Who says that? I can use my laptop with an external keyboard attached on my lap without any additional discomfort
  - 0des 5y ago
    However this practice is not common nor most-practical or favored. It is possible, and it may be ideal for you, but it is not ideal for most.
    - HanaShiratori 5y ago
      Well working with your laptop on your lap is not practical for most people to begin with, therefore I'm not seeing a problem with providing a solution to at least have a better typing experience. And I don't think what I described is that uncommon, there are plenty of people using this combination... https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/1*v0kF6eGo2AO1YKsEP9gd_A.jpeg https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/1*v0kF6eGo2AO1YKsEP9gd_A.jp... Obviously if you're having to work with your laptop on your lap for 8 hours a day without wanting any external input devices and still require a very specific typing experience then there might not be too many options out there...
      - 0des 5y ago
        Unfortunately I don't have a reply for this as it seems the topic of conversation has drifted from 'I do this, it is fine' to 'well this isn't practical but nobody does that anyway, nor should they'. I only have issue with the first case, I won't refute your personal experiences.
        HanaShiratori 5y ago
        I don't see how stating something being fine for me and something being impractical for most people is a drift in a discussion. But in the end you fortunately did have a reply to this! (which is good, since that's what discussion forums are for...)

marianov 5y ago

X220 owner here. Do all modern laptops (even thinkpads) have those crappy keyboards? Need to upgrade soon, or maybe I'll RDP to a bigger system

lindseymysse 5y ago
Just below here someone recommended the MNT Reform. I'm curious -- it is a lower powered device with a modern GPU, so it will be an upgrade to both of our devices. There is also this: https://geoff.greer.fm/2019/03/04/thinkpad-x210/ https://geoff.greer.fm/2019/03/04/thinkpad-x210/ Which seems interesting, but the MNT seems like the better long-term option.

cjbconnor 5y ago

Have you seen the MNT Reform? It sounds like what you're looking for

lindseymysse 5y ago
A trackball module? That's even better than a pointing stick! Thanks for the tip, I'm interested!
- 0des 5y ago
  > a pointing stick Is this a reference to the esteemed Ross Perot?
  - lindseymysse 5y ago
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_stick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_stick

Tagbert 5y ago

One of the things people complained about with the Apple butterfly keyboard was that they keys were noisier. They also had less travel, less space between the keys but still were only slightly thinner. When then replaced those with the older scissor-switch keyboards in 2019, the new ones were quieter and did not require the laptops to be thicker. the new ones also seem to be much more reliable. There seem to be two preferences for keyboards. Some prefer quiet typing keyboards (which often have less travel). Others prefer the mechanical keyboard with more travel and a tendency for “clacky” sounds.

brokenmachine 5y ago
Cherry MX Reds are the most popular type of mechanical switch, and they are "silent".

kalleboo 5y ago

Depending on what you use your laptop for, you may spend more time carrying it than typing on the built-in keyboard