IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav ( 31P8950 )

This Electronics CE item from IBM was reviewed on 14-Oct-2008.

IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav ( 31P8950 ) Reference CE. Classifications : Keyboards Cordless Ergonomic Gaming Keyboards Illuminated Integrated Mouse Integrated Touchpad Keyboard & Mouse Combos Kids' Macintosh Microsoft Miniature Multimedia Numeric PDA Keyboards Roll-Up Spil . Click the following link to view the cover of IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav ( 31P8950 ).

Related topics: TOUCHPAD TRACKPOINT W/ HUB. Keyboards. Cordless. Ergonomic. Gaming Keyboards. Illuminated. Integrated Mouse. Integrated Touchpad. Kids´. Macintosh. Microsoft.

1) Electronics CE IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav ( 31P8950 ) by IBM. Standalone mice are so last century! This is just about the perfect keyboard. I highly recommend it. Only thing missing is backlighting/illumination.¤

2) Electronics CE IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav ( 31P8950 ) by IBM. I´ve just bought and received this item from amazon (August 25, 2008) and the quality is much lower from what i would expect on a $90 USD Keyboard.

I´m having problems with the touchpad on this keyboard that i never had with laptop touchpads, like the mouse pointer moving randomly through the screen just before i click on something or at the edges of the touchpad, even with the latest drivers from Lenovo or Synaptics.

The trackpoint buttons below the spacebar do not always work and sometimes i have to click them very hard or multiple times for them to work.

The Page Down, End and Backspace Keys also suffer this problem, they have a different feel than the rest of the keys and sometimes i have to press them very hard or multiple times to make them work.

Also the location of the Fn key is very annoying if you´re are used to the Ctrl key being in the lower left corner of the keyboard and there is no way to remap it or swap it with the Ctrl key.

Overall it feels like a cheaply made keyboard.

On the plus side i can type 10 wpm faster on this keyboard than on a regular desktop keyboard. Also, if you want regular Home, End, Insert, Delete, PgUp and PgDn key locations you can rearrange and remap the keys on the Numeric Pad to match the location on a standard keyboard.¤

3) Electronics CE IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav ( 31P8950 ) by IBM. If you spend a lot of time in front of a computer, you should invest the money to get the right keyboard for your usage. Lenovo´s UltraNav keyboard rates somewhere between three-and-a-half stars and four stars for those who risk carpel tunnel syndrome from overuse of computer mice, e.g., in corporate financial analyst circles. The UltraNav keyboard mitigates problems caused from overuse of computer mice by incorporating TrackPoint and touchpad pointing devices on the keyboard itself. Compared to the grip that is required to actively control a mouse, the TrackPoint requires pressure from only one finger; while the touchpad can be controlled by a light touch.

As other reviewers indicate, Lenovo´s UltraNav keyboard is lightweight, and of a solid build quality. The UltraNav´s touchpad supports virtual clicking -- which simulates mouse clicks by quickly tapping on the touchpad; and virtual scrolling -- which enables quick scrolling down or across a window by sliding one´s finger down the right side of the touchpad, or across the bottom of the touchpad, respectively. The touchpad´s driver software enables both features to be tailored to preference, and comes with a practice "game" to help ensure that one´s preferences are just right. The UltraNav TrackPoint comes with a third button (in addition to the standard left- and right-click buttons) that can act either as a scroll lock or a magnifying glass. Both the touchpad and TrackPoint may be adjusted for left-handed use. Both are also simultaneously active, but one or both may be deactivated or set to use a subset of their features. With Lenovo´s UltraNav keyboard, a mouse is no longer needed.

