Customer Reviews

IBM 09N5546 Numeric Access Keypad

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I BOUGHT TWO OTHER KEYPADS THAT WOULD NOT WORK WITH WINDOWS XP. THIS IBM KEYPAD COMES WITH THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO INSTALL THE DRIVERS SO THAT EVEN WINDOWS XP WILL RECOGNIZE IT. IT WORKS GREAT, AND I EVEN BOUGHT THE IBM MOUSE AS WELL. IF YOU HAVE A NEW LAPTOP WITH WINDOWS XP, AND YOU HAVE A USB PORT, YOU CANT BEAT THIS IBM KEYPAD, AND THE PRICE IS CHEAPER THAN THOSE OFF BRAND KEYPADS. IF YOU WANT THE BEST, BUY THIS IBM NUMERIC KEYPAD. YOU WILL LOVE IT! IT'S THE BEST.

This item is great for a laptop. It doesn't deserve a 2 stars just because you don't know the fact that USB won't work for Win95 and NT. IBM has other models that are serial/PS2. But this item works great with a USB port.

I think this is a great idea, I hate using the keyboard on my laptop for the numeric keypad, because the keys are not lined up vertically like they are on the keyboard keypads. This is great, it has a USB interface to it is easy to swap in and out when needed, it's not really small, but fits nicely into my laptop case.
The only annoying feature about this is that the num-lock key triggers the num-lock for the entire laptop, not just the keypad, which is unnessesary. Its easy enough to just hit the num-lock on it before and after you use it, however it would be preferable if you didn't need to.

I would recomend this to anyone who is looking for a keypad accessory. For people who do not have a spare USB port, IBM makes the same exact model as this, except with a PS/2 port, or you can just buy a converter.

This keypad has a great comfort level, it is up to the level of my Thinkpad's keyboard. It isn't exactly "ultraportable" but I rarely take it with me when I travel, it is just for added comfort at the office when crunching numbers, the USB makes everything easy (I use it through a USB hub, with a printer and a scanner) and I just plug the hub's connector to the laptop and everything works, it is almos like a docking station.

Depending on the circumstances under which you will use it and your abilities at keyboarding, this device scales anywhere from perfect to perfectly unsuitable.

Traveling with a large bag and placed onto a desktop, the size and shape of the pad will be more of a plus than not. The raised top end of the device makes for comfortable ergonomics, and an experienced keyboardist faced with serious data entry will love the standard layout and full sized keys.

To a person requiring real mobility, the above traits will be a negative. The irregular shape fits awkwardly into the slim contours of a good laptop bag, leaving one wishing for a slimmner, lighter, wafer shaped device.

A really good 10-key by touch person will find the key action slow and clunky. Ham fisted number crunchers who attack spreadsheets with pounding vengence will appreciate the resistence under their fingers.

In the end, it's a matter of who you are and what you need it for. Lacking in the device is the now almost universal addition of USB ports. It's not a bad gadget, but with a bit of searching you could probably find better.

I bought this keypad because I don't like using the "Num Lock" and then the number keys overlaid on the right side of my Thinkpad's keyboard. Unfortunately, when I hit the Num Lock on this keypad, those keys (U,I,O, etc.) become number keys also. So while this does make data entry really fast if you are used to using a keypad like this, you have to turn it back off before trying to type anything. Besides that, it is exactly what I was looking for.

This is a USB keypad and is not compatible if you're running Win95 or WinNT. I purchased it not knowing that and have had to return it. If you're using another version of Windows, you'll probably like it - it seems well designed and very portable.