6th August 2022 - New Keyboard
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After a fair bit of searching, I have found a new keyboard and a 
solution to my 2 computer problem. For work, I have 2 laptops which I 
need to use at the same sort of time. It is the joys of having to work 
on 2 different networks. Yes, this could be made simpler but there are 
not many of us who have to work on 2 networks so no one in IT is 
working on it. 

My first method was docking the 1 laptop and then using the second as 
a laptop. That frustrated me through the small screen and desk space. 
It was hard to swap between the laptops. The next move was to buy a 
second screen and use a Logitech K480 keyboard along with a Logitech 
Ergo MX thumb ball mouse. The mouse swapped quickly and easily but the 
keyboard was problematic. Mostly as I kept having to open the laptops 
so I could get past the bit locker. Also, the bluetooth on the one 
laptop did not always connect to the keyboard on switching. This made 
switching annoying. Add to that the fairly pants typing experience 
with the K480. It has the round keys and sits quite high from the 
desk. The travel is more than I want to deal with. However, I already 
had the K480 and the mouse so this was a fairly cheap solution. The 
monitor is a square Dell affair from the mid 2010s and cost £15 
second hand from someone who was fund raising for their child to 
attend the next world Scout Jamboree. As one laptop is always being 
used as an e-mail machine, the 19 inch screen is sufficient. I have a 
24 inch screen which I have used for a rather long time with the 
docked laptop or desktop. 

I had bought a wired keyboard relatively cheaply to use with my desk 
top which was alright. The keys were not great but it was reasonable 
for the whopping £20 I spent on it.The keys are back lit which helps. 
Unfortunately, being wired meant I could only swap the cable to use it 
with the other screen. Yuk! Well I have always like the Thinkpad 
scissor keys. I have a bluetooth keyboard which was sold for use with 
the Thinkpad tablet 2. It is a nice keyboard but seems to only pair 
with a single device. Turns out that Lenovo sell an actual keyboard 
for use with desktops which has the same key shape, layout and what 
not as their Thinkpads. It is a touch costly for the wireless one at 
Â120 but the wired version is alright at Â60. I have bought a USB 
switch which enables me to connect the keyboard to both laptops and 
swap at the press of a button. This seems to work well. 

I am enjoying the Thinkpad keyboard. It has relatively low travel keys 
which respond nicely. There is a palm rest which makes a huge 
difference along with the low height for the keyboard. The red nipple 
is included so I don't have to remove my hands from the keyboard to 
use a mouse which is nice with work forcing the use of Windows. My 
only gripe is that the USB socket on the keyboard is a touch 
unsupported. It seems it would be easy to break. A lot of online 
reviews say they have broken it by moving the keyboard. However, this 
seems like something that I can avoid by being aware. This is a 
compact layout and really does have the same layout as most recent 
Thinkpad laptops. There is no slipping although I do have a craft mat 
between my desk and the keyboard. 

There is certainly something odd about how great the urge to type can 
be when you get a new keyboard. I have been attempting to take diction 
from TV shows so that I can use the keyboard. Seems mad but I take it 
as a sign that I like this keyboard. This phlog post is only as long 
as it is because I am enjoying typing.