I don't use the numpad, but I do use the home, end and these keys. And these are on the numpad. On my old laptop there was no numpad, but still big home, end, etc... placed to the right of the keyboard. But on most laptops these vital keys are reduced to tiny buttons.blueznl wrote:I disagree with Marco on the numpad section. I never missed it on my laptop, though if you buy a 17" then you may consider it.
Moving from Desktop setup to a Laptop
Ah, I see. I found them acceptable on the Dell 810 / Inspiron 6000 / Dell 520, but that's probably because all three machines use pretty much the same keyboard 
(In fact, they're so much the same that I used a broken down 510 and moved that keyboard into the D810 to replace the Azerty keyboard it originally sported Ok, I lost the 'rubber thingy' that many people like to control the mouse, but as I don't like it I didn't loose anything )
I liked the solution some old Sony laptops had (I have an old SR1K laying around somewhere)... Use the FN with UP for PGUP, use the FN with DOWN for PGDN, use FN with LEFT for HOME and FN with RIGHT for END. Not the best solution, but if keyboards have to be small that's acceptable (and definitely better than a row of mini-keys). The Sony SR1K has TWO FN keys, as well as the CTRL key directly next to the left FN key. It's a layout I liked but which I haven't seen much since.
Oh well. Can't say I'm still using that SR1K. It's a bit slow compared with the modern machines these days
(In fact, they're so much the same that I used a broken down 510 and moved that keyboard into the D810 to replace the Azerty keyboard it originally sported
Ok, I lost the 'rubber thingy' that many people like to control the mouse, but as I don't like it I didn't loose anything )I liked the solution some old Sony laptops had (I have an old SR1K laying around somewhere)... Use the FN with UP for PGUP, use the FN with DOWN for PGDN, use FN with LEFT for HOME and FN with RIGHT for END. Not the best solution, but if keyboards have to be small that's acceptable (and definitely better than a row of mini-keys). The Sony SR1K has TWO FN keys, as well as the CTRL key directly next to the left FN key. It's a layout I liked but which I haven't seen much since.
Oh well. Can't say I'm still using that SR1K. It's a bit slow compared with the modern machines these days
( PB6.00 LTS Win11 x64 Asrock AB350 Pro4 Ryzen 5 3600 32GB GTX1060 6GB)
( The path to enlightenment and the PureBasic Survival Guide right here... )
( The path to enlightenment and the PureBasic Survival Guide right here... )
blueznl wrote:As I am a 'natural keyboard' user, <snip> Once you're used to a natural keyboard any other keyboard stinks
Ain't that the friggin' truth!BTW: Microsoft still makes natural keyboards but the quality of the ones they make today doesn't come close to what they used to make. For example the letters on the keys used to be injection molded in using two layers of different colored plastic. Now they are just painted on or are decals, either way they wear off over time leaving you with blank keys. I personally would love to find a source of high quality natural keyboards, I'd switch in an instant.
True, but for the durability and reliability you get, I'll take the few extra pounds and not complain.blueznl wrote:Oh, as for the Dell, it's indeed a Lattitude D810, the D810 and D520 are build like tanks, and with the optional media battery pack they last for ages... Unfortunately they also WEIGHT like a tank
I actually use the 'intermediate' series, not the old 'pro' ones like this one (though I actually have two laying in the attickGWarner wrote: BTW: Microsoft still makes natural keyboards but the quality of the ones they make today doesn't come close to what they used to make.
)...
This is the one I use:
They came in two different series, one's okay, the other one is horrible. (I have one from the 'bad' series, the just sound and feel different when you type on them.) Except for the horrible 'F-lock' idea, and the impossible insert / prtscn key it's not too bad.
To be honest, none of the letters on the keyboard have faded. Yet
But oops, we're taking over the laptop thread, sorry. To get back on track here's a D810 image
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( The path to enlightenment and the PureBasic Survival Guide right here... )
( The path to enlightenment and the PureBasic Survival Guide right here... )
Sparkie -
I always prefer Intel vs AMD... for the past year or so, Intel has pretty much crushed AMD.... BUT... if you plan on using Win7 with XP mode, the laptops you chose with the Intel processors WILL NOT WORK. The Core2Duo T6500 does not support virtualization technology (http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=39311). Whereas the laptop with the AMD processor does (http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/AMD-Tu ... M22GG.html). Please keep this in mind before buying.
I always prefer Intel vs AMD... for the past year or so, Intel has pretty much crushed AMD.... BUT... if you plan on using Win7 with XP mode, the laptops you chose with the Intel processors WILL NOT WORK. The Core2Duo T6500 does not support virtualization technology (http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=39311). Whereas the laptop with the AMD processor does (http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/AMD-Tu ... M22GG.html). Please keep this in mind before buying.
