Skip to Content

TUAW Hands On with the Apple Keyboard

by Mike Schramm Aug 10th 2007 at 5:00PM


Yesterday I took a little trip down to my local Apple Store (the Michigan Ave. store here in Chicago) to check out the Keyboard. That's what Apple is calling their latest engineering marvel-- not the iBoard or the MacBoard, just Keyboard. I got a chance to check out the new iMac, and play with the new iLife apps for a bit, then I cracked open TextEdit and started typing.

So what did I think? I wasn't kidding when I called it an engineering marvel-- the Keyboard is unlike any other keyboard I've seen. It is extremely, almost dangerously thin-- Apple is already making stuff the width of cardboard, and pretty soon they'll move on to paper-thin. It's not actually flexible, but I got the feeling that if I really tried (or just landed a heavy phonebook on it), I could break it in two. Probably not true, but I still felt that way.

But you don't buy a keyboard for its durability-- you buy it to type on, and that's where I ran into problems.

The keyboard does feel very similar to the new MacBook keyboards-- each key only drops a tiny bit, making for small, quick movements. The keytops are completely flat, or at least so much so that I couldn't feel any grooves or contouring. So if you like the MacBook keyboard, you'll probably like this one. I, however, am in the Model M crowd-- I like my keys big, deep, and clicky. I like to feel like I'm actually punching out words when I'm, well, punching out words, and so I like a keyboard that has a little heft to it, a keyboard that can chop a melon in half.

Actually, the Keyboard is probably thin enough to do a little fruit chopping, but in terms of really feeling it, I couldn't. I'm sure if I had more time with it, I'd get more used to it. And I was extremely impressed with the way the keyboard itself was built-- just like the iPhone (which I spent way too much time playing with in the store yesterday... again), it's a slim, well-designed, very functional*, beautiful, amazing thing.

It's just not my thing. If I got one with an iMac, I'd probably use it and learn to love it. But using it for the 20 minutes or so I did yesterday didn't convince me to replace the keyboard I've got now. It's a great keyboard, it's just too darn thin for me.

Have you guys bought or used it yet? What did you think?

*The only other problem I had with it was that, even in the Apple Store, the dedicated keys didn't do what they were supposed to-- an employee told me to go into settings and change all the hotkeys, which is obviously not what should have happened. But I believe that exact problem got fixed this morning, so it's probably not a concern any more.

View Tags

Related Stories

Categories

Accessories Analysis / Opinion Peripherals Apple

Yesterday I took a little trip down to my local Apple Store (the Michigan Ave. store here in Chicago) to check out the Keyboard. That's...
 

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

66 Comments

Filter by:
Alex

For those of you looking for an ergonomic Mac keyboard:

http://www.keyovation.com/pc-63-2-goldtouch-for-mac-adjustable-keyboard-white-usb.aspx

August 20 2007 at 1:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bobby

I love my bluetooth!!! I take it everywhere.

August 20 2007 at 7:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Diane Ross

Forget about all of the wonderful new features Apple offers in their keyboard if you are disabled. Apple completely ignores their users with disabilities or anyone with carpal tunnel syndrome that require an extended keyboard. Wake up Apple and add keyboards for those of that require them.

August 19 2007 at 9:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kakapo

I have used it here at home for about a week and find it much easier to use than the "old" clear plastic encased brick KB or my Logitech K/Bs. I feel like my hands are just floating above the desk and letters appear on the screen. No effort at all to type for extended periods of time (hours on end).

I have also ordered a bluetooth (BT) one for travel (so I can sit back away from my MBP and type - use the BT mouse) with my 17" MacBook Pro. (It is supposed to arrive on or about 26 September). :(

If Apple makes a BT K/B with the separate numerical keyboard - I would buy three of them. One for my MacPro systems in my office and my lab and one for the 17" MBP.

I have used heaps of K/Bs over the years and I REALLY like this one.
If it would only cure my dyslexia, then I would really be happy!

I have to retract any negative comments I made about this engineering marvel prior to release and personal use! It is fanphuquentastic! BUY one - you will not be diappointed. And talk about thinking of everything - there is a one meter long USB extension cable so that you can spread out a bit. works great when you have ot be in the middle of two monitors, too.

August 19 2007 at 11:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nathan

I hadn't realized the new wireless version doesn't have a number pad. No way, forget it...

Now on the topic in general, I never liked the previous Apple keyboard. My first one was with an eMac that I got in 2002, and I then had another one that came with the iMac in 2005 (which was the same as far as I could tell). After 5 years of using the keyboard, I still loathed it.

You really had to push hard to get the keys to register what I was typing.

When I got my MacBook Pro in 2007, I admit it was an adjustment to use them because of the spacing and softness. But I love it now and believe it's Apple's best keyboard ever. So the decision to use the same keyboard in general is a smart move in my book.

But on the missing number pad, that is a HUGE thumbs down for me. The pad is the one thing I really miss with my MacBookPro. I've had it for about 5 months and still can't get used to the top rather than the side.

So long story short... I think the new keyboard is a good thing, but the wireless version is a joke. I think many people like the side number pad.

August 19 2007 at 11:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
NavStar

I've heard on Ars Technica, that (like the iPhone keyboard) after a brief adjustment period, it becomes very natural to use.

Using it for a few minutes at a store isn't a good representation of how the KB will feel at home.

August 13 2007 at 11:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jimbo

The new iMac keyboard looks similar to the Moshi Celesta (http://www.aevoe.com/moshi/celesta_d.htm). I think they both use scissor keys to minimize the keyboard thickness, but the Celesta typing surface looks more like the MacBookPro rather than the MacBook (ie, no space between the keys). Has anyone here tried out the Celesta? I'm thinking of ordering one but would like to hear from anyone with hands-on experience.

August 13 2007 at 9:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
chewbee

I'd like to know how loud it is too. I have a Macally IceKey and I love everything about it except for the super-clicky sound. Can anyone talk about the sounds of the keys?

August 13 2007 at 9:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Peter

How loud is the keyboard? I would like a keyboard that is totally silent.

August 12 2007 at 11:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JD

Bill Bradford; I really don't think it's fair to rag on Matias for being expensive, all one needs to do is look at the relative sizes of the markets, not many people care enough about a clicky keyboard, and of those, maybe 5% are Mac users. Membrane keyboards were made because of their low cost, and high cost is partly why keyboards with the multi-link key mechanisms have gone out with the push for cheaper computers.

It looks like the Unicomp is still using all the same molds, which probably have been paid for long ago. To me, the Model M / Unicomp keyboards look extremely out of place when connected to a Mac. The Matias doesn't look nearly as out of place, and it includes USB ports too.

August 11 2007 at 7:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buy an ad here

Hot Apps on TUAW

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.