Numbered keys on notebooks

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Numbered keys on notebooks

270 points posted to Laptops by ron912 04/28/07

I'd like to see an expanded notebook with a number keypad on the right side. I think there are a lot of financial prefessionals that would appreciate this.

hjwasson 04/28/07	This only makes sense on the larger notebooks, that have all that wasted space around the keyboard - making smaller keys would make the notebook less usable. Another problem is that shifting the keyboard to the left in order to make room for a numeric keypad on the right would put you off-center from the display - not ergonomically correct. Perhaps if the entire keyboard was on a track that could be slid to the right after the display was up? IBM solved this on some of their fancier ThinkPads by having the numeric keypad in a pop-out modular bay that could be swapped with optical drives, batteries, etc.
helmecj01 04/28/07	You can get USB numeric keypad for laptop http://i.expansys.com/i/l/l120011.jpg
hjwasson 04/28/07	There are all kinds of USB input device accessories for notebooks and desktops (including USB numeric keypads - thanks helmecj01), but I think that there is a lot of wasted surface space on the larger notebook computers that could possibly accommodate the addition of a numeric keypad. We've grown accustomed to them on desktop keyboards, and the Function Key embedded solutions on notebooks are a rather poor substitute. This Toshiba has an integrated numeric keypad: http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/WEB-INF/jsp/catalog/zoom.jsp?poid=365656&... This HP has an integrated numeric keypad: http://laptopmag.com/NR/rdonlyres/ed2gnyphwuxpfxyfs7r4xvzcu55jdharqxpd765d7on... They both illustrate my concern that you are not sitting centered to your view, when your hands are on the home row of keys. Fine if you're an infrequent user - but I think the "desktop replacement" class of users tend to be rather heavy users. Here's a thought: What about having a detachable keyboard? You could leave it docked for light use, or detach it for extended use. It doesn't necessarily have to be wireless (Bluetooth for gaming has too much response lag - you'd have to go with something like Logitech's RF wireless receivers). The XPS M2010 has a detachable wireless keyboard, but for a new M1710 design, I'd be happy with a lift out tray design (the M2010 has room to burn internally, and so you could lose the front end - not so with the smaller M1710). A possibility that wouldn't require a detachable or sliding keyboard (my original suggestion) is if the display itself could slide a few inches to the left after the notebook is opened. That would require a hinge redesign, and there might be concerns about reliability and rigidity.
amri64 04/29/07	Maybe for smaller laptops, a numeric keypad can be placed under a slide cover/flap where the right palm rest is?
hjwasson 04/29/07	Good suggestion, amri! With all that room in front of the keyboard, they could put a slightly reduced size numeric keypad next the the touchpad on the smaller notebooks.
shooters 05/14/07	@DUPLICATEOF 66086

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