It has a chicklet type keyboard, not the ones you find on previous thinkpads. I like it better than the old ones. Layout-wise, it has the weird layout of the home/insert island, and a stupid positioning of the print screen key. Other than that it's standard qwerty.
As for the trackpad, I'm not a good reviewer. I use the red trackpoint exclusively. My previous laptop (X61t) didn't even have a trackpad. Between the trackpoint and the touch screen, I don't ever use the trackpad.
My wife has a new Lenovo and I despise the stupid annoying keyboard layout because of all you mentioned AND the freaking position of the FN key and that function keys are not anymore function keys.
Want to close a window? Press Fn + Alt + Mute Microphone... WTF?!?!!
At least their ESC key is one of the biggest I've seen, so a big win for viers.
As for the trackpad, I'm not a good reviewer. I use the red trackpoint exclusively. My previous laptop (X61t) didn't even have a trackpad. Between the trackpoint and the touch screen, I don't ever use the trackpad.