The downsides to the UltraNav keyboard generally revolve around its lineage as a ThinkPad laptop keyboard. Like most other laptop keyboards, the UltraNav keyboard has tiny function keys, and tiny Insert, Delete, Home, End, PageUp and PageDown keys. Several keyboard functions -- including the three volume buttons, the Fn key, and the blue mechanic (ThinkVantage) key -- may be rendered useless for those who don´t pair their UltraNav keyboard with a Lenovo computer. Lenovo should have been smart enough to include software to help such users remap all of those non-functional keys to do something more useful. This keyboard also lacks Windows keys (the Windows key and right-click key), and instead has [Previous Page] and [Next Page] keys. I´m not convinced of the utility of the latter, because it is just as easy to press and to move backwards and forwards in a web browser.

The UltraNav keyboard also includes two USB 1.1 ports; which are less useful today than when this product was introduced, since many USB devices these days can take advantage of higher USB 2 speeds. Remember to install the UltraNav drivers -before- plugging in the keyboard into your computer for the first time.

Lenovo´s UltraNav keyboard merits serious consideration from those seeking a solid alternative to computer mice, and can sacrifice a bit of keyboard functionality. Hopefully the next version of this keyboard will incorporate with Windows keys (since they were made available in the ThinkPad 60 series keyboard), USB2 ports, and maybe multi-touch support for the touchpad.¤

4) Electronics CE IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav ( 31P8950 ) by IBM. I´ve purchased two of these. On both of them, the left clicker (keyboard section) is intermittent. Sometimes I think I need to keep a hammer close by.

I had one replaced via Warranty and the replacement had the same exact issue so I can only think it´s a design issue.

It´s been 2 years since I bought one. Has this issue been resolved?¤

5) Electronics CE IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav ( 31P8950 ) by IBM. as the others have said, this is a great keyboard, particularly if you are accustomed to or like the Thinkpad touchpoint keyboard environment. the keys have enough travel to make it feel like actually typing.

my only complaint is that this is a perfect keyboard to have a wireless version of. its light, easy to use, and you dont need a mouse. I have a wireless mouse and keyboard in my living room for use with a media center PC attached to my stereo and flat screen monitor and if this keyboard came in a wireless version I could eliminate my need for the separate mouse and keyboard and just have this one light keyboard/mouse instead.

¤

6) Electronics CE IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav ( 31P8950 ) by IBM. Bring legendary IBM ThinkPad notebook keyboard look and feel to IBM desktop systems or to ThinkPad docking solutions. For the ultimate in pointing flexibility, this multi-pointing system combines an IBM-customized touch pad and the latest TrackPoint device. The two, built-in USB ports conveniently provides for additional expansion. Plus, it´s the only external keyboard that allows you close the ThinkPad notebook LCD and still access key ThinkPad notebook features requiring the function (Fn) key, such as system sleep and suspend.Adjustable keyboard feet provide for three levels of typing comfort; flat (folded under), level-1 and level-2. Integrated keyboard cord wrap lets you adjust the length of the cord for use or storage. Function (Fn) key provides access to key ThinkPad notebook features such as (depending on model) speaker volume, LCD/external monitor select, LCD brightness, system sleep and suspend controls. IBM ThinkPad UltraNav, an example of IBM ThinkVantage Design, lets you choose which pointing device to use: TrackPoint, touchpad, or both. And, it eliminates the need for an external mouse and saves desktop space.The IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav is supported on the following IBM systems: IBM-compatible desktop or ThinkPad notebook system (not compatible with notebooks other than IBM ThinkPad). Full functionality of ThinkPad hot keys will be with the following ThinkPad models: 2681, 2682, 2683, 2672, 2673, 2366, 2367, 2652, 2653, 2658, 2659, 2677. All others, including desktops, will have some non-functioning ThinkPad hot keys.For a complete compatibility list please refer to the original manufacturer´s web site.¤

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 11-Nov-2008, 087944859468, 06B-PKB-PDB-CTB-TKB-63B-L6B-FWB-ZKB-AAB-QAB-NCB-KQB-92B-J8B-1AB-FAB-JGB-8

IBM USB Keyboard with UltraNav ( 31P8950 ), CE, Image © IBM

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