Reviews for Apple Wireless Keyboard - German

The Apple Wireless Keyboard is just so-so. I was surprised to find Apple does not offer a wireless keyboard with the usual numeric keypad and arrow/cursor keypad. A USB keyboard with those is still available, but they push the wireless model instead, because they offer only four USB ports on the new iMacs. I always miss the ten-key numeric keypad and the cursor keypad. This is a poor design choice.

The other major issue is battery life. To be fair, I've only had to replace the batteries twice in about four months since getting it. The Apple Magic Mouse, by comparison, eats batteries like candy, every week.

I see that another vendor's keyboards, sold by the Apple Store, offer solar power recharge to avoid frequent battery changes. This is a smart design feature that Apple should use.

But the first thing that happened when I went to replace the batteries the second time? The battery cap rolled away and got lost, never to appear again. Because the cap is also the contact for battery power, the keyboard was now useless. I don't find a way to order the cap by itself. I bought a new keyboard, the same model. But surprise! The Mac didn't want to recognize the new keyboard while busy asking for my password...which I couldn't type with the new, unrecognized keyboard. So...aha, the end cap is interchangeable, so I'm using the old keyboard with the new battery cap, but I'd really like an end cap, to have a spare keyboard. I will ask an Apple person about the end caps, and update if that's doable.

Now, seeing the solar option with full keypads, I will likely put the spare, with the missing cap, in for recycling, and buy the other product.

Positives
- Sleek, slim, elegant design
- Small desk footprint
- Wireless
- Great to type on
- Weighty feel, not too light
- High quality parts and construction
- Alt function = media buttons, eject button
Negatives
- NO BACKLIT (Cant see when using for movie/music playback with little to no light situations)
- No USB inputs
- No ability to use keyboard during BIOS/Boot screen, mostly contribution to limitation of bluetooth and overall nature of boot sequence.
- NO PC drivers or support
Main gripes: Not backlit, no PC driver support, lack of functioning until OS boots.

The keys are buttery smooth. Wireless pairing is effortless. The appearance is simple and attractive. It is light weight and strong. BUT...

The battery cap is garbage, it was difficult to thread it correctly. If I leave the batteries in there and don't use it for a week, the batteries leak acid in the compartment and deposit an unpleasant cement-like substance. At last, the poor keyboard could not stand batteries left in it and cemented the dead batteries in the compartment, sealed the battery case shut so that I could not remove them. I even bent a quarter trying to pry it open with a coin and pliers. I ain't buying this again. Like the great GWB said "Huh huh, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

Can't understand why they would sell a wireless keyboard with a desktop computer but... my first complaint was that it didn't have the side number pad. The second was that it operates on a battery that needs to be replaced. But the most annoying is when it just decides not to input what I have typed! The quality of this keyboard is not up to the usual Apple standards.

I like the type-ability of this keyboard but it doesn't have a numeric pad like the USB-wired one does. This is really dumb. i use my keyboard for business and filmic needs and have to have a numeric keypad. I ended up going back to my old wireless one.

Can't understand why there is no full sized wireless keyboard.

This is a decent keyboard. It looks fabulous. I get the design decision to make the iMac all about the display, and the sleek, paired down keyboard enhances the effect. It's responsive, and basically comfortable. HOWEVER:

If you need a 10-key, forget it. This keyboard isn't for you. So, financial types, and those of us creatives who like 10-key for logging time codes, etc. are outta luck.

Not at all ergo. The layout is pretty standard, but the keys are not contoured. It's so slim that the usual keyboard tray with wrist rest is impossible to use. So, it sits on the desktop . . . doesn't take up much real estate, but it's not at all as comfy as a full size keyboard.

Think it's probably fine for home use, but if you sit in front of a machine all day, you'll want a full-size keyboard.

I bought an iPad to use during meetings and therefore bought the keyboard as a more convenient way to take notes, send emails, etc. While the keyboard works in theory, some of the main functions like CTRL+A do not work. I called Apple.com, assuming that there may be a problem with the keyboard and was informed that this is simple a incompatibility issue between the ipad and the keyboard. While i understand the issue at hand, i suppose the fact that they clearly offer this as a compatible accessory to the ipad 2, that it should be just that...fully compatible. Poor representation on their website. I would have bought a keyboard, but not for $70. $70 and 2 batteries should offer me full compatibility...not half way there.

This is a good little keyboard, but I am not sure it belongs on the mac. I have to say I was less then excited about this item mainly because of the lack of 10 key on it. I hated having to replace the batteries all the time since our computer receives heavy use. But I do love to use it when I am typing on my iPad 2 or my iPad mini. All in all its a good little keyboard but when I order my next Mac, I will opt for a wired version of both the mouse and the keyboard.

This is a pretty cool device. I quickly made the purchase, totally overlooking the fact that it doesn't have a charger. It works with AA batteries:(. So, stock up on them batteries! Another drawback for me was that it doesn't have the numeric section like the USB keyboard. I do a lot of financing thingies, and while this shorter keyboard version is cute, it's no bueno for me!