Kensington brings that portable keyboard feel to your desktop

I'm dumbfounded that nobody has developed a sleek wireless aluminum keyboard that would fit right in with a G5 setup (???) If somebody would take a backlit powerbook keyboard and slip it into a shallow minimalist aluminum frame (maybe with white plastic accents along the sides like the Apple Cinema displays), they'd make a mint. The Logitech DiNovo is sleek, but that metallic blue color they use doesn't match a goshdarned thing.

I do like the PowerBook type keyboards. But really, who doesn't miss their Apple Extended Keyboard. Yes it's noisy and clunky, but it feels so good!!! I've been dying for a remake for a long time... and I've found it! The Matias Tactile Pro (http://matias.ca/tactilepro/). Admittedly it makes a lot of noise, but I've never typed so fast in my life. The only draw backs are that it's white (I would have loved a black version) and that it has a few annoying phantom key (like the right command-shift-delete won't work, but heh the left one works). It's really the best keyboard I've owned since a long time.

Jim G,

Thanks for your comments!

I guess the lack of a numeric keypad is the price to pay for a portable keyboard.

One question for you, I understand that there seem to be two different versions, one using AA batteries and the newer version which uses AAA batteries.

Which do you have?

Thanks a again.

32. Speaking to those who commented on wanting wirless keyboard options, have you considered the ThinkOutside Stowaway Universal Bluetooth Keyboard?

I've no experience with this product, but I'm considering getting one to use with my Nokia S60 phone and quite possibly with my Macs.

It seems to have the scissor action, but I can't confirm this.

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I have one of these Stowaway keyboards and it too has a fantastic feel to it. Added bonus, it folds up in thirds. Biggest negative: no numeric kep pad.

I bought it for use with my PDA and have never regretted it. I've even been tempted to use it with my Mac, but I really want the numeric keypad and other extra keys when at the desktop at home.

A bit pricey but you get what you pay for. Feel like a full-sized keyboard; indeed, it feels similar to this Kensington keyboard that we're discusssing.

Speaking to those who commented on wanting wirless keyboard options, have you considered the ThinkOutside Stowaway Universal Bluetooth Keyboard?

I've no experience with this product, but I'm considering getting one to use with my Nokia S60 phone and quite possibly with my Macs.

It seems to have the scissor action, but I can't confirm this.

I love the kensington's feel and performance. Think the best possible laptop keyboard feel and you're there.

The bad: There is no Intel-Mac driver so some of the "iTunes" special keys don't work. The keyboard does, however, work like a champ with the Intel-Mac, just not a few of the special multi-media buttons.

Pause/Play, next track, previous track: don't work on Intel

volume down, volume up, mute, eject: DO work on Intel

But I do love this keyboard and would gladly buy another if something happened to it.

Super dirty? Is that to say it gets dirtier, or get dirty easier than the pro keyboard? From what I have experienced, the pro gets pretty dirty also. I'm not looking for an improvement, but I certainly wouldn't like a downgrade....

I was more concerned about a trackpad like option and found it with the Adesso it was a hundred from micro center but made me no longer miss the powerbooks trackpad on my iMac...

The Icekey does get SUPER dirty -- that's one of the reasons why I wanted to try something else. Plus it feels kind of cheap, and it really looked it after a couple years of use.

Fishes,
narco.

What is the life line for the icekey like? Does it hold up pretty well, and how dirty does it get/how easy is it to clean?

The thing that kills me about my apple pro keyboard is it's ability to collect dust like no other, though I will admit, it holds up pretty well to all my abuse.