good keyboard bleg?

Anyone have any recommendations for good desktop keyboards with integrated pointing devices (preferably a ‘nipple’ aka ‘pointing stick’)? I really like my MS ergo keyboard, but hate having to move my hand to the mouse regularly. There must be a good ergo keyboard with a nipple, but the best I can find right now seems to be this.

(And yes, I know I can learn keyboard shortcuts, and I will, but some of the software I have to deal with doesn’t have good keynav.)

21 thoughts on “good keyboard bleg?”

  1. The keyboard you linked to (IBM 31P9490 Keyboard for Thinkpad) looks like it’s actually a replacement for a laptop keyboard, I don’t think it’s for desktop use…

  2. I’ve used the slightly similar Lenovo sk-8835 for some years because of the mouse stick; it acts and feels just like the various ThinkPad laptops.

  3. I’m of the opinion that the best thing you can do to make typing easier on your fingers is getting a decent keyboard layout like colemak or dvorak..

    I prefer laptop keyboards myself, the shallower and lighter the key presses, the better.

  4. There aren’t, AFAICT, any ergonomic keyboards with stick. IBM hold a patent on it, but haven’t ever produced any. Most irritating.

    After a couple of months researching this, I bought the model of that with the number pad. It’s a little light feeling to start with, and the keys aren’t as nice as my T41p’s (but slightly nicer than the Z61s), but certainly up there. It does feel like typing a laptop though, and my shoulders aren’t as widely spaced as they were with the (8 year old) MS Natural it replaced, my right shoulder tends to an odd angle if I don’t watch my posture carefully. OTOH, it’s a massive improvement on having to move that arm to the mouse.

  5. I have a MS ergo keyboard (was the only cheap one I could find with a USB-plug) and a Logitech trackball.
    That way, I don”t have to move my hand, too far.

  6. I love my laptop’s keyboard+trackpad+stick combo so much that I bought a Lenovo 31P9490 off ebay. It’s great. No keypad or Windows key but those are both bonuses in my book.

    I think it’s also known as a 41A5161. It’s doesn’t have quite the great feel as my Thinkpad, alas, but it’s close enough.

  7. I used a Rollermouse while programming for a while. It actually works really well, and you can continue to use your prefered keyboard.
    http://www.contourdesign.com/rollermouse/

    However, I’m looking at the website now, turns out they are actually quit expensive.
    I got mine for free from my dad :P

  8. Joe is completely correct. I have one of those at home and it rocks. Slightly lighter than a standard Model M since it doesn’t have the steel backplate, but the buckling spring action is just as good as the originals.

    On the subject of ergonomics: I’ve never been able to type efficiently on an ergo keyboard. But, when I switched to a Model M at work, my hands stopped hurting. I have only speculation about why that would be so, maybe the firmer action reduces the amount of fine muscle twitch you need to do or something? All I know is my hands don’t hurt at the end of the day. Might be worth trying.

  9. Simon: eeeenteresting. You’re right that it is expensive, but might be a good solution.

    ajax, joe: I love a good model M, but (unlike ajax) I do feel that I type more quickly and with less wrist motion on a good ergo keyboard. And moving from back to an ergo keyboard last was *huge* for my back pain.

    Sadly, it doesn’t look like the rollermouse and a MS-style ergo keyboard would be very compatible- you’d still end up moving your wrists and shoulders a lot.

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