[OkGoDoIt]

Could you simply have a keyboard without a num pad and then a separate independent num pad that you place to the left of the keyboard? Both fairly standard items you could get at low cost without having to do anything too crazy and expensive.

[frosted-flakes]

I've tried that, and didn't like it. The separate numpad that I have (it came with a Microsoft Sculpt keyboard) has different keys than the rest of the keyboard and always slid around. I like a nice heavy keyboard with mechanical switches, and I like to move it to suit my seating position, so it's never on the same spot on my desk.