Home

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Intolerable design defect

Written by TB from LITTLETON

Aug 16, 2007

I had great hopes for this keyboard. I played with it at the Apple store, and even though it was not what I would call an excellent keyboard by any means, it was better than most of the keyboards that you can buy these days, most of which are horrible in comparison to the typical keyboards of the decades past.

This keyboard has one significant design flaw, and one design defect. The design flaw is that the top surface of the keys is too flat to permit you to sense whether your fingers are centered on the keys. There is a reason why the top surface of the keys is concave on most keyboards. The only reason why this unbiquitous practice was skipped on many notebook computers, is because flatter keys mean a skinnier notebook.

The design defect is that the space key does not register the way that it should. With any keyboard or keypad, if you press the key just to the point where you have exceeded the force required to cause the key to "give", and you feel the discrete transition within the key, i.e., the "click", the key should register, without exception. If you feel the click, the key should register, each and every time, with no exceptions. The space bar on this keyboard does not do this, and that is why I am going to take it back to the store either today or tomorrow. For anyone who doubts what I am saying, the way to test whether this is true, is to gently press on the space bar just to where you feel it give, and no further. If you do this, you will find that if you are gentle enough, that even though you get the sensation of having pressed the key, that the keystroke does not register. No keyboard should work this way, and as far as I am concerned, this is a design defect. In any case, I can't tolerate it, because I can't stand having to continually go back and insert spaces where they were missed.

Aesthetically, this keyboard is beautiful, and I've never said that about any keyboard before. It would never have occurred to me to think of a keyboard as a piece of sculpture. But sculpture is exactly what this keyboard is. So the question becomes, whether it is better to type on a piece of sculpture, or on a keyboard for which function was the only significant design consideration.

Apple has become an enigma of sorts in recent years. More and more, Apple's products seem to be driven more by style and aesthetics than by function. The new iMac is beautiful to look at, and it is probably the best value of any Apple computer in perhaps twenty-five years, in terms of the hardware that you get relative to the price. Unfortunately, the iMac and its monitor are an integrated unit, and the monitor that you get with the new iMac, has a reflective front surface. Glossy monitors have strong show-room appeal, but I can't fathom that anyone who anticipates working in front of a computer day in and day out, would be in favor of the idea of having the constant reflections of the ceiling lights.

While writing this, I would estimate that the space key has missed perhaps two dozen times. That's way too much. There is a used computer store a few miles from here, and I think that I will drop by there today and see if they have any good used keyboards.

268 of 392 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

USB Does Not Work

Written by DB from Brooklyn

Nov 20, 2007

This keyboard looks great and functions well, but only as a keyboard. I used the USB ports on my old Pro keyboard all the time (because they actually supported 500mA devices). This new keyboard only supports 100mA devices. No iPods, no flash drives unless you have an alum (2007+) imac... I do not. This huge functional constraint forces me not to recommend this product unless you have the hardware to support it.

89 of 111 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Does not work with Macbook Pro!

Written by EC from Ventura

Nov 16, 2007

I ordered one of these so I could have a full sized keyboard layout for use with 3D modeling software but when I received it, installed the required software update and tryed to use it my computer had a kernel panic and needed to be rebooted before doing anything else. Once rebooted the keyboard either wouldn't register keystrokes or would just act as though I were holding down a key until I unplugged the USB cable. Plugging the keyboard back in would then cause another kernel panic and reboot.

Apple Support walked me through clearing the battery cache and several other vague attempts before giving up and trying to ship me a new one. They claimed it was a hardware conflict and a new one would solve the problem. The problem with that is they don't know the Product Number as their internal numbering system doesn't match any numbers on the keyboard or packaging. Finally they gave up on a normal exchange and just ordered me a new one from the Apple Store.

I received the replacement the very next day and have the SAME EXACT ISSUES. There is apparently no way to get this keyboard to work with my year old Macbook Pro.

89 of 147 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

I can't believe this is only keyboard offered

Written by SS from ARCADIA

Jan 23, 2008

I'm a high volume/speed typist and this keyboard has cut my typing speed in half. Too much time correcting errors. And this style is the only thing on the Apple website and it is terrible. After market alternatives do not meet the criteria that high-volume typists want: Soft but quiet click and a decent travel distance. Very disappointing.

67 of 108 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Keys are flat and slippery

Written by SK from Austin

Nov 23, 2009

I work on a computer almost 8 hours a day, and do extensive typing. This keyboard seems cool and satisfies me for a couple of days. However, the practicality is doubtful at best. The keys are flat, and hence, while doing fast typing my fingers often slip and press wrong keys.

