Lenovo ThinkPad Ultranav Keyboard - the old version

Lenovo has quietly announced a new version of their ThinkPad USB keyboard, and it appears to incorporate design cues from the slick new ThinkPad T400s.

Pictured above is the “old” ThinkPad USB keyboard, or ThinkPad UltraNav USB Keyboard as its officially called. The old ones were really based on the T4x ThinkPad keyboards, with the same style volume buttons, no Windows Start key, and a touchpad. There is even a “full size” version with a true number keypad.

The new version is officially dubbed ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint. There will be no touchpad included in this model, which should please ThinkPad purists greatly. It also includes the bottom-left corner Fn key and supports all of the Fn+F-key combinations you will find on the new ThinkPad T400s. It specifically has the new Fn+F6 “Change camera & microphone settings” combo, which no other systems have at this time. It is a safe bet that this USB keyboard will have the same exact key style and layout as the T400s keyboard, which hopefully includes the high class system and TrackPoint buttons.

Unfortunately this keyboard won’t be the best solution for people with older ThinkPads, as a lot of the Fn key support is for newer models only. You can view the breakdown of which Fn+F-key combo’s are supported by which systems after the jump.

The keyboard works with any Windows XP, Vista, or 7 installation and even has the little blue ThinkVantage button. However the best part of this keyboard is its price, only $59.99 (compared to $99+ for the “old” versions). It currently isn’t available on Lenovo.com for purchase, but hopefully will be soon.

One can also only hope that Lenovo has listened to the cry of its customers for a wireless version of this keyboard. It would be perfect for controlling my Lenovo powered home theater experience.

                                    ThinkPad
                                    Models:
                                    R400 series                System
                                    T400/T500/   ThinkPad      Models:
ThinkPad                            N500 series  Models:       All other
Hot Key    Key        ThinkPad      X200/X300    SL300/400/    legacy
Function   Operation  Models T400S  series       500           systems
____________________________________________________________________________
Operating                           Windows XP 32/Vista 32 and 64/Windows 7
System (1)                          32 bit and 64 bit
____________________________________________________________________________

Lock your  Fn+F2      Yes           Yes          No            No
Computer

Manage     Fn+F3      Yes           Yes          No            No
battery
& power

Enter      Fn+F4      Yes           Yes          Yes           Yes
sleep
(standby)

Manage     Fn+F5      Yes           Yes          No            No
wireless
settings

Change     Fn+F6      Yes           No           No            No
camera &
microphone
settings

Change     Fn+F7      Yes           Yes          No            No
display
settings

Change     Fn+F8      Yes           Yes          Yes           Yes
input
device
settings

EasyEject  Fn+F9      No            Yes          No            No
Utility

Enter      Fn+F12     Yes           Yes          No            No
hibernation

Magnify   Fn+Space    Yes           Yes          No            No
screen
contents

Increase   Fn+Home    Yes           Yes          No            No
display
brightness

Decrease   Fn+End     Yes           Yes          No            No
display
brightness

Launch    Blue button Yes           Yes          Yes           Yes
Lenovo    (ThinkVantage®)
ThinkVantage
Productivity
Center to
help setup,
understand,
and enhance
your Lenovo
computer (2)

Increase   Volume Up  Yes           Yes          No            No
speaker    Key
volume

Decrease   Volume     Yes           Yes          No            No
speaker    Down
volume     Key

Speaker    Mute Key   Yes           Yes          No            No
Mute

Mircophone Mute Mic   Yes           No           No            No
Mute

NumLK      Fn+NumLk   Yes           Yes          No            No
on/off

Page       Page       Yes           Yes          No            No
Forward    Forward
(3)        Key

Page       Page       Yes           Yes          No            No
Backward   Back Key
(3)

TrackPoint            Yes           Yes          Yes           Yes
function

(1)  To take advantage of ThinkPad Fn key features, ensure that
     both the "Lenovo system interface driver" and the ThinkPad USB
     Keyboard with TrackPoint drivers have been installed from the
     included installation CD

(2)  Requires that the Lenovo Productivity Software be installed
     separately

(3)  Supported by the native operating system