A laptop keyboard is an input device used with a laptop computer. Just like a keyboard for a desktop computer or a typewriter, the keys are used to type individual symbols. A standard laptop keyboard has a flat design attached to the bottom of the monitor and can feature different arrangements of keys and symbols. Most laptop keyboards condense multiple symbols into fewer buttons to accommodate less space.
Laptop keyboards do not have a traditional computer mouse.
Used for typing text, a typical laptop keyboard features a full alphanumeric set of symbols. These keyboards have letters A through Z and numbers 0 through 9 in the common QWERTY layout, named for the first six letters in the top row of the alphabetic layout. These keyboards also come with the space bar, shift keys, and enter and delete keys common to typing keyboards. Escape keys and 10-12 specialized F keys are also common.
A QWERTY laptop keyboard.
Laptop keyboards differ from most desktop keyboards in that they condense the buttons to save space and make them a smaller product. A second set of numbers, usually found on the right side of the keyboard, is usually omitted on a laptop keyboard. Other keys are often combined in sets with a letter or number symbol and used via the shift command.
Many buttons are combined on the laptop keyboard that can usually be found anywhere else on a desktop computer. The power buttons, volume control buttons, mute buttons, and controls for multimedia programs can be found on the laptop’s keyboard. Other keys found on many newer laptops include the Windows Start key, the Page Up and Page Down keys, the Insert key, and the Print key. These keys add extra utility to a keyboard with limited space compared to the average PC.
Unlike desktop keyboards, laptop keyboards don’t have a traditional computer mouse. Many laptop keyboards have a scroll pad for on-screen arrow control. This fingertip sensitive pad will move the arrow along with light finger movements on the pad. Along with the pad are the left and right click buttons commonly found on the mouse. A page scroller, usually located between the left and right click buttons on the mouse, can usually be found on either side of the fingertip pad.
Laptop keyboard accessories can be purchased for most laptop keyboards. Among the most popular are wireless mice, which can be synced with the computer for those more familiar with mouse scrolling. You can also buy mouse pads, disks, memory cards, and USB cables for laptop keyboards. These accessories can often access the built-in ports on the sides of the keyboard.
A laptop keyboard is typically more compact, with the keys closer together than a traditional keyboard.