Also, the white keys are easily stained. For that reason, I cannot return this product now, and I am using it as a 2-port USB hub. I am very satisfied with a much cheaper other-brand simple keyboard.

40 of 55 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Don't buy this!

Written by FC from Singapore

Oct 24, 2007

I was a 100% Mac addict until this product hit me. It's beautiful, hip and that was what I fell for until I tried using it. Typing on it feels like running a marathon on tarmac barefoot.

I'm not a keyboard pounder, I would rate myself a light to average finger-weight typist but still l I had to stop using it after less than 10 minutes. That is not a good thing. There's very little cushioning in the keys and even less depth for rebound.

The other problem I found was that it's additional USB ports, though very helpful, did not have enough design height to allow my very average USB memory stick to dock! Not good again.

After three days of trying to live with this beautiful thing, I had to go out and buy another keyboard. Try the Kensington Slimtype keyboard. It's reasonably priced and works well.

This keyboard gets no star from me if this review program allows me to choose this option but I can't post this review if I don't choose a star.

40 of 55 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Unusable for Older People

Written by PF from Fairfax

Nov 10, 2009

When you get older you tend to develop a hand tremor. The old keyboard anchored the fingers and did not interfere with typing. The new keyboard design causes my fingers to slide from key to adjacent key, requiring lengthy editing and enormous frustration. It is incredible to me that Apple's great design staff did not do its market research with the older population. Everyone who buys computers is not under 50. Apple should have made its old keyboard available to those who need it. I had to spend another $79.95 to buy a Logitech wireless keyboard that still featured raised keys.

39 of 55 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Nice looks, horrible to use

Written by PG from Norman

Dec 8, 2007

I want to preface this by stating I normally love all of apple's products, their great keyboards and mice especially. However this thing really put its form over function. I got this keyboard with high hopes but it is really terrible to use. It is in no way adjustable in any way. The keys are totally smooth top with no curve for your fingers, so I found myself sliding off the keys a lot while typing. I easily type 100wpm on a good keyboard and I found this one very hard to use without looking at it all the time to make sure my fingers were where they should be. There is very little travel on the keys themselves, you don't push down on a key, you just touch it and it types a letter. It's like using a bad laptop keyboard, I found myself hitting the keys and just getting a thud way too soon. I know many people like that, but those people that love full travel keys will hate this keyboard. The best apple keyboard in my opinion is the old black key pro keyboard they shipped with G4 Powermacs, I still use that to this day on all my macs after trying this new one out.

The lack of any adjustments, no curve on the keys for your fingers, and the small travel of the key mimicking a laptop keyboard are 3 issues that can't be overlooked if you do a lot of typing daily. Find yourself an old apple keyboard or go with a different brand.

41 of 59 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Uhg, not a fan!

Written by LA from East Fallowfield

Nov 24, 2008

We have had the new keyboards at work for some time now, and I would say about 85% of us do not like them at all. It is incredibly uncomfortable to type on, the keys are flat instead of curved like a MacBook and I am constantly missing the space bar and some letters while typing. It's also hard to keep clean, since dust and debris can easily get in behind the keys. They are cool looking, but completely impractical.

45 of 73 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Truly Disappointed

Written by LP from Natick

Apr 8, 2008

Oh my gosh… HELP!! I have been typing for well over 30 years and this new keyboard has put me into a state of complete stress. I agree that visually this is a great looking keyboard but honestly my self-esteem is in jeopardy from all the errors I’m experiencing!! I had to go back at least 9 times in the first sentence alone because of mistakes I made from the keyboard. There seems to be no consistency to the way the keys react to the touch. F1 – F4 used to be my favorite keys for the type of work I do… (lots of cutting, copying and pasting) now I have to hit command c then command v to copy and paste. Not a clean flow. I know about the fn key but that still requires a stop and search move. Physically, I’m experiencing serious cramping and pain related issues in my fingers and hands. I LOVE my new iMAC but pray there’s another keyboard I can switch to. Any thoughts?

30 of 43 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Please are all of you kids?

Written by MC

May 5, 2008

Is everyone posting on this board a kid who uses a blackberry or something?

Look, the guy that designed the keyboard probably won an award, it's beautiful.

