Looking for a Specific Keyboard

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LadyDungeness

I'm looking for a specific Keyboard; I've googled, but get lots of
hits on items that don't match. This is what I need:

* Compatible w/XP Home SP2
* 88-89 keys
* Full-size keys, just like a regular keyboard (NOT a laptop
scissor-key style)
* NO numerical pad off to the right
* USB or PS/2 with a USB connector
* wired
* Function keys F1-F12

In short, I just want a regular, el-cheapo keyboard WITHOUT the
numerical paid and the pad of navigational keys off to the right. I've
got ergonomic and space considerations that require this.

If anybody knows of such a keyboard, please respond!


`
Lady Dungeness
Crabby, but Delicious!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
I'm looking for a specific Keyboard; I've googled, but get lots of
hits on items that don't match. This is what I need:

* Compatible w/XP Home SP2
* 88-89 keys
* Full-size keys, just like a regular keyboard (NOT a laptop
scissor-key style)
* NO numerical pad off to the right
* USB or PS/2 with a USB connector
* wired
* Function keys F1-F12

In short, I just want a regular, el-cheapo keyboard WITHOUT the
numerical paid and the pad of navigational keys off to the right. I've
got ergonomic and space considerations that require this.

If anybody knows of such a keyboard, please respond!
Click to expand...

I don't think you will find one. The numerical pad is necessary for
getting letters and symbols not on the keyboard. For example, I can
write the Danish letters æ,ø,å,Æ,Ø,Å by using Alt [number]. This only
works from the numerical pad. But computer fairs are good places to
hunt down special keyboards.
 
Good point.

Maybe I could find one with the number pad on the LEFT? I'm starting
to get injuries because my mouse is too far from my keyboard. I'm
right-handed.


Lady Dungeness
Crabby, but Delicious!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



On Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:37:00 +0100, johannes

|
|
|[email protected] wrote:
|>
|> I'm looking for a specific Keyboard; I've googled, but get lots of
|> hits on items that don't match. This is what I need:
|>
|> * Compatible w/XP Home SP2
|> * 88-89 keys
|> * Full-size keys, just like a regular keyboard (NOT a laptop
|> scissor-key style)
|> * NO numerical pad off to the right
|> * USB or PS/2 with a USB connector
|> * wired
|> * Function keys F1-F12
|>
|> In short, I just want a regular, el-cheapo keyboard WITHOUT the
|> numerical paid and the pad of navigational keys off to the right. I've
|> got ergonomic and space considerations that require this.
|>
|> If anybody knows of such a keyboard, please respond!
|
|I don't think you will find one. The numerical pad is necessary for
|getting letters and symbols not on the keyboard. For example, I can
|write the Danish letters æ,ø,å,Æ,Ø,Å by using Alt [number]. This only
|works from the numerical pad. But computer fairs are good places to
|hunt down special keyboards.
 
johannes said:
I'm looking for a specific Keyboard; I've googled, but get lots of
hits on items that don't match. This is what I need:

* Compatible w/XP Home SP2
* 88-89 keys
* Full-size keys, just like a regular keyboard (NOT a laptop
scissor-key style)
* NO numerical pad off to the right
* USB or PS/2 with a USB connector
* wired
* Function keys F1-F12

In short, I just want a regular, el-cheapo keyboard WITHOUT the
numerical paid and the pad of navigational keys off to the right. I've
got ergonomic and space considerations that require this.

If anybody knows of such a keyboard, please respond!
Click to expand...

I don't think you will find one. The numerical pad is necessary for
getting letters and symbols not on the keyboard. For example, I can
write the Danish letters æ,ø,å,Æ,Ø,Å by using Alt [number]. This only
works from the numerical pad. But computer fairs are good places to
hunt down special keyboards.
Click to expand...

Regular el-cheapo includes number pad and function keys these days. What you
want is pretty obscure any more. Hmmm, I still had a working one from 20
years ago (PC DIN connector), until just last year.

Dell sells a compact Targus brand USB keyboard with no number pad but
standard sized keys:

http://accessories.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=A0965226

Not exactly what you want but this keyboard from BTC looks like it might be
a candidate. You'd have to source a vendor for it:

http://www.btc.com.tw/english/2-7-06keyboard.htm#5100c

There's also the Cherry G84 shown on this page:

http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/slim-line/keyboard-ultra-low-profile-g84-4100.htm

Here's an 82 key board apparently with full sized keys:

http://www.tg3electronics.com/products/bl82.php

These guys have an 83 key model, part way down the page here:

http://www.generaldigital.com/products/options_accessories/desktop_keyboards.htm

I include this one only cuz it's cool :-), but pricey:

http://www.deckkeyboards.com/catalog/product_deck_toxic.php?cPath=0_21&products_id=36

Similarly this Deck 82 keyboard:

http://www.cardpos-online.com/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=61


IBM used to offer the SpaceSaver II keyboard, without a number pad, shown on
this page:

http://davidbau.com/archives/2005/05/21/worlds_best_computer_keyboard.html


Logitech has their wireless DiNovo keyboards with detached number pad. Not
particularly basic or cheap though.

See:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/192&cl=us,en

or

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard_mice_combos/devices/164&cl=us,en

Older models of the same DiNovo style might still be available for a lower
price at retailers.
 
there are a number of "mini keyboards" which are as you describe
generally such as the one shown at
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00196 To judge the
size, look at the small image of this keyboard on top of a "normal"
keyboard"

imho, the most important factors are how the enter key, the keys
surrounding the enter key and the cursor keys are handled... for
example, do you have to hold a <fn> key to pgup/pgdn etc.

Since touch typing is so ingrained, these normally exactly match the key
size and spacing of the alpha keys, but, if the enter, shift, <bar> keys
are significantly different from your main keyboard, transitioning back
and forth will be impacted.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
 
Bev & Johannes,

You are both finding some good suggestions that I hadn't seen yet. Bev
-- looking more closely at the model you saw, I think the keys are
smaller and squeezed together; I would like the full-size keypad size
and spacing. Johannes -- the BTC looks like a possibility.

Somebody should start making keyboards with the keypads on the left.
They would be a much better layout for right-handed mousers. I think
they would sell well.

Cheers.


Lady Dungeness
Crabby, but Delicious!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


On Fri, 13 Jul 2007 02:51:02 -0700, (e-mail address removed) wrote:

|I'm looking for a specific Keyboard; I've googled, but get lots of
|hits on items that don't match. This is what I need:
|
|* Compatible w/XP Home SP2
|* 88-89 keys
|* Full-size keys, just like a regular keyboard (NOT a laptop
|scissor-key style)
|* NO numerical pad off to the right
|* USB or PS/2 with a USB connector
|* wired
|* Function keys F1-F12
|
|In short, I just want a regular, el-cheapo keyboard WITHOUT the
|numerical paid and the pad of navigational keys off to the right. I've
|got ergonomic and space considerations that require this.
|
|If anybody knows of such a keyboard, please respond!
|
|
|`
|Lady Dungeness
|Crabby, but Delicious!
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
think the keys are smaller and squeezed together <<

Don't know about this specific unit, but these keyboards can be
deceptive... for example, the keys on the unfolded
http://www.mobilityelectronics.com/keyboards_and_accessories.aspx are
9.5" and have exactly the same keysize and spacing as a full sized
keyboard and it folds into a package almost as small as a pda.

Take a moment to look at a standard keyboard and map out how little
space the alpha keys really take up.

Using one of the mini keyboards, consider getting a usb numeric keypad
which can then be put wherever you need it... such as
http://www.digitalet.com/Items/KYB-HO98463

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
 
Thanks, Bev; I'll look into those options. Your suggestions are, as
always, practical and helpful. :-)

`
Lady Dungeness
Crabby, but Delicious!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


| >> think the keys are smaller and squeezed together <<
|
|Don't know about this specific unit, but these keyboards can be
|deceptive... for example, the keys on the unfolded
|http://www.mobilityelectronics.com/keyboards_and_accessories.aspx are
|9.5" and have exactly the same keysize and spacing as a full sized
|keyboard and it folds into a package almost as small as a pda.
|
|Take a moment to look at a standard keyboard and map out how little
|space the alpha keys really take up.
|
| >> on the left <<
|
|Using one of the mini keyboards, consider getting a usb numeric keypad
|which can then be put wherever you need it... such as
|http://www.digitalet.com/Items/KYB-HO98463
|
|Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
 
Perhaps you should be looking for a keyboard with a built in mouse. You
can work the mouse with your thumbs. You don't need to move your hands
off of the keyboard. One manufacturer of such keyboards is Adesso,
www.adesso.com.
 
I have seen those on KIOSK type systems.
I actually think I may have one on a shelf somewhere, but I haven't seen it
in a couple years.
 
Thanks, Bev; I'll look into those options. Your suggestions are, as
always, practical and helpful. :-)

`
Lady Dungeness
Crabby, but Delicious!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


| >> think the keys are smaller and squeezed together <<
|
|Don't know about this specific unit, but these keyboards can be
|deceptive... for example, the keys on the unfolded
|http://www.mobilityelectronics.com/keyboards_and_accessories.aspx are
|9.5" and have exactly the same keysize and spacing as a full sized
|keyboard and it folds into a package almost as small as a pda.
|
|Take a moment to look at a standard keyboard and map out how little
|space the alpha keys really take up.
|
| >> on the left <<
|
|Using one of the mini keyboards, consider getting a usb numeric keypad
|which can then be put wherever you need it... such as
|http://www.digitalet.com/Items/KYB-HO98463
|
|Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
Click to expand...
Try using the mouse with your left hand. It's not that difficult to
learn. I am left-handed and use the mouse alternately with either hand
so as to rest one wrist occasionally.

Bill
 
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