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Re:System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals n... by 1MachineElf on Tuesday August 31, 2021 @04:16PM (#28373011)
Agreed. The least they could do, if a numpad really is necessary, is put something of equal size on the left side. A macro pad would be novel, or even just a left numpad so that right-hand mouse users could enter numbers at the same time.
Re:System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals n... by reaperducer on Tuesday August 31, 2021 @05:33PM (#28373980)
They could do what Apple did 20 years ago: Make them modular.

You used to be able to pop the trackball out from the right side of the keyboard area, slide the keys to the right, and then re-insert the trackball into the left side.

Do the same with a num pad, instead of a trackball. And for people who don't want the num pad, make available half-width blank inserts to occupy the space on both sides.

Re:System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals n... by CRConrad on Thursday September 02, 2021 @03:58PM (#28396627)
IIRC that original Macintosh Portable even had a numpad as an alternative to the trackball, to go on whichever side you wanted (and presumably you'd connect a mouse to use in stead of the trackball).
Re:System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals n... by smegger001 on Tuesday August 31, 2021 @04:54PM (#28373521)
i wonder if splitting the alphabet portion of the keyboard down the middle and putting the numpad in between would work. It would look like some unholy abomination but may be more ergonmoic
Re:System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals n... by bartvk on Tuesday August 31, 2021 @05:33PM (#28373974)
I actually have this setup on my desk. Meaning, I have a Kinesis Freestyle 2 (split keyboard) and in between, there’s an Apple trackpad.