Looking for a Specific Keyboard

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LadyDungeness@Fish.Net

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!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
LadyDungeness@Fish.Net 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.
 
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
<johs@size-nosepam89374-fitter.com> wrote:

|
|
|LadyDungeness@Fish.Net 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" <johs@size-nosepam89374-fitter.com> wrote in message
news:469763DC.78996C18@size-nosepam89374-fitter.com...
>
>
> LadyDungeness@Fish.Net 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.

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, LadyDungeness@Fish.Net 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.

>> 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]
 
Thanks, Bev; I'll look into those options. Your suggestions are, as
always, practical and helpful. :-)

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


On Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:27:06 -0500, "Beverly Howard
[Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote:

| >> 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.

LadyDungeness@Fish.Net wrote:
> 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
> <johs@size-nosepam89374-fitter.com> wrote:
>
> |
> |
> |LadyDungeness@Fish.Net 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.
 
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.

<LadyDungeness@Fish.Net> wrote in message
news:nhie93lenv03ha0b8tmpu9kcjhhprqpdo8@4ax.com...
> 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!
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
LadyDungeness@Fish.Net wrote:
> Thanks, Bev; I'll look into those options. Your suggestions are, as
> always, practical and helpful. :-)
>
> `
> Lady Dungeness
> Crabby, but Delicious!
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> On Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:27:06 -0500, "Beverly Howard
> [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote:
>
> | >> 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]
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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