Keyboards w/ Just the Numeric Keypad?

turpie asks: "Does anyone know if its possible to get "number pad only" keyboards, I'm thinking of using one for controlling an in-car MP3 player. I know that years ago Apple sold them for Macs, but for this project I'd be after PS/2. Then again can anybody suggest an alternative for controlling an MP3 player." I must say I've never seen such an animal before, but it does make a strange sort of sense. Has anyone sighted such a critter and can give turpie a point in the right direction?

Here are some sites

[Jason W]

Numeric keypads are fairly common, especially in school settings and accounting firms. My teacher has one for his laptop that lets him enter scores faster. One of the nice things about separate numeric keypads is that a lot of them come with styling and contours that are a lot easier on the wrists than the standard keypads.

Anyway, here are some links:

Genovation, Inc. numeric keypads [genovation.com]
A long list from CNet [cnet.com] (as low as $9!)
One of the most compact I've seen [cherrycorp.com]
and finally,
Ultra-Cheap numeric keypad from PCConcepts [pcconcepts.com]

Use a Joystick

[Morauder]

I'm using a joystick for this purpose, is works with a xmms plugin, I don't know what hardware you are trying to put in your car, but if there is a notebook or something with serial connections, you can easy install it.

Kinesis

[stype]

Ah, well, I'm sure this is overkill for a car mp3 player, but if you want the absolute best, get the one made by kinesis. I use a kinesis keyboard every day, and they are top quality (and quite expensive). But since their keyboard don't come with an easy to get to numpad, they sell one extra. [kinesis-ergo.com]

SIIG Solution?

[eyepoker]

Hello,

I have a SIIG keyboard that does not have a keypad built into it. This keyboard is VERY small, essentialy equaling the width from the "tilde" to the "backspace" keys on a regular 101.

Here's my point:

This keyboard has what looks like an RJ11 jack in it for plugging in a seperate keypad. I saw both at Incredable Universe a few years ago but only bought the keyboard.

You could hide the little keyboard under your seat and use a regular phone line (assuming that that is what is needed) to go from that to the SIIG keypad that was made to go with it.

Just an Idea, I don't know if SIIG makes them anymore.

Later,
-e

Laptop Keypads

[Anonymous Coward]

These are quite common for laptops. There is no room on a laptop for a numeric keypad, so separate keypads are available for people doing things like spreadsheet work.

Good source

[Roblimo]

This link [pckeyboard.com] will take you to Unicomp, my personal favorite keyboard manufacturer. They sell numerical keypads and all kinds of other neat keyboards - like the 85-key straight-up, heavy-duty IBM keyboard I got from them a little while ago - brand new, for less than old ones go for on eBay. They are the actual manufacturer, so when you call for info you get someone who can actually help you. Prices are decent, too.

You have not done your homework

[Etyenne]

Try searching Google for "PS\/+2 keypad". It return 2757 hits, and a few are revelant on the first page.

X10 and others

[jetson123]

X10.com makes remote controls for controlling a computer as an MP3 jukebox. There are Linux and Windows drivers. There are also several other companies that make remote controls for PCs, many of them for presentations.

Qtronix - Scorpius 22 Keypad

[CFN]

So, this story is hard to find, so I don't know if anyone will ever read this post, but Qtronix makes (made) exactly what you want.
I have one, new, in-box, and if you can't find one elsewhere, you can contact me for some kind of trade.
E mail me at [e-mail]