Lenovo shook another tradition with the launch of its newest ThinkPads, changing the revered keyboard in a major way with a new “chiclet” design. This is understandably a cause for concern among those who liked the keyboard the way it was.
Lenovo’s engineers have addressed some details of the new keyboard on their blog, Yamato Thinking. Apparently this type of keyboard is also called an island or isolation style keyboard, the latter of which is Lenovo’s preferred term. They go over the differences in the ThinkPad keyboard design compared to a certain fruit-shaped competitor, and how these differences are supposed to make for a better typing experience. Hit the link at the end for all the details.
The keys used in isolation keyboards by our competitors are completely square, but in order to maintain the integrity of this design with other ThinkPads, we selected keys with a curve in the front. This was based on the concept of making it appear as though your original ThinkPad keyboard was sprouting up right in front of you. Our designers were very strict about staying true to the ThinkPad tradition.
Source: [Yamato Thinking]
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s bullcrap anyway, a waste of space and leverage. The only “valid” argument for such an “isolated” keyboard I’ve heard so far are women with long fingernails. But aren’t those the ones that despise ThinkPads for their “ugly” design in the first place?
I’ll second that. I haven’t used it, but they made it a chiclet keyboard. What more need be said? What on earth is the point of those, other than they must be cheaper to make? Even if it’s better today than that fruit-shaped competitor, it’s still a further gradual erosion of design. I still remember the old 380 series from the 90s, when keyboards had actual travel. Even the most conservative Thinkpad keyboards available today just pale in comparison and this is simply a further step in the wrong direction. Argh!
I’ve typed on recent fruit machines and the chiclet keyboards look ridiculous but typing on them is just fine. I’m furious about Thinkpads moving to 16:9 screens but am not bothered by this keyboard stuff.
Well you must not care too much about typing in general. There is a huge difference on an Apple chiclet. I have actually used the new thinkpad keyboards and they aren’t too bad. I wouldn’t consider it to be a step in the wrong direction except in visual design perhaps and tradition. Compared to recent keyboards in the thinkpad line it was pretty similar feeling, albeit with a little less travel?
16:9…nobody is immune unfortunately.
“Aren’t too bad” is not exactly an endorsement now, is it? I thought Thinkpad keyboards were supposed to be great! The Lenovo video I’ve seen was damning it with similar faint praise.
Well have you actually tried it? I actually have. You should know that all the current lenovo keyboards don’t even feel the same as they differ depending on the manufacturer or the chassis it they sit on.
It felt like a good keyboard, but of course isn’t the exact feel of my x200 or my external USB keyboard. So take that as you will. Rather than faint praise, I am being realistic. I am not going to say WOW it is TOTALLY AMAZING. It is JUST THE SAME.
I would be perfectly happy using it as a thinkpad keyboard. Now that is not to say I am particularly impressed with some other aspects of Lenovo’s new designs.
We’ll see how it performs in real life.
But the good point – i think that this design will collect far less dust, hair and other mess under it…
that’s what others don’t seem notice.
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