When HN users recommended it
8 HN users recommended this between 2016 and 2025, in 8 comments.
20072026
Each tall tick is one HN user's first recommendation. A short tick is the same user again. Click a tick to jump to the comment.
8 HN users recommended this between 2016 and 2025, in 8 comments.
Each tall tick is one HN user's first recommendation. A short tick is the same user again. Click a tick to jump to the comment.
My favorite keyboard is an external Thinkpad keyboard [1]. I can't live without a TrackPoint because I never have to leave the home row with it!
[1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F3U4TQS/
I objectively prefer the new keyboard. I've got a light touch and in my opinion any travel beyond what you need to be able to tell you've hit the key is wasted effort.
I've got a laptop keyboard on my desk (https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-Compact-Keyboard-Trac...), and would have one of the new macbook keyboards if they made a standalone one.
I'm not picky as long as it is "tenkeyless" and not too bulky. I never use the number pad anyway; being right-handed, the mouse feels uncomfortably far away when the keyboard has a big bulky extra sidecar sticking out.
At present I'm using Lenovo's thinkpad-style USB keyboard (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F3U4TQS/). I like its slimness and the trackpoint is convenient. There's nothing especially lovely about it, but neither does it ever annoy me. It's also nice for muscle memory that all three of the computers I use regularly have exactly the same keyboard layout, whether they are portables or desktops.
I tried out the Happy Hacking keyboard, but it's been collecting dust for a year or two now. It's nice in a nostalgic way, reminiscent of the original Macintosh keyboard I used when I was first learning to type, but the long-throw keyswitches and loud clicking sound got old.
>I think also the author is showing off his nice keyboard
I think I have a better keyboard. This is what it looks like: https://www.svethardware.cz/klavesnice-acer-future-keyboard/... What is great about this keyboard is the touchpad in the center. This is great because you don't have to stretch you arm to reach the mouse. This reduces RSI for me. Unfortunately my keyboard is getting old and they don't make this (or anything like this) anymore. Keyboard-touchpad combinations are still being made but the touchpad is to the side which doesn't solve the problem of have to stretch your arm.
There are some laptop keyboards like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-Compact-Keyboard-Trac... but I want a desktoppy split keyboard with a touchpad in the middle.
Lenovo sells them as regular USB keyboards: https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-Compact-Keyboard-Trac...
Sure! I'm typing on this USB keyboard:
https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-Compact-Keyboard-Trac...
And to scroll I press the middle blue button (below space bar), and then push the trackpoint stick up/down. The mouse cursor doesn't move, and instead the OS just scrolls the window.
(Fwiw I'm on Linux and this behavior just worked out of the box, for both my generic desktop w/this keyboard & Thinkpad laptop.)
Obligatory fanboy note, while performing this scroll action, I only have to move my thumb ~0.5" off the space bar, and my pointer finger ~1" off "j". So there is very little physical movement required to scroll (or click), vs. moving your whole palm up & down ~6" to the trackpad.
Lenovo also makes a NON-MECHANICAL keyboard that otherwise hits the mark - https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-Compact-Keyboard-Trac... that also pulls down demand for an opensource trackpoint design that attaches to a mechanical keyboard.
Beyond the UHK keyboards there are others with trackpoints
TEX had a whole line https://tex.com.tw/products/shura
The classic Happy Hackers Keyboard has one. https://hhkeyboard.us/hhkb-studio/product
And Lenovo itself offers several usb keyboards with TrackPoint https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F3U4TQS