hello all,
I wish I could help others but your questions are so advanced, way beyond me...

I use my laptop to type notes in my college classes, and struggle to enter dates and numbers quickly. I find both the number strip and the hidden numberpad (the one you use by pressing Fn) impossible to enter numbers quickly on. A numeric keypad seems like a good idea, and the only wireless one I've found in my extensive search on Google is the Logitech bluetooth remote media commander. Whatever I end up with doesn't have to be wireless, it just has to be something I can pack away quickly (going through the "safely remove hardware" wizard and then fussing with a USB cable doesn't seem conductive to that end). It's keys also have to survive the inside of my backpack.

Any suggestions?

It would help me to know whether I'd have to use the "safely remove hardware" wizard only with a USB keypad or with a bluetooth pad as well.

I'm looking at alternative imput devices as well, to help me write "India under the __ dynasty 1100-1275 AD" more quickly.