Reviews for Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad - English (USA)

The worst thing about a laptop is the keyboard, so why make a keyboard that isn't part of a laptop just like a laptop keyboard. Makes no sense!!! Sure, some people will love it because of the look. The look is not as important as the feel. Some people will love it because they do very little typing; just push a button here and there. For serious typing the keyboard needs to be bigger, tilted, and responsive with some sense of where your fingers are on the keyboard just like the previous generation Apple keyboard. That feeling is missing on this keyboard because of its smallness, flatness, and far too slippery keys. Do you get the idea I don't like it? Your mileage may vary.

I have to say that I purchased this keyboard in October 2007 and suddenly last week, the "U" key stopped working.
After calling Apple's assistance in Portugal, where I am, running some tests they've assigned me to confirm the malfunction and after taking it to an Apple's registered technician I had the response that it was not the key it is the keyboard!
As my warranty expired 4 months ago they told me that I have to buy a new one!

It is the first time in my years with computers and of being very fond of Apple's products, that I see a keyboard which is no longer useful after 2 years because one letter is not working.
As I am very careful with my iMac and gadgets , it is obvious for me that this hardware is not made to last at least for a while, when it is something meant to be used on a daily basis, and it makes me wonder if Apple did not put Design and beauty ahead of the quality and resistance of this product .

I got this keyboard with the iMac I bought. I do not type much on it because I am not home very often. I do not eat, drink or smoke in front of the computer. Then after a year and 2 or 3 weeks the 'v' key started to require hard pressing in order to get the 'v' on the screen. Now being a fix-all-you-can type IT guy, I tried to open it to try to clean it. You cannot, unless you break the keyboard. Big disappointment, a disposable keyboard at a not-disposable price.

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.

One look at this keyboard (vb) and it's pretty clear it's mainly about visual design.

I'm an architect and commercial interior designer, so for me - and especially in my office, visual design is VERY important. I will say that this is by far the best LOOKING kb I've ever seen or imagined; I'd actually hoped for something like this for years.

Unfortunately it doesn't work!

It's problems:

1.) I noticed misspellings and a lot of word running together due to lack of space between them whenever I use this kb. I mentioned it and my wife said she was frustrated by the same thing (a renowned medical research scientist, she's been typing for decades). We've both been typing many years in fact w/out experiencing such a thing. (Misspellings were from missing letters, I never recall having had that with any other keyboard I've used)

2.) The F-key keys don't follow the apple OS! Mostly I've noticed the problems are w/ the Expose' & Spaces; keys: F9 & 11, and F8 respectively. They don't follow what's given in the System Preferences > Keyboard & mouse, which has been std. since I started using OS X w/ the expose' function. I'm not on the beautiful aluminum KB right now because I've had to plug in an old KB from an iMac G4 Graphite to make things normal, but recall other irregularities w/ the F-keys that escape me now.
You can make it behave by finding and holding the "fn" key along w/ the desired F-key, but what a hassle. I don't know about you, but I use both expose' functions constantly to find things on my desktop, and now spaces more and more since installing Leopard.

How could apple make a KB that doesn't work w/ the OS that comes with the computer? (Note: you can make it function normally for expose' & spaces by resetting things in System Prefs., but you then loose the volume and mute keys, and I think other things printed on the keys of this otherwise fantastic looking KB's F-keys).

Visual design credit is certainly due: Along with my 20" iMac and Herman Miller Eames Aluminum chair, this keyboard is, visually among the neatest commercially objects in my work space -or was, now it's up in my 10 year old's room on her mac because of the problems.

I've had it 18 months. All the reviews I've read here are from people who just started using it around the time they wrote.

Without doubt, it's a brilliant and beautiful design - can't wait 'till they fix it so it works! I REALLY love the aesthetics of it, everyone does.

Although, this is a nice keyboard, the keys are too small plus there is no wrist rest for this keyboard. It defies all the laws of ergonomics. Thanks to the keyboard, I now have carpel tunnel(ouch!)

hate it hate it!!! very pretty but i can't feel where the keys are.
hate it. stupid. it is supposed to be an input device, not an object d'art
we should at least have a choice. 6,000 worth of workstation and a keyboard i can't type on without making mistakes!!!!!!!!!!!! BAH BAH
YUK

This keyboard is very stylish but lacking a bit on the practical side.

1. I find it difficult to feel where my hands are on the keyboard since the keys are flat. This leads to many cases where I try to press one key and end up pressing 2 to 3 keys instead.

2. The keys have a soft feel which is ergonomical but this (for me) leads to many miss-pressed keys since it is extremely easy (especially with the flatness of the keys) to trigger a key if your finger is not centered on the key you want to press.

3. The keyboard has a low profile which some people might like but I am used to a little more height. This is also one of the very very few keyboards in existence that does not allow you to adjust the angle that it sits on the table (I'm doing this instead with a thin textbook)

The combination of the above (be they design flaws or personal preferences) has reduced my typing speed from a healthy 95 down to about 55-60 on average. I will officially ditch the keyboard as soon my new unicomp spacesaver comes in (which is comparable in price and far better for my particular style of typing, too bad its ugly).

I lOVED the look and feel of this keyboard, and fully need the extension for the numeric keypad. But I am not at all alone (see Mac Forums), in learning that this keyboard means that NONE of the other USB ports have enough power to function. Hub fails, card reader fails, iPhone wont sync (worse, it connects to iPhone and screws it up). The ports on the keyboard suffer the same. Not everyone has experienced this, but enough have, and enough Apple employees hare aware, that I waited for a firmware correction. None. Save your receipt and make sure it works before keeping!