[tsheley]

I just bought the Apple Pro Mouse and just love it. I was wondering if the Pro Keyboard is worth the money or are there any other keyboards that are better.

Thanks,

iMac DV (Blueberry)
OS 9.0.4
OS X Public Beta

[Indigo Boy]

I suppose some people here will think I'm a heretic for saying this, but I am not that thrilled with the Pro Keyboard. I love the way it looks, but the key touch is very light and "shallow." I am forever typing two letters instead of one, for example, and my typing accuracy is still not what it was with my old Apple Design keyboard on my Performa. Also, despite the improvement in design over the old iMac keyboard, I still frequently hit the F keys when going to hit Delete.

I'm sure part of it is my typing technique, but I'm much more accurate at work, where I use a MacAlly iKey keyboard, and it has a pretty nice action.

I do like the media keys on the Pro keyboard—they are very convenient.

[This message has been edited by Indigo Boy (edited 11-02-2000).]

[rjenkinson]

indigo boy,
have you adjusted the keyboard's responsiveness in the keyboard control panel? that might stop the double letters. also, have you got the stand on the underside of the keyboard flipped out? using that will raise the back of the keyboard up higher so that it's harder to hit the F-keys.

-r.

[Indigo Boy]

I have tried adjusting the Key Repeat options.... is that what you mean? I'm not sure if I have the little stand flipped out. I'll check on that. Hopefully it will help. Thanks for your suggestions!

Still, going back and forth between the iKey and the Pro keyboard is really like night and day... With the iKey I can think about *what* I'm typing... whereas I have to consciously think about the *way* I type on the Pro keyboard. It sort of takes the fun out of it.

[This message has been edited by Indigo Boy (edited 11-02-2000).]

[MacNN Staff]

Originally posted by Indigo Boy:
I suppose some people here will think I'm a heretic for saying this, but I am not that thrilled with the Pro Keyboard. I love the way it looks, but the key touch is very light and "shallow."

I couldn't agree more with you... give me a USB Apple Extended Keyboard II in a more compact, translucent graphite case and I'd happily pay $175 for it (which is what Apple used to charge for it, if you remember).

I liked the old Apple Extended Keyboard II as well. I really loved the older smaller USB keyboard. The key action was so nice and the footprint was great. I just don't like having a huge honking keyboard taking up all kinds of deskspace. My current UMAX extended keyboard (MacAlly) is horrible.

The new Pro keyboard is at least as good as the old beige Extended Keyboard II. I wish they'd get rid of all those useless F keys and reduce the size, but hey.

It has a very nice feel to it.

------------------
Eliott Wolfe
Winnetka, Calif

[Dr Evil]

I just spilled Coke in my trusty Extended II keyboard that had served me for 6 years. While I wait on my new Pro keyboard, I am stuck with "Crampy", the usb keyboard that came with my B&W G3. As for excluding the F keys, this would be a crime on Apple's behalf! I have everyone of my F keys assigned to a program using the Keyboard control panel in OS 9 and if I remember 8.6.

[ginoledesma]

I prefer the old keyboards as well, although the Pro Keyboard is a big advantage over the smaller one.

If you don't like what Apple is currently offering, you might want to consider others from MacAlly and the like. They make pretty good keyboards and come in different colors too.

[Cipher13]

At first, after moving from an Apple Extended Keyboard, I didn't like the small USB keyboard that came with my Sawtooth...
However, now, it has really grown on me, and not long ago I was gonna get another KB (bigger one), but declined...
The small one is perfect for me. I can move it around a lot, and the mouse fits on the keyboard draw with it.
The only thing I miss is forward delete, really. And full sized arrow keys.
I guess, the Pro not having Power was also an issue, albeit one that could have been solved by an iKey or the like...
I would love to be able to use the Extended KB on the G4, but I am totally happy with my mini USB KB now...
Give it a chance and it will grow on you

Cipher13

[Indigo Boy]

I have given it a chance--I've had my iMac DV since late August, and I still don't type very accurately or quickly on it. I have big hands (I can reach an octave and a fourth on a piano keyboard ) and that could be the problem. But on my iKey at work, you actually have to *press* a key to type a letter (as opposed to merely touching it as on the Pro keyboard), which makes it harder to get double letters as I do on the Pro.

If you like the keyboard, that's great! Just try it out a bit before committing to it.

[duboy]

I agree with Indigo Boy, you have to try it out before you commit. Personally i like the way the keys feel and the media keys are cool too. i get comments about the styling of it along with the way it types, it was a good investment for me. But do try it out first. Good luck!

[tsheley]

Thanks for all of your help. I am having my parents order a new iMac DV and I will try out there keyboard when the get it.

Thanks