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Apple Keyboard

Apple's Wire less Keyboard and my iMac 3.GHz

Written by WS from Edmonton

24-Nov-2009

Operating a audio recording business the new iMac 3.0.6GHz is a huge improvement compared to our PowerMacs.

However the wireless keyboard that is supplied is useless for me.

It has no number pad which is essential in the many special hot key setups in midi/audio programmes and video production programmes.

For example, when recording in Cubase 5 or Digital Performer 7 hitting the number one key from the number pad rolls the music back to the very beginning.

I had to immediately buy the regular keyboard.

It could be the keyboard to have if one was just surfing the net or playing some simple games.

5 of 31 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

"Apple of my heart"

Written by AH from Marrero

14-Nov-2009

I recently purchased a brand new 20" iMac. Only to be disappointed by the recent release of the newer LED display iMacs. Initially I thought to myself, I'll just upgrade the keyboard to the wireless one, and I'll swap out my wired mouse for the new, hipper magic mouse. As far as the display goes, I plan on having a multiple monitor set up anyway, eventually purchasing Apple's 30" HD cinema display.

Some of you by this time might be thinking, " What does all of this have to do with giving this wired, soon to be discontinued keyboard, a five star rating? " Well I'm getting to that, you see the first purchase I made in my quest to upgrade my iMac was the wireless keyboard. At the time I placed my order through Apple, the keyboard was being shipped in 7-14 business days, approximately. During this time I had been extremely productive with my iMac. Allowing me to put my wired keyboard through it's paces. In doing so, I found myself being very satisfied with the function and simplicity of my wired keyboard. On my desk, I have a sliding keyboard drawer that neatly hides the wire that connects both display and keyboard to one another. Leaving me with an aesthetically clean work space. I also realized, although a cool piece of ingenuity, I really have no need for a wireless keyboard. Since I currently have a desktop setup only, I don't foresee myself doing any type of productivity away from my desk, making the wireless function, of my potentially new keyboard, simply a non issue. So on about day seven or eight I checked the status of my order to see if Apple had mailed my new keyboard. To my amazement, they had not. I immediately cancelled my order and with ease, a full refund had been issued within days. Leaving me very content knowing I had not forked over more money on something I currently have no use for. If you remember, I did consider this purchase based on the disappointment I had after the release of the new LED display iMacs. Sure it would have been nice to have waited a bit longer to purchase an iMac, in order to own Apple's fastest iMac to date. But after doing some research on all types of reviews and forums on the newer iMacs, I've come to conclude that the upgrades made to Apple's iMacs are marginal at best. The only real significant upgrade is in the display's size and LED technology. Since I intend on having a multi monitor setup, a 30" HD cinema display will soon make me forget about what I might have had if only I had waited a bit longer to drop my hard earned cash on Apple's, what i thought at the time, newest iMac. I suppose technically it was the latest edition of iMacs available. But come on, it had been exactly 32 days after my purchase of the iMac when it was announced that Apple had released a newer, faster, redesigned, reconfigured iMac.

Anyway, all of that is in the past and I'm an Apple user for life. No matter what short comings some of their products might have, most of them exceed in performance and function compared to what PCs offer. Don't forget, there's always Apple Care. For me it's a no brainer, purchase all of your Mac products along with a protection plan. That way, if for some remote chance one of your purchases fail, in either form or function, there is always a rescue net, in the form of Apple Care, to catch all of your worries of figuring out how to repair or ultimately finding the cash to replace that in which you hold so close and dear to your heart, all of your apples.

Bottom line, KEEP YOUR WIRED KEYBOARD! get a new desk.

19 of 25 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

Mac computers GREAT! Mac keyboards not so much.

Written by JV from tuscaloosa

13-Nov-2009

I love Mac computers and will never use anything else. The keyboards on the other hand need much improvement. I had the standard keyboard for my Mac when i purchased it a couple of years ago, loved it until it died almost a year later. I then purchased the newer keyboard thats standard with the Mac now 3 months ago. Loved it, until random keys stopped working. I dont know if its just my bad luck or what, but i wont be buying another Mac KB again. The design and ergonomics is great but long lasting is it not. Hopefully the engineers behind the Mac will one day take over the making of the Apple KB. Until then its MS KB for me unfortunately.

