CrunchGear

Have you ever seen an ostrich walk across water? As a matter of fact I don’t think it’s even possible? So what does this analogy say about your opinion of the new Apple design? ;-)

Good review, Vince. You pointed out many of the concerns that I have with the new Apple keyboard as well.

I can’t wait for the Bluetooth version.

what the hell, why would they do away with the numpad.

Unless I just don’t understand what a numpad is, I see numbers section on the right side in the picture above. Any chance this would work on a PC? I’m looking forward to Bluetooth version as well. (although, I’ve read online about people having to ‘turn off bluetooth’ to get their Firewire-base Audio I/O box to record properly)

I bought this keyboard to replace the white one that came with my Mac Pro. The old one was a clunky one with keys that sometimes stuck on the way down - and I’m not the only one who complained.

The new keyboard is a definite improvement. Much smoother and quieter. I thought it was worth the price.

As for why the wireless has no numeric keypad, two possible reasons:
1. If you are throwing it in a bag, without the keypad it actually fits in the bag.
2. If you are using it on your lap, the main keyboard is perfectly centered if you chop off the numeric keypad. With the keypad, it’s unbalanced.

I see the wireless keyboard as the perfect companion to a mini hooked up to a big screen TV in the living room, with the keyboard within easy-to-grab distance on the coffee table.

I’m not saying it’s the best thing. Obviously Apple should have provided an option for wireless with keypad, don’t know what Apple was thinking there. But chopping off the keypad is FAR from useless.

Did you watch the Apple special event when the keyboard was released? Jobs said that the wireless keyboard was designed without the numpad because he thinks people want to hold it in their hands and on their laps and the keyboard will be more comfortable without the extra length.

Also, did you use the keyboard with a new mac or an old Mac? Is it possible that they upped the USB power on the new model for this keyboard? Of course I agree that they should disclose that if it was the case so people with older Macs are not mislead.

I hate the old Mac keyboard which is why I’m still using a Logitech Windows model with my Mac Pro, although this looks appealing, but why no numberpad on the wireless model? I need a number pad plain and simple.

There is only one high-power USB connection associated with this keyboard, which is not really surprising since it takes up only one USB port on your computer, and so it can only give maximum power to one device.

Apple decided to allocate power by giving the high power to the device that’s plugged in first. So what happens? You plug in your keyboard, plug in your mouse, and your mouse gets the high power! So of course you’re upset that your iPod doesn’t work.

Try unplugging your mouse, plugging in your iPod and then plugging in your mouse and see if it works. As long as your computer is on, port allocation should stay the same, so you should be able to plug in your iPod anytime but will have to go through this same bizarre ritual whenever you power cycle your computer.

Did that work? Let us know!

D

Great tip on getting the high power USB connector on the keyboard to work. Thanks!

i know you meant the line “flatter than Michelle Tanner” to be a jab - but dude, it is actually a compliment to both the keyboard and the nymphette! :-)

once again, underwhelming innovation from apple -

1) where is the illuminated backlight of the laptop version!?!

2) where is the bluetooth version?

3) where is the DC-IN power port to run & charge high draw devices like ipods, cameras etc (no to mention the auxiliary DC-out guest ports!)

4) where is the media reader slot?!?

5) where is the infra-red (tunneling back to the host) for all the millions of legacy macs that dont have access to remcon (eg front-row)?

bbs: The New slim Apple Keyboard Review / once again, underwhelming innovation from apple -

1) where is the illuminated backlight of the laptop version!?!

2) where is the bluetooth version?

3) where is the DC-IN power port to run & charge high draw devices like ipods, cameras etc (no to mention the auxiliary DC-out guest ports!)

4) where is the media reader slot?!?

5) where is the infra-red (tunneling back to the host) for all the millions of legacy macs that dont have access to remcon (eg front-row)?

/ power prioritization for the built-in hub

attn webmaster: hmm, double posting …

something is wrong with the comment engine on thsi site –

the first (two) times, i did not see any result after using teh submit button

the only way i could verify the comment was to reload the url manually (for some reason the comment fragment of the url was still there after the first post).

also:

any review of a keyboard should include an (well-engineered!) audio sample so we can know how ‘clickity’ or how ‘clackity’ the strokes are!

more things apple forgot to include in the new keyboard:

1) LED flexi-arm stype of lamp …

if there is no back-lit illumination, then at least there should some ability to type in the dark (and the lamp should use an internal usb port inside the keyboard’s hub to draw power - not hog an external usb port).

