WE HAVE A DREAM.
Not only our dream but also many ThinkPad users’ dream.
To be able to use the 7-row keyboard once again.
This dream was reborn as ThinkPad Anniversary Edition 25
But it is just that, the one and only,
like the shooting star soared through the darkest night
So bright but so short
After using the 7-row keyboard,
You will see ThinkPad’s unique insights on keyboards.
You will see how the full-size keyboard can be concentrate to the limited space.
It has been 1991 days since the beginning.
From the first TrackPoint mechanical keyboard - Yoda
It was a story of 2014
It took approximately six months from designing to small batch production.
Although it was not a flawless keyboard,
It was still a keyboard contained tons of experimental ideas and the spirit of DIY
Because of this keyboard, we had had contact with Lenovo,
We can communicate with them with many thoughts and the problem, we are very thankful for Lenovo’s supports
Yoda II, it was a big leap of our idea on the keyboard.
“Is there any platform can step across the users of different systems?”
“is there any way that we don’t need to install any software in the different system?”
So, we redeveloped the firmware and made keyboards are able to switch to USB Mass Storage.
We also developed the cross-platform website configurator.
With the ThinkPad Anniversary Edition 25 came out,
It had deepened our idea to make a mechanical 7-row TrackPoint keyboard
We redesigned and molded the keycap in Taiwan,
Using retro 80’s spherical keycap made the keyboards more elegant but classic
We also replaced the old TrackPoint module, improved the press feedback of TrackPoint , made it steadier and more durable.
The keyboard was called Kodachi,
Using the CNC manufacturing procedure to make the casing
We took ThinkPad X61’s layout as reference,
Due to the limitation of the new keycap, it had slight difference with traditional ThinkPad 7-row keyboard.
HOWEVER
To make a traditional ThinkPad 7-row keyboard has always been our goal and dream!
We re-deliberated and redesigned the keycap, even though the size was down to 87%, the press area was surprisingly as the same as the original one, it also represented ThinkPad’s insistence and their design concept
Finally
With big ESC and Delete keys, separated F1- F12, independent navigation keys and arrow keys, independent volume control
With the original programmable function
Our dream is coming true!!
We used “Back to the future” as a Easter egg of Kodachi is to salute the code name of the ThinkPad Anniversary edition 25- Time Machine
We sincerely hope that to produce the 7-row keyboard which is beloved by many customers, so it won’t be only on the 25th anniversary edition laptop.
We are grateful for the customers who supported us since the Yoda.
To fulfill our dream and be affirmed and liked by everyone are the best parts of designing a product
We need more supports to make the production official and let more ThinkPaders to feel how great is the 7-row keyboard once again.
Q&A
- The layout refers to SK-8855
- Using Cherry MX series
- 9 stages of TrackPoint Sensitivity (no driver needed)
- TrackPoint scrolling function(vertical/horizontal )
- #horizontal scrolling may not working in some software.
- Mold development/ production/ assemble in Taiwan