Best laptop keyboard?

DrunkenHobbit said:

Now I look at what they have in stores and they all have those ultra-flat keys (chiclets, I hear they're called). I'm not thrilled by them, but if someone out there has written 50,000 words on one and can swear by it, I'm interested.

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If you're talking about the current crop of Apple keyboards that fit that description, they're great. Less beefy than the big clunky typewriter-style kind, but these are not your chiclet keyboards of yore. A MacBook Air would be a really perfect upgrade from your old iBook, especially for how you want to use it.

I'm a +1 on the Macbook. But that doesn't fit the "money is tight" condition.

Have you considered stripping everything but the necessities off your iBook and plugging in an external keyboard? A USB keyboard is cheaper than a machine, and you can probably borrow one long enough to test drive the idea.

Good luck!

DrunkenHobbit said:

I need a new laptop. I'm three chapters into a new novel and my iBook G4 (12-inch) just isn't cutting it. I need something with more width, more battery life and one that doesn't bog down from using word-processing software.

Money is tight, though. I don't need gaming, or to watch DVDs, even. Just word processing and, most importantly, a comfortable keyboard.

I've always been more a fan of the curved-key laptop keyboards. Now I look at what they have in stores and they all have those ultra-flat keys (chiclets, I hear they're called). I'm not thrilled by them, but if someone out there has written 50,000 words on one and can swear by it, I'm interested.

So there it is. Any input would be appreciated. Also, this was my first post to this forum, so hello everyone.

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Hi Hobbit! !

I've always hated laptop/netbook keyboards and have resisted trying to get used to them, though I see lot of people typing away on them at write-ins. Worst (best?) case, you can plug in an regular desktop keyboard. That's what I do with my netbook. Even some fancy cute roll-up keyboards arent that expensive, I don't think.

I carried a roll up keyboard to write ins. It worked well for me. The caveat being that I'm a heavy typist. Some roll up keyboards won't respond well to a light touch.

Oh, and it's washable! (don't ask)

Laptop keyboards suck. It's to be expected since they have to compromise comfort for portability and a flat keyboard does that. Not to mention that very few laptops, and no netbooks, have a full-sized keyboard. My laptop at least has a full-sized keyboard, but its still flat. Best thing to do is as Ben said, get an external keyboard.

If you're in the USA, check the refurbished page of Apple's online store. The 13" MacBook Pro has been bumped from a 2.3GHz to a 2.4GHz chip, so they're blowing out the 2.3GHz for $929.00.

Williebee said:

I'm a +1 on the Macbook. But that doesn't fit the "money is tight" condition.

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Missed that part. Maybe check out a low-end Thinkpad. There are usually pretty good deals, and they're another notebook line known for great keyboards.

DrunkenHobbit said:

I need a new laptop. I'm three chapters into a new novel and my iBook G4 (12-inch) just isn't cutting it. I need something with more width, more battery life and one that doesn't bog down from using word-processing software.

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Do you definitely want a new machine?

I ended up digging out my old iBook G3 last year whilst my MacBook Pro was being repaired. I found it more than adequate for word processing and surfing the web, which makes me think that if you have a spare hour or two, trying to get your machine back into shape could be worth the effort.

Back up everything up first, either with Time Machine, an external drive or dvds. Install a fresh copy of OS X, use Software Update to upgrade it as far as you can, and copy your files back over.

For the keyboard problem, you may find an external is the answer. If you don't like the chiclet keyboards, try searching eBay for the older Mac keyboards. They have very deep keys in either white or black with a clear plastic surround. (Here's an image.) Or you can pick up any cheap usb keyboard that you like the feel of and plug it in, though the command-option-control keys will be slightly different.

Cheers.

I don't mind typing on the Lenovo thinkpad keyboard. I turn off the touchpad and use the little center joystick mouse because my thumbs keep whacking the touchpad but otherwise they have been good machines for my purposes. You can get a refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad for about $300 + tax and shipping and whatnot. That may hold you over until you can save up for your next Mac.

BDSEmpire said:

I don't mind typing on the Lenovo thinkpad keyboard. I turn off the touchpad and use the little center joystick mouse

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You mean the clitoris?

I recently bought a 14" Dell from the Dell Auction site for $265.00. Very inexpensive and some many come with windows preinstalled (I use Ubuntu Linux). Most of them are tuned for business and I love the keyboards, they're very... responsive. You can feel the click and tension in each key. I enjoy them. I currently have a Dell Latitude E6400 and it works absolutely fine for me.

So glad you started this thread, DrunkenHobbit. I don't remember if I've ever even posted here before- you may be a grizzled old veteran compared to me.

I've been procrastinating for weeks now about how to settle on the laptop with the best keyboard for me. I have a 4+ year-old 13" MacBook that is dying on me by degrees. As an engineering feat, the Mac's are a marvel. But for reasons I won't go into (okay- I'm dependent on MS Word and Excel- and not the "for Mac" versions; and I don't want to spend close to $2,000 on the 15" I intend to get), I don't want a Mac this next time. It's hard to shop online for a laptop when your principal selection criterion is keyboard comfort. I hear that the ThinkPad is perhaps tops (in many minds), but I'll be damned if anyone carries one on the shelf (and I live in silicon valley).