14 of 28 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

Found something new

Written by CM from SAINT LOUIS

12-Nov-2009

Okay, so I've had my MAC for an entire month and I just found the USB plugs on either side of this incredible key board. Honestly, when we first got our Mac, I thought I was going to replace the keyboard, but I think it is fine. Only think I miss is the accounting pad, but not enough to go an purchase a new one. If there is a fault, so far I haven't found one.

6 of 6 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

tiny keyboard

Written by AL from trenton

11-Nov-2009

This keyboard was designed to look cool on someone's desk and was not made for daily use. Because of its small size it slides forward when you really start typing. Perhaps it was designed by/ for someone with small hands. Although, it is clear that it came from the same parts bin of the the MacBook!

1 of 9 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

Terrible!

Written by JK from irvine

11-Nov-2009

The buttons feel horrible, they feel like they don't press when you press them, also my fingers slip off the keys when i'm working in photoshop holding multiple keys, and the arrow keys are so tiny they are a pain to press. I hate this keyboard, I love the older whit apple keyboard though.

4 of 12 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

Arithmophobic Dream!

Written by SC from Tallahassee

28-Oct-2009

Does your fear of numbers keep you away from the computer? Does even a passing glance at a number pad make your palms sweat? Well, Apple has the keyboard for you! In it's never-ending struggle to eliminate buttons, keys, and switches from consumer products, Apple has finally delivered the coup de grâce to the venerable keyboard, lopping off a full 35 keys (and over 5"!) from your favorite text entry device. Finally, the abominable number pad, tacked recklessly to the end of the Mac Plus keyboard in 1986, has been laid to rest. Retro is the new chic, and number entry is for squares.

15 of 19 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

good stuff

Written by GM from metairie

26-Oct-2009

I have this keyboard and its beter than the windows keyboard.

10 of 21 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

Major disappointment for a desktop computer

Written by AA from Tucson

25-Oct-2009

I purchased an IMac in a military exchange am greatly disappointed with the lack of the 10 key number pad. The standard keyboard configuration for the IMac omits this function. I could better understand Apple’s logic if it was a laptop where space is critical, but for a desktop where office work will take place? Buyers beware! To get the 10 key number pad you must go through the online or an Apple store. It looks like this was more of an Apple fiscal decision then a user friendly or applicability decision. To close on the positive side; I do like the short throw and clean look, and having USB ports on each end under the keyboard is a nice design touch.

7 of 52 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

Great size, lousy action

Written by JW from San Jose

22-Oct-2009

This is the keyboard I've been waiting for since the 1998 switch to USB with the iMac. 20 years ago, I made a point of using the IIgs keyboard with my SE/30 because I hated big keyboards.

The size and weight of the new keyboard is wonderful. But after trying it for an hour, I put it back in the box where it sits unused.

I was (and am still) using a purple iMac keyboard which allows me to type 80+ wpm. The new keyboard is mushy (short throw) and probably 30% slower in terms of peak speed.

I love short keyboards so much that I was probably the only Mac owner to buy the PFU keyboard, which is a fast full throw keyboard that has a clever solution to the missing arrow and function keys. (However, the Control, "|" and "~| keys are in the wrong place.)

So either this keyboard or the PFU are suitable for my 2nd Mac on my desk, but not as my primary keyboard at home or on the road.

8 of 22 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

New, Smaller Keyboard

Written by TS from Spanish Fork

22-Oct-2009

I replaced my 3-year old 20" iMac and bought the new 20" iMac
in late September and tried out the included newly designed and
significantly smaller keyboard. For a living I type a great deal;
maybe it's my hands, I don't know but in my attempts to use the
board my hands tended to run into each other. Further, I missed
numeric pad, off to the side, as it's handier and automatic for me
to use; I don't have to 'find' the numbers aligned across the top
row.

After 3-weeks I bought the newer, optional, metal keyboard with
the traditional board layout. I've stored the smaller should I need
it but I rather spend the extra $49. than to deal with the much
smaller board.

12 of 23 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

Good Compact Keyboard (IF you like short throw key action)

Written by PW from GENTILLY

20-Oct-2009

This is a good compact keyboard that is useful where you have limited deskspace. I haven't seen many keyboards that are this compact. I have begun to use this as a travelling keyboard alternating between my wireless (as the extra USB ports are sometimes useful).

