I wish Apple would make an ergonomic keyboard. I now use Microsoft Natural Pro with my iMac. It's an excellent board but obviously has an wavy Windows flag.

I bought and used an Adesso keyboard, but to be honsest, it was utter crap.

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The only problem I have with thinking this is real is the function keys. Why in the world would Apple move the volume keys to the ones used by Expose?

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It looks to me like Expose etc might have been moved to F1-4, while a load of media keys (including volume) are F7-12...

That's based on looking at http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/07/imac_brushed_aluminum_keyboard_full.jpg

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I wonder if this is some third-party thing.

Even so, as much as I like my Pro keyboard, I really prefer laptop keys now—the MacBook's keyboard is my favourite by far. If they'd do a nice thin full-sized keyboard (F1-F16, plus volume and eject)—but using MacBook keys, I'd buy it.

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Notice the F keys go up to 19 too!

If you look at http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/07/imac-new-keyboard-big.jpg - is that key in the foreground got a "clock" or "stopwatch" icon on it? Can't really tell..

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clock key might be a time machine button...
If it's fake it's not bad... If its real I like it, i love the way my macbook keyboard types.

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I love my current keyboard, a Matias Tactile Pro, that has very big "travel" for every keypress and almost feels like an ancient typewriter. It makes almost as much noise since it uses real switches, like in the old Mac keyboards.

My laptop keyboard is fine, but not for extended typing.

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The MacAlly IceKey is a tremendous keyboard: scissor-switch operation like a laptop keyboard, but full-size.

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Annoying? Quite the opposite in my humble opinoin, the macbook keyboard is the best keyboard I've ever tried and used!

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There should be some "fn" key as in laptops to separate use of F1-F4, F7-F12 and functional keys. That's why it looks suspicious to me.

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There are some wonky things about it but there are also some distinct Apple designs too that don't often make it into fakes.

The command key actually says command instead of having an Apple logo on it. Does the Apple logo need to be there? The word command is certainly helpful. I really do hate having to say "the one with the apple logo on it" to switchers.

The clock key is a riddle. Does Time Machine really need it's own key? Why doesn't Exposé or Dashboard get there own printed keys?

PROS:
The design is nice. The MacBook-style keys are great. The font is correct. THe precision is correct. The imbedded Apple logo looks accurate. The serial number and barcode look right.

CONS:
The Apple logo printed on the sticky is funky looking. The excessive F-keys,while useful, seems atypical for Apple but I welcome this inclusion. The placement of the volumne is odd as it takes over the Exposé/Dashboard function keys. The cord has a sticker on it (I don't think puts stickers on them? The back of the USB plus does not have an Apple logo on it.

I really have no idea if this is real or fake.

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Engadget is convinced this is real now. I don't buy it. Here's why:

1) The Command button says "command" on it, and has no Apple logo, just the flower.
2) The volume buttons and such are serving double-function with some of the F keys. The volume controls are the same as the Expose buttons. There are extra F keys above the numberpad.

It just doesn't jive.

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For what it's worth Leonard, the iPhone's USB cable doesn't have an Apple logo on it.

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I'm using the Apple BT keyboard right now but I don't really like the feel of it.
I might get that one once it comes out. It looks really nice and the macbook style keys are pretty comfy last time I was working on one.

Will there also be a BT version?

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I have no opinion about whether this is authentic or not. However, assuming that it's real...

--As sad as it would be to see the Apple logo disappear from the Command key, it's logical to do so; I've been tutoring my mother (complete newbie) on a new Mac mini, and as someone else noted, it's exasperating to keep having to explain that the "Command" key is the one with a cloverleaf and an Apple logo on it. Why didn't they just call it the "Apple key" or "Cloverleaf key"? One of the two had to go, and since the cloverleaf is the one used in the keyboard shortcut icons in the menu bar, the logo is the one they had to kill.

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Oh no! Without the Apple logo on my command key, how will I run VisiCalc!?

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I think that it may be real. It is quite convincing. The only flaw on it is the lack of an Apple logo on the Command key. However, it does say non-cosmetic unit on it, which does indicate a prototype. I'm not sure, but it may be close.

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I hope it is the design but the real version SHOULD include the volume buttons, eject and apple logo on the command key

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I've always preferred laptop keyboards over their desktop counterparts.

As for removing the Apple from the Command key...Anticipate more switchers and new Mac users. How many times have you emailed a friend or been on the phone, explained some useful shortcut, and been at a loss at how to describe it? It used to be something like "Open Apple C", now it's Cmd+C...But where's the key that says Cmd or Command?

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If this is a 'shop, it's a good one. The thing that doesn't feel right to me is the material. If you look at the close up shot with the ruler, the speckled metal looks really cheap. I can't believe this came from The House of Ive. I sure hope this is not what the new iMacs are made of.

Also, this is clearly trying to mimic the look and fel of the MacBook keyboard, so why would they put the volume and brightness keys in a different place? That would be terribly confusing to someone using both this keyboard and a MacBook. Following Apple's design philosophy would mean putting them in the same place. It's just common sense, and I can't see that slipping by their team.

Also, since when does Apple have play, pause, reverse and fast forward keys on their boards? Isn't that the point of including a remote with every Mac?

I call fake.

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