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DarkDragon
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DarkDragon wrote:my sausage-fingers...I pressed many neighbour keys
Well, I would need them and so I miss them on my laptop, because those keys are the only one I can handle pretty fast.
Somehow funny: I use four fingers of my left hand for those keys...And I use only two fingers of each hand for all the other keys...
PureBasic for Windows
Flying eagle typing system?Marco2007 wrote: And I use only two fingers of each hand for all the other keys...
A bit like this guy I guess...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K3fsZYlEw0
( PB6.00 LTS Win11 x64 Asrock AB350 Pro4 Ryzen 5 3600 32GB GTX1060 6GB)
( The path to enlightenment and the PureBasic Survival Guide right here... )
( The path to enlightenment and the PureBasic Survival Guide right here... )
I used to use the Pro series keyboards until they got really hard to find. Those were great keyboards.
What I use now are the Natural Keyboard 4000s and they are cheap junk compared to Microsoft's older keyboards.
Most if not all of Microsoft's current keyboards don't have the familiar F1 to F12 keys anymore, instead they have "Office" keys with the F1 to F12 printed on the front face of the key where it's hard to even see. Worse many of the keyboards power up in "Office mode" and require you to press the F-Lock key once before you can use he keys as the old F1 to F12 keys. This erroneous assumption that everyone uses Office and wants those Office functions instead of the usual F1 to F12 is enough that I'd abandon Microsoft keyboards if anyone else made a decent quality natural keyboard. The guy at Microsoft that thought that was a good idea should have his keyboard rewired so that none of the keys do what the key says. Maybe then he'll learn to leave standards alone.
Done ranting, back to the topic.
Yeah, that D810 looks just like my D830. Latitudes don't change much in appearance.
What I use now are the Natural Keyboard 4000s and they are cheap junk compared to Microsoft's older keyboards.
Most if not all of Microsoft's current keyboards don't have the familiar F1 to F12 keys anymore, instead they have "Office" keys with the F1 to F12 printed on the front face of the key where it's hard to even see. Worse many of the keyboards power up in "Office mode" and require you to press the F-Lock key once before you can use he keys as the old F1 to F12 keys. This erroneous assumption that everyone uses Office and wants those Office functions instead of the usual F1 to F12 is enough that I'd abandon Microsoft keyboards if anyone else made a decent quality natural keyboard. The guy at Microsoft that thought that was a good idea should have his keyboard rewired so that none of the keys do what the key says. Maybe then he'll learn to leave standards alone.
Done ranting, back to the topic.
Yeah, that D810 looks just like my D830. Latitudes don't change much in appearance.
@Marco2007
I've been using laptops so long that only after you mentioned it did I realise my notepad doesn't have a numpad! Yet when I jump on to a desktop computer I use them automatically. Amazing thing the mind how it can adapt.
But then again if you want a standard keyboard you can just plug one in.
I've been using laptops so long that only after you mentioned it did I realise my notepad doesn't have a numpad! Yet when I jump on to a desktop computer I use them automatically. Amazing thing the mind how it can adapt.
But then again if you want a standard keyboard you can just plug one in.
"What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now.” -Buddha
After reading dozens of reviews on the various laptop models and taking everything said here into consideration, I chose the Toshiba A505-S6960. http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/sate ... A505-S6960
If the 5400 RPM hd causes me any bottlenecking problems I will replace it. With my light duty usage I think I'll be ok. I don't see me needing the XP mode in Win7 so Intel was good to go.
I seem to remember seeing more overheating issues with the AMD's so that helped sway me over to Intel. The numeric keypad also played a part in my decision. Add to that a sale price well below MSRP and my decision making process was over.
Thanks to all for your valuable input.
If the 5400 RPM hd causes me any bottlenecking problems I will replace it. With my light duty usage I think I'll be ok. I don't see me needing the XP mode in Win7 so Intel was good to go.
I seem to remember seeing more overheating issues with the AMD's so that helped sway me over to Intel. The numeric keypad also played a part in my decision. Add to that a sale price well below MSRP and my decision making process was over.
Thanks to all for your valuable input.
What goes around comes around.
PB 5.21 LTS (x86) - Windows 8.1
PB 5.21 LTS (x86) - Windows 8.1
I believe there's also numeric keypads available for laptop users that plug into a USB port.rrpl wrote:But then again if you want a standard keyboard you can just plug one in.
My dad's previous two laptops were Toshiba Satellite A500s and the screens, though glossy, weren't bad.Trond wrote:You did notice it has a glossy screen, right? Essentially this means parts of the screen will be unreadable due to light reflections unless you have really soft lightning.