Expand your laptop’s keyboard
YOU’LL NEED THIS
A LAPTOP COMPUTER A mobile phone (optional)
IF YOU WANT A COMPACT LAPTOP, you’ll usually need to compromise by foregoing the numeric keypad on the right. The number keys at the top of the keyboard are a decent stand-in for occasional use, but for anything else, it’s worth adding an external keypad dedicated to digits.
Thankfully, there are plenty of options, including programmable pads and phone apps. You can pick up a good numeric keypad, such as the Targus Numeric Keypad with USB Port Connector (tinyurl.com/54ud9ws7) for less than $25. This has a full complement of numeric and mathematical buttons, as well as Enter, Back, and Tab keys. If you’re doing data entry or spreadsheet work, adding a device like this can be much quicker than using the horizontal number keys above your keyboard.
Microsoft has a more versatile solution in its Number Pad, also costing $25 (tinyurl. com/4bxyvru8). Available in black or white, you can pair it with up to three devices using Bluetooth, and switch between them. It’s powered by a single battery, with a claimed working life of up to 24 months between battery changes. –