2) a pc-card slot is also missing! (gps)

3) secure biometric sensors (thumbprint etc)

4) magnetic swipe for smart cards

5) heads up mini display: a short but wide LCD panel could be put to many interesting functions that present an intriguing opportunity for a simple menu-ing/windowing UI

* shell access: emacs/vim editor (which also doubles as portable typewriter when NOT connected to a computer!)

* web2,0 telemetry: display text/icons from the dashboard widgets or the (always cluttered) SystemUIServer menu

* application telemetry (this external display area would fight with the application UI on the main screen) - download status, email/vmail status; etc

* gaming telemetry (cf the logitech models)

* stripped down ipod player interface (like the existing minimized itunes controller)

6) maybe an internal battery (obviously for BT but also as part of a mini-ups)

7) internal am/fm radio - or maybe also optional DAB (like the griffen SHARK)

I have plugged the new Apple (flat) Key-board to my iMac (not the recent version), and can’t control the sound volume anymore. F11 and F12 do not work with the sound.

Any idea?

Actually the keyboard does provide power to high-power USB devices, but only for the new iMac. If you had bothered to read the keyboard section on Apple’s website you would have seen this:

Two USB 2.0 ports enable you to easily connect your Mighty Mouse as well as a high-speed peripheral such as a digital camera or printer.*

*Devices that draw high power from the USB connection, such as iPods, hard drives and some flash drives, can only be used with the new keyboard when it is attached to the aluminum iMac.

So no, Apple did not lie out their ass in anyway shape or form - you just made some assumptions you shouldn’t have.

Love your post zahadum! :D

Just a quick pointer, they are indeed USB 2.0 ports… but only when used on the new aluminum iMacs. Other models (including the white Core 2 Duos) do not give the keyboard enough power!

@ Zahadum; DC IN, on a keyboard??. I am extremely relieved that you don’t work for Apple hardware design or aesthetics - your concept is a messy, clunky and potentially ugly one.

I never heard such a proposition… what a laugh. The USB ports are there for convenience, NOT an out and out replacement of a SEPARATE, powered USB hub.

Zahadum is crazy! As long as we’re including a biometric scanner, FM radio, card reader, lamp, DC in, and an LCD, why not a wood-chipper, pez dispenser, and turkey baster? 95% of us want a keyboard that we can use to type things, and maybe plug a mouse, digital camera, or flash drive into. The other 5% are served by third party keyboard makers, for video editing inputs, fancy gaming setups, and scientific workstations. Apple’s creation serves the masses quite well, and the lack of gadgetry serves to streamline the thing into the kind of high design that sets Apple apart from all other makers.

This is the ultimate Mac keyboard. I absolutely love it!

uhhhh guy’s zahadum was obviously being ironic one can’t really be serious in saying all those things. Apple usually puts style before function and I really think that anyone thinking that a DC in/out port on a keyboard can even be a serious idea doesn’t really get what apple is all about.

Great Review, a bit late in the reply i know, but I am getting a new iMac in the next few weeks so better now than never to find if the new keyboard is any good or not. I think this review has changed my mind in favor of the new style. And, although it would have been great to have been backlit, The amount of light that the new iMac puts out, there is no need. (if using with said iMac)

Thanks to your review I’ve now talked myself into to getting this new one, ordered and on its way! The old one seems to have a parttime job as a dust/crumb collector so I’ve given it the sack. Cheers, Gareth.

this keyboard sucks for gaming. i need something that sits stable on the table, has lots of tactile feedback. also i think the keys are too small in height. oh and it’s too flat.

To come I get to that weighing, it should be acicular out that in the chart superior to before, the Dell’s “$1,432” bonus is after $650 in diversified Dell discount/coupon finaglings. Granted, Internet shopping geeks (and I cogitate on myself to be one, so that’s not an discourtesy) whim be clever to bring to light a Dell coupon rather most, but your conventional consumer? And requite then, this one’s a whopper—it’s not on numerous occasions that you can buy a $2,100 computer for less than $1,500. So I’m booming to look at continuous honorariums and then let you do the “coupon math” at the end.

(It should also be famous that the total in this article was based on Dell’s bonuss on a discrete day final week. As anyone who has done dangerous count on-hunting on the Dell Web orientation knows, honorariums hard cash diurnal—requite by the hour and minute.)
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