But for anyone who 'touch types'. It's horrible. It's like typing on a huge calculator keypad. Old typewriters and YES the evil PC keyboard was designed the way it is for a reason; it's the most comfortable to type on.

Try typing on this thing for a day or week and you will end up with carpal tunnel syndrome fast! My boss bought me a new keyboard AND mouse by the way...the minute he saw the keyboard. I work for an ad agency and I type ALL day. I can't type on this thing!

But yes....it's beautiful! Is Apple going to keep it around like that little round mouse they had on the original Imac that was soo horrible and uncomfortable; just to prove some point? No one liked the round mouse either.

56 of 96 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

poor quality, nice design

Written by BK from MÜNCHEN

Jul 17, 2008

A beautiful design and it looks impressive on your desk. However, this is not a keyboard for serious work. you can push down a key beyond the touch point without seeing a response. This is unacceptable for a professional user. Especially the return key is a design error.
if you hit this key on its vertical part or a bit off center you often see no response.
The keyboard I bought also had one faulty key ("3") with a wobbling response, an unprecise touch point.
Although I got used to the exrtremely short key hubs, a keyboard with short hub needs to have a precise, reliable touch point, and this keyboard is not precise enough. If you are trained and type fast, you will get annoyed very soon.

32 of 50 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

IMac Keyboard

Written by DO from Beverly

Apr 3, 2008

Fantastic looking keyboard .. slim, matches silver color, 2 USB ... all good, but lousy in typing. Space bar is hard to press ... must be press just the right angle. I make too many errors in general. Feels like typing notebook keyboard.

52 of 90 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Appearance won out over ergonomics

Written by CB from Vernon

Apr 4, 2008

This keyboard is attractive. Unfortunately that is the only positive thing I have to say. It was obviously designed with appearance in mind and no regard to ergonomics or usability. You have to tilt your wrists up in order to use the keyboard because it is so thin, leading to wrist pain. And the keys are so shallow in depth, that they are difficult to press and lead to strained fingers. If you are prone to wrist pain, and need to do a lot of typing I would pass on this keyboard.

24 of 35 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

New Keyboard

Written by JM from Atlanta

May 1, 2008

I dislike the new keyboard. It is fine aesthetically, but not ergonomically. It is too low, it slides too easily. It hurts my wrists and my fingers to use it. It is not for someone who writes all day. I think it would be fine for a child's hands but not for a grown person's hands--at least not mine. The old keyboard was better. I am replacing this with an ergonomic model.

41 of 70 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Was loving it until...

Written by CM from Nanaimo

Nov 24, 2009

Although it looks great, I was against this keyboard for a long time. I picked one up anyways and once I got used to it I fell in love with it. However, after only 4 months it started going haywire and causing glitches in programs before completely shutting down. I thought it was my iMac that was dying because I couldn't see how a keyboard could cause so many frightening problems (screen flashes, apps randomly opening and closing, full freezing...). Thankfully, I switched back to the old white plastic keyboard and everything worked fine. Needless to say, I am taking this back. Hopefully, I can find the receipt and swap it out. I am on the fence about replacing it otherwise. Maybe I just got a bunk one. In any case, I am disappointed.

30 of 49 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

The worst keyboard I ever used

Written by LZ from Los Angeles

Aug 30, 2008

While the design is sleek and trim looking, it is andexample of form over function. The result is a keyword that is just plain awful. It's like the keyboard from a cheap laptop from a company you never heard of. The Apple keyboard it replaced was much, much better. The product managers at Apple must have decided that it was better to have a cool looking keyboard than one that incorporated basic principles of ergomonic design. And to be honest, the more you look at it the more it just looks like a cheap piece of hardware.

If you look at most well-designed keyboards you will see that each individual key is slightly concave so your fingers settle into the keys. You will also notice the keyboard itself has a gentle curve as the keyboard rises toward the back. Not this one. It is not easy to type on and you end up making more typos. I really hope Apple replaces this with a keyboard that is designed to please the human body not just the human eye.

40 of 69 people found this useful

Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Style over substance

Written by AC from London

Oct 20, 2007

Wish I hadn't bought it. 1 week old and already the caps lock is dodgy - and it's the only key that lights up. I can see lots of dirt getting into the keys - gaps too big. Spend more money on practicalities and less on making it shiny. When are you going to make an ergonomic keyboard? What about adding ambient light to the keys? Oh, one other thing, you have to download the keyboard software to make the function keys work and if you have a powerbook like me the volume keys etc.. don't work any more. Great

21 of 33 people found this useful