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Follow us on TwitterTech conglomerate site CNET shares their take on the best and worth laptop keyboards and, unsurprisingly, Lenovo’s are at the top.
The first thing you will see if you load the CNET article is the Lenovo ThinkPad X100e’s keyboard. While not a classic ThinkPad design, it still won great praise from the CNET staff.
Not limited to just one model, the ThinkPad SL510 was in the “best” category as well. I was happy to see such representation, but cringed a bit at the author’s comment:
If only that red nubbin weren’t in the middle, we’d call it classic perfection.
If they think those keyboards are great, they should try a real 7-row ThinkPad keyboard like on the T400s, T410 or W510.
Of course Apple’s MacBook Pro 15-inch was praised, but perhaps more surprising were the HP netbook and Sony VAIO. On the detractor list, a small Gateway model was trashed with remarks like “glued-on Palm Pilot portable keyboard.” Ouch!
P.S. If you don’t like the gallery style layout at CNET, try this ZDNet version that lays them all out on one page.
Source: [CNET]
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I love the feel of Lenovo’s keyboards, but their refusal to use backlit keys drives me absolutely crazy, and it’s why I’m switching to a Latitude E6510 to replace my aging T61 when one goes on a good enough sale. Lots of other manufacturers have picked up on how much customers appreciate having a backlit keyboard available, but Lenovo’s still hitched to that obnoxious ThinkLight.
Maybe the ThinkLight was an acceptable solution in the early 90s on IBM ThinkPads, but it’s beyond ridiculous that they won’t shove some inexpensive LEDs under the keycaps of a T410 or a W510 for us in 2010.
I love my ThinkLight, it’s perfect for typing when I can’t see the keyboard properly. I wouldn’t say that it is in any way “obnoxious”. I’ve never used a backlit keyboard, but I honestly cannot find a reason for why it is much superior than a ThinkLight.
Plus, wouldn’t adding LED’s under keycaps cause problems with a) Keyboard flex b) Keyboard thickness c) Keyboard drain holes for water spills?
There are certainly engineering reasons why there is no simple switch to back lit keys. And have you used a dell latitude keyboard? They are not particularly a joy to type on.
I find both features useless. I know my keyboard pretty well, it hasn’t changed in the 20 years I’ve been using it.
What riles me is the fact that these so-called expert reviewers don’t know how to type.
How then, are they qualified to determine what a good keyboard is?
Regarding the SL510, the ZDNet folk said:
“If only that red nubbin weren’t in the middle, we’d call it classic perfection.”
Imagine you are in a very dim environment (a presentation for instance) Lights have already gone out, but you just want to have a look at your handwritten notes or a handout, or – well whatever.
Will you be able to read this with only a backlit keyboard? Thinklight FTW!
That is the true value of the Thinklight.
I have a Thinkpad Z60T with the thinklight, and an HP DV3510nr with backlit keys. The backlit keys win hands down. The thinklight is like a shadow on the keyboard while the backlit keys jump out of the darkness. I also would like backlit keys on the IBM since I like the build of the machine and Lenovo has been good with updates and fixing bugs.