I think I finally found the perfect keyboard for me (ThinkPad USB-Keyboard with TrackPoint)

Update January 2019: I switched to a mechanical keyboard, you can read about it here.

I am searching for the perfect keyboard since some years. I tried many different keyboards and was never satisfied. I also really wanted to move from a keyboard/mouse combo to keyboards with a TrackPoint like on most ThinkPads. In the last years I used the following keyboards:

A Dell SK-8115 USB keyboard:

An Apple MB110D/B keyboard:

A Lenovo USB keyboard:

But I did not like them, the keys all were too mushy or did not give good tactile feedback.

After using ThinkPad laptops for some years I really like their keyboards and after some years I also started getting used to the TrackPoint which allows the user to leave his hands on the keyboard without having to reach for an external mouse. I was using this mouse for some years to prevent any wrist strain (Evoluent Vertical Mouse 4):

This mouse did a good job of keeping my hands, fingers and wrists healthy. I am also doing boxing since 2013 and my health is very good.

After having used a ThinkPad X230 and a ThinkPad P50 for some years I really love their chiclet style keyboard and their TrackPoint.

IBM once manufactured the Model 13 keyboard which had mechanical switches, this would probably be the best keyboard for me but it is extremely rare to find and very very expensive

But then I found out that Lenovo is selling a Lenovo 0B47202 ThinkPad Compact Keyboard which resembles the keyboard/TrackPoint combo from modern ThinkPads, so I ordered one:

But I was quickly disappointed, it was not as good as the keyboards in the ThinkPad laptops. The keyboard was very light and the keys had a very low travel, it did not feel as sturdy, tactile responsive and satisfying as the ThinkPad keyboards. So I sold it.

Meanwhile I got my hands on a ThinkPad X220 which has the older keyboard style before Lenovo introduced the island shaped chiclet keys with the x30 series.This keyboard is also very good to type on, I love it:

So I started searching it Lenovo offers a USB keyboard that mimics the keyboards before the chiclet keys where introduced and bingo

I found out that Lenovo some years ago produced the ThinkPad USB-Keyboard with TrackPoint. This keyboard has a big palm rest area and looks extremely similar to the X220 keyboard:

But these keyboards are very hard to find because they are not produced any more and they are very expensive. But I was very lucky. In the German ThinkPad forums I bought exactly this keyboard from a user (thanks iYassin ). And since then I am hooked, it is perfect!

It has some weight to it, the keys have a deep, satisfying travel and click and I can type very quickly and make less typos. It has dedicated volume keys and media keys which is very important for me. The keyboard layout is perfect. I also use the TrackPoint and do not need to use an external mouse, this is very effective.

One other important aspect is that you can swap the keyboard. You can unscrew two screws on the back of the keyboard and replace the keyboard with another keyboard. I believe you can use any keyboard of the pre x30 period in any language, this is so great

I used this keyboard for the last two days. I was working in my home office and used this keyboard for work and I am really thankful that I found it

Finally, here is a photo of my actual keyboard:

Update January 2019: sadly I had problems with this keyboard. I had bought it used and some keys started to stop working. So I decided to open up the keyboard case and put a new ThinkPad T420 keyboard in it. But the case was extremely difficult to open and I broke it, so I switched back to a ThinkPad compact keyboard 😦

You can read the next part and why I switched to a mechanical keyboard, here.