BTW, I don't want or need a freaking numeric keypad (sorry- needed to vent about that). The dang laptops are short on space, yet the makers insist on this stupid (to me), redundant "feature." And I've been trying to figure out just what it means to be a "full-size keyboard." Every single keyboard I've looked at at Best Buy or Frys has (minus the numeric keypad) a width of 11 inches +- maybe 0.25 inches. Can anyone explain in less than 25 words what constitutes a full-size keyboard?

Anyway, does anyone have a suggestion as to how I can (literally) get my hands on a ThinkPad, just to get the feel of the keyboard? Or does anyone have any suggestions for a machine under $1,000 that has a comfortable "full-size" keyboard that doesn't consist of chiclets?

Your input would mean a lot to me. THANK YOU.

salazkin said:

BTW, I don't want or need a freaking numeric keypad (sorry- needed to vent about that). The dang laptops are short on space, yet the makers insist on this stupid (to me), redundant "feature."

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Heh, I agree. I don't understand it.

And I've been trying to figure out just what it means to be a "full-size keyboard." Every single keyboard I've looked at at Best Buy or Frys has (minus the numeric keypad) a width of 11 inches +- maybe 0.25 inches. Can anyone explain in less than 25 words what constitutes a full-size keyboard?

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To some it means having a numerical keypad (for whatever strange reason), but I and I think most others use it to mean "not a puny netbook keyboard."

Anyway, does anyone have a suggestion as to how I can (literally) get my hands on a ThinkPad, just to get the feel of the keyboard? Or does anyone have any suggestions for a machine under $1,000 that has a comfortable "full-size" keyboard that doesn't consist of chiclets?

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Go to a local university's CS department and walk around until you find someone who doesn't have a Mac. He'll probably have a Thinkpad running Linux instead.

In most cases "full size keyboard" on a laptop means it has a numeric keypad. It's marketing speak.

Me, I like the keypad. I do a lot of networking/subnetting and such. But, I can live without it for writing purposes.

Salazkin, not knowing where you are, I'd suggest contacting the tech department at local schools. Offer them a pizza or a burger for a half hour's typing time. Assure them you don't need to be connected to the internet or their network.

Williebee said:

In most cases "full size keyboard" on a laptop means it has a numeric keypad. It's marketing speak.

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Yeah, this always confuses me because I always use it and see it us to distinguish netbook-size keyboards from full-size notebook keyboards.

I hate laptops with keypads because I'm always aware that I'm typing off center and feel like my hands are going to fall off the keyboard.

kuwisdelu said:

Yeah, this always confuses me because I always use it and see it us to distinguish netbook-size keyboards from full-size notebook keyboards.

I hate laptops with keypads because I'm always aware that I'm typing off center and feel like my hands are going to fall off the keyboard.

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lol If you have to do a lot of data entry, those number pads are a life saver, they are much faster than the number row. They allow more functions in various PC games. So if you don't do either of those then you can skip anything with a full size keyboard.

Tirjasdyn said:

lol If you have to do a lot of data entry, those number pads are a life saver, they are much faster than the number row. They allow more functions in various PC games. So if you don't do either of those then you can skip anything with a full size keyboard.

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I'm a statistician, so thankfully, data tends to come to me pre-entered.

I just know when students come to our software help desk with laptops with these oversized keyboards, typing off-center on them drives me batty, so I keep making mistakes. I've considered bringing my own USB keyboard and plugging it into their computers so I don't have to deal with all these random different keyboards. Adjusting to all the different actions is annoying enough. And of course, there's my constantly hitting the Windows key when I need the Control key.

I understand why certain people want or need them. I just don't like them.

Do you use your laptop at home, in the way a standard desktop computer would be used, or do you mostly use it in other locations? If the former, even if money is tight, $20 or so will get you a reliable standard USB-connection keyboard. Not so convenient to carry, but way more comfortable for home use.

caw

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. I really appreciate it.

kuwisdelu said:

Go to a local university's CS department and walk around until you find someone who doesn't have a Mac. He'll probably have a Thinkpad running Linux instead.

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That's funny. My two laptops are a MacBook and a Thinkpad running Linux. The Thinkpad keyboard is good, but I like the feel of the 13" MacBook keyboard even more. Right now I'm using my Mini with a (modern) Apple keyboard, and I enjoy typing on it as well.

I don't understand the problem people have with the chiclet keyboards--a good one still has a good feel to it. I always thought the problem with laptop keyboards was the variation in key locations. Now that can throw you when you're trying to type something quickly.

ejket said:

I don't understand the problem people have with the chiclet keyboards--a good one still has a good feel to it. I always thought the problem with laptop keyboards was the variation in key locations. Now that can throw you when you're trying to type something quickly.

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Today's "chiclet" keyboards (particularly Apple's) are different from the "chiclet" keyboards that most people remember using years ago and how badly they sucked.

It's like when someone says that trackpads suck. Yes, most of them do. But get a good one (like the ones on MacBooks) and they're really freakin' awesome.

ejket said:

I don't understand the problem people have with the chiclet keyboards--a good one still has a good feel to it. I always thought the problem with laptop keyboards was the variation in key locations. Now that can throw you when you're trying to type something quickly.

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My only problem with chiclet keyboards is that sometimes the keys are spaced too far apart for my fingers to type on. I have very small hands so a 7in notebook is extremely easy for me to type on. Some larger laptops I cannot reach the keys with normal qwerty typing. My suggestion is to find a store that sells the laptop or keyboard you want and try it out. If I had to lug an extra keyboard around it defeats the purpose for me.