You should also consider this keyboard if you happen to like the keyboard touch of a laptop keyboard (namely, apple laptop keyboards).

If however, you are particularly averse to the Apple keyboard touch, then this is not the product for you. Additionally, if you need the numeric keypad for work, then also I would rule this product out.

All things being equal however, this is a great alternative to the wireless keyboard, being about the same size and weight, without batteries, and the USB ports.

9 of 12 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

At last

Written by DD from Seattle

20-Oct-2009

This is the product I've been waiting for for years. Desk space is critically important, and I don't know why we've been wasting it with numeric keyboards for so many years (laptops don't have them, and they're almost 3/4 of the Macs sold). I use this with a KVM, and love it.

Only strike against this is that the keys show dirt. Should have been black. (Well, and the goofy function key labels, but I guess that's Apple standard now.)

4 of 5 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

Excellent product, makes me a better and faster typist

Written by DA from Dallas

29-Sep-2009

I love the wireless version of this product, but I felt guilty having to feed it batteries. I wished for months that Apple would come out with a wired version -- and they did!

This keyboard has excellent ergonomics and it has made me a faster and more accurate typist. To all the detractors: if you want a wireless keyboard, buy the wireless version. If you want a keypad, buy the keypad version. Don't write reviews of the WRONG PRODUCT complaining how it's missing the features you want. Duh!

16 of 18 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

This keyboard is a 'design mistake' !

Written by GZ from Wildwood

24-Sep-2009

The material of the keyboard caps is too hard and the shape too flat. Both means, that your fingers always slide beside easily while typing on that keyboard. - That's really annoying, specially if you need to write a lot of texts every day ...

7 of 39 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

I tried, i really did

Written by KH

22-Sep-2009

Maybe its the fact im a born and raised PC power user, maybe its the fact im used to alot of real estate needed for full functionality keyboards, or maybe im just bitter.

The scale of this keyboard when compared to the 24" iMac i bought is hilarious, plays a little David and Goliath sort of thing. But every single day that passes, i miss my numeric keypad and bigger arrow keys.

When i first bought the iMac back about March or so, it was a 21" and came with a Remote and longer keyboard in this style. I was a mere few days shy of the new iMac product launch and opted for a swap for a more powerful model (3D and Imaging work) and was really surprised to see No Remote and a smaller keyboard.
Noticing in Canada that to get the big version is a $79 investment ive been really trying my hardest to come to terms with it.

but in the end, it just doesn't feel right.
Its too small, too clumsily small, i put it on my lap and it sorta falls inbetween my legs, i put it in front of my iMac and the mousepad suddenly has alot more real estate that it will never use, and all sorts of uncomfortable situations later, and i miss the keypad.
Besides, having Page Up, as Fn+Up and Home as Fn + Left is extremely awkward, and as a coder, im just used to bigger keyboards.

I am however extremely dissapointed that this is the only model that is wireless, thats just selfish.

On a positive note though, the typing feels like nothing ive ever felt before. A true responsive futuristic feel, so in essence, the keyboard itself is awesome, but the iMac should have come with the bigger version, making this style "optional" instead of the other way around.

16 of 35 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

nice keyboard

Written by TS from Columbus

20-Sep-2009

I enjoy reading the reviews on these small keyboards, just like the wireless small ones, here we go again with the people that buy these, and dont bother to look at the pics, or read the information about not having the number pad, DAH, it's clearly marked! and me personally love the small boards, I like them better than the full size ones, so read before you buy, then you wont have to gripe about apple products.

6 of 7 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard

Great keyboard

Written by DC from mexico

19-Sep-2009

I got this excelent keybord yesterday for my birthday, a month ago my parents bought me the new macbook, i was using a samsung keyboard, but it wasn't as cool as this, some people complain about the lack of numeric pad, i really hate math, im a designer so i don't care lol. When you see it on your desktop you ask i'm i gonna be able to type on it? The answer is yes, you will, is so confortable and easy to use that you will inmediatly fall in love with it. Thanks for my birthday present mom, dad and sis.

5 of 5 people found this useful