The one thing keeping me from buying a 17in. notebook is the lack of a full keyboard with numeric keypad. I really don't want to lug around an external keypad. I already lug around a trackball with our PC notebooks and would do the same with a Mac. Every single one of our desktop Macs has a full keyboard in place of the stock shorty. It's a shame, really.
I would have to agree here. I can't remember the last time I even touched the numeric keypad even though I have access to one. OP, I think only a minority of users would want a numeric keypad...
I sure don't. I'd rather it got out of the way and left more room for the mouse, which I use with my right hand. If there were a USB version of Apple's mini bluetooth keyboard, that would be perfect for my needs.
I have been programming for 10+ years, I have a full keyboard on the desk, and I can honestly say that I have used the numeric keypad maybe a dozen times in that whole time. If you're an accountant, it may be a different story, but for programming... it might as well not exist as far as I'm concerned.
I agree with the above comments saying that a minority would want it, but I seem to use the numeric keypad all the time as a programmer or calculating pixels when I'm doing layout work. I really disliked the minimal keyboard that came with my 27" quad core iMac, so I took the free upgrade. Its unfortunate you can't do that with a notebook.
If you're like me, half the time (at the very minimal), you'll be using your laptop at home on a desk. Personally I use the bluetooth apple wireless keyboard (exact size as the laptop keyboard with no numpad) BUT I also own the full size keyboard from apple. You should shell out for some money on this if it helps you do work and when you're on the go, it's unlikely you'll be actively needing the numpad.
But seriously, I use the numeric keypad myself, especially when entering strings of numbers. Any touch-typist would have learnt how to use the numeric keypad.
I've been touch-typing since... um... some time in the late '80s, and I never learned to use the numeric keypad. Did a stint as a copy editor / layout monkey, too.
