Chapter 13. Keyboards and Pointing Devices

The keyboard, pointing device, and display are in many ways the most important parts of a computer because they represent the human interface to the system. Unlike desktop systems, portables have keyboards integrated into the one-piece unit. This makes them much more difficult to repair or replace, and you can't switch keyboard models or types; you are stuck with the model that comes with the system. Because you can't switch the built-in keyboard, the keyboard should be an important element of your system-purchasing decision when selecting a new laptop. Because manufacturers are forced to modify the standard 101-key desktop keyboard layout to fit in a smaller case, you'll find a variety of different layouts as well as significant differences in keybutton travel and feel among units.

The pointing device is also a prime consideration when purchasing a new laptop because it's second only to the keyboard as a method of controlling or interacting with the system. I've seen laptop or notebook systems that had keyboards and pointing devices so horrible that the only way to use the system was to plug in external models, which is obviously not a preferable solution. When you consider that the keyboard and pointing device comprise the primary method for communicating with your computer, you realize they are an extremely important part of the system. The quality of the keyboard and especially the type and quality of the integrated pointing device are the first things I consider when selecting a laptop.