Archive for December, 2008

ThinkPad External Keyboard Survey: Just Your Type?

December 17, 2008 Post a Comment (117 Comments)

For many years we have offered two versions of what has generally become known as the ThinkPad external keyboard. I wrote a post about this offering quite some time ago. Personally I really enjoy using this keyboard. I own the version with the number pad. I don’t use the number pad much, but I like the overall product proportion better. I’m also not a really big fan of mice (long live TrackPoint) , and prefer the feel of a ThinkPad keyboard to the more traditional desktop versions.  Lately we’ve been thinking about how we might improve these keyboards for future releases. It would be great if you could take this survey and help us understand our next steps. Thanks in advance for the help.

Take the survey here.

If you want to buy these keyboards they are on sale right now. Yes we already make them!!!

ThinkPad Full-Size UltraNav USB keyboard (with numberpad)

ThinkPad Travel UltraNav USB keyboard (without numberpad)

EDIT: Just to give a feel of what these keyboards look like in person, we shot a quick video with some hands-on action.

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

David Hill

Posted in Design Innovation | 117 Comments »

Can a Mustache Hide Your True Identity?

December 4, 2008 Post a Comment (7 Comments)

Fake Mustaches

For years automotive manufacturers have tried to disguise forthcoming models or concept cars from the proverbial spy photo. Photographers have been known to camp out in key locations hoping to snap a glimpse of the next generation vehicle with a lens so long they can barely be lifted. It must be a strange job creating patterns and stick on visual distractors to hide the relevant lines, contours and other design features.  I’m sure there is a art to this not so different from the design of camouflage for the military.

Car disguise
Photo Credit: Carsspyphotos.com

For the ThinkPad design team this would be a rather difficult challenge. How many ways can you disguise a black rectangle?  Strange stripes, stick on masks and the like just won’t cut it. The profile is just too distinctive. Maybe we should just try sticking on a cheesy fake mustache. The “smarty” version is so 70’s and smug looking. No thanks.

David Hill

Posted in Design Theory | 7 Comments »