I am currently using a Toshiba laptop with an external, full 104-key
keyboard, and it works fine.  It does connect to the laptop via one of the
USB ports.  I run Windows XP Pro and there was nary a problem when I first
connected the keyboard...I got the Windows message that a new USB device had
been detected and as I now recall, all I had to do was hit enter once and
everything was fine.

I'm a JAWS user and I chose to go into JAWS and set it to use a desktop
keyboard configuration rather than a laptop configuration, but this is a
very simple change to make.  Aside from that, there was nothing to do.

I hate laptop keyboards with their oddball layouts and lack of a keypad, so
the external keyboard was an absolutely necessary add-on when I bought the
Toshiba.  I suppose that at some point, I'll want to go portable with the
thing and will be forced to cope with its own keyboard, but that's not an
issue now.  *If* your laptop has a PS/2 keyboard connector, you could then
connect the keyboard either as a USB device or through the PS/2 port...all
of the USB keyboards I know of work both ways and they have a small USB
adapter that simply pulls off the cable to turn the connector into a
standard PS/2 keyboard connector.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith Reedy" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2003 11:15 PM
Subject: Lap top question?


Hello every one,

I just bought an IBM Thinkpad laptop to take on the road with me this
year.  The laptop does not have a numpad, so I have been trying to use the
key bord.  BTW, I am useing Window-eyes.

We have enabled the accessibility option, but  it is not much help.

I am thinking about adding an out bord key bord.

I have never used one.

My question is, do they use the USB port or something els.

And if you are useing the keybord on a laptop, how are you doing it?


Just to keep things in prospective,, this is my ham computer.

Thanks and 73
Keith-WA9DRO
God gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.
Hudson Taylor