[MacosNerd]

While there's a number of threads about the new keyboard's availability, I'm not seeing too much in terms of feedback or reviews.

Here's MacWorld's take on the the keyboard. Its part of the overall review of the imac.

My take:
Visual appearance - apple hits a home run again, beautiful design, physically smaller then the previous pro keyboard. With the iMac, MacPro or the MBP consistent look with the brushed aluminum. Add in the apple cinema display its a great appearance. The odd man out - the white mouse, so that begs the question will the mouse get a face lift?

Usage: Key spacing is different and lack of tactile feedback that is something that I need to get used too. As a touch typist I don't generally need to look down at the keys, I find myself now looking to see where my fingers are. I've always like keyboards that had a tactile feedback but in general usage it appears to be good.

Compatibility (I already downloaded the keyboard update). General usage, the keyboard operates as you'd expect. Using vmware's Fusion I find control clicking now works like a control click in OSX which I do not want. For instance within the file explorer I select everything in a given folder, I want to control click items that I don't want to take action on. Now this weird behavior only occurs using the left control key. If I control click with the right control key it operates as it should. perhaps this is a Fusion thing that I never noticed perhaps its a function of the keyboard. I'll re-plug in my old keyboard later and find out.

In short, apple shows that they are a leader in design, sometimes that design effects usage, i.e., form over function but the sacrifices in some of the areas is not enough to effect overall usability. That is its a winner (imho)

[Faust]

Nice review, MacosNerd.

I have been thinking whether or not to replace my Logitech DiNovo keyboard with the wireless Apple keyboard. I am just not sure whether there are any true advantages in doing so. I do assume they are similar as they both have flat keys.

Hmmm ... back to pondering.

[MacosNerd]

The spacing is what is still getting me, probably because I use a "normal" keyboard at work. Its a nice keyboard and I have no regrets.

The last piece of my Mac puzzle is a refresh for the Monitors. I'd love to see something like the iMacs (black apple logo and hopefully LED)

[Faust]

I am interested in the new monitors as well. Though, I really like the Alu Cinema Display. Technically, it does everything I need as well. I am just keen on seeing what kind of design they'll apply to the new ACD and even Mac Pro series. As long as it doesn't involve too much plastic, I'm certain I'll like them.

[jettyboy]

I agree with the usability factor, and form. It's great to type on and the keys are very responsive. My problem is the usb hubs give me a "drawing to much power" warning with everything except a mouse. It definitely won't work with an iPod, or card reader. Does yours work with an iPod? What system are you running, and on what machine?

[EndlessMac]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

lack of tactile feedback that is something that I need to get used too. As a touch typist I don't generally need to look down at the keys, I find myself now looking to see where my fingers are.

From what I can tell from pictures it looks as though the keys don't have any cupped shaped inlets on them and look to have a flat surface. Am I correct? If I'm correct that might be why. The keys seem to be an exact copy from MacBooks because they too seem to have flat keys. The MacBook Pro has inlets, my PowerBook has them, and my Kensington laptop style keyboard has them too. I have never had to look down to know where my fingers are.

The cup shaped inlets allows a person to know where on the keys their fingers are. It looks like Apple did put form over function. I was hoping they make the exact same keys as my PowerBook because it's the best keyboard I have ever used and I have used at least 10 different keyboards.

[Cadaver]

Originally Posted by EndlessMac 

From what I can tell from pictures it looks as though the keys don't have any cupped shaped inlets on them and look to have a flat surface. Am I correct? If I'm correct that might be why. The keys seem to be an exact copy from MacBooks because they too seem to have flat keys. The MacBook Pro has inlets, my PowerBook has them, and my Kensington laptop style keyboard has them too. I have never had to look down to know where my fingers are.

The cup shaped inlets allows a person to know where on the keys their fingers are. It looks like Apple did put form over function. I was hoping they make the exact same keys as my PowerBook because it's the best keyboard I have ever used and I have used at least 10 different keyboards.

If you've ever used a MacBook keyboard, then you've essentially used the new Alu keyboards. Nearly identical.

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by EndlessMac 

From what I can tell from pictures it looks as though the keys don't have any cupped shaped inlets on them and look to have a flat surface.

That is correct, the keys are not shaped.

On an ironic what comes around goes around thing.

Many many moons ago, I owned a Tandy color computer. 4k memory, only a couple of megahertz etc. Well the keyboard was a much maligned chicklet keyboard and now 25 (30?) years later apple introduces one and everyone is falling over to get it

[Cadaver]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

That is correct, the keys are not shaped.

On an ironic what comes around goes around thing.

Many many moons ago, I owned a Tandy color computer. 4k memory, only a couple of megahertz etc. Well the keyboard was a much maligned chicklet keyboard and now 25 (30?) years later apple introduces one and everyone is falling over to get it

Funny. And kind of true, but those old chicklet keyboards didn't use scissor-switches as the key mechanism. Most new laptops and thin-style desktop keyboards (like the new Apple one) use them; many people prefer them to the rubber dome mush keyboards commonly found in "quiet" desktop keyboards.

[Moonray]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

The spacing is what is still getting me, probably because I use a "normal" keyboard at work.

How different is the spacing? Or ... if you measure the width of the 10 number keys from 1 to 0, how much is that? And is the vertical spacing different too?

-

[Natz]

I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of these when I saw them.

I'm a touch typist and I've had to adapt to various different keyboards, both desktop and laptop and found that I quickly got used to the spacing on this keyboard. The low height feels really nice on my wrists when typing and I've not had any problems with the spacing of the keys.

I've seen some people saying they had problems getting their special keys to work. After the apple keyboard software update I didn't have any such issues.

The only USB device I've plugged into it so far is my mouse so I can't give any feedback on compatabillity with other things.

It really is a pleasure to use.

[selowitch]

I too am very excited about the new keyboard, which I bought to go with my white October 2006 Intel iMac and black Microsoft LaserMouse (okay, so it's not coordinated --- who am I, Martha Stewart?). It seems like it takes much less effort to type quickly and so far it appears to be less likely to induce pain in the wrists and arms. It looks awesome and I really like the Mac-specific icons on the keys (though I imagine there will be some difficulties when I use Parallels to run Windows). For me, a numeric keypad was a must so I opted for the wired version.

Best thing of all? It's hard to lodge crumbs and spills in this keyboard, and seems quite easy to clean without disassembly. My earlier Mac keyboard seemed to have special grooves in it to store shmutz --- what does one need that for?