Luxury type.
I’ve wanted to rave about the Apple keyboard before, but I was afraid of being branded an Apple fanboy. Not that I’m not already branded that way, of course, but I like to keep some kind of semblance of impartiality.
But now that people like Jason Kottke, Tim Bray, and Rafe Colburn are all chiming in on how much they love this device, I think it’s only fair that I add my voice to the choir.
The Apple keyboard is actually the best product — apart from my Macbook Pro, of course — I’ve bought from Apple. Ever. Even better than the Macbook I bought my brother, better than my iPod Touch, better than my (gasp!) cinema display.
This is especially significant when considering that the other major Apple peripheral, the Mighty Mouse, is an excellent example of how good ideas go bad. The Mighty Mouse packs a lot of features and interesting design decisions into its small package, but what it fails to do is fit seamlessly into the way people use their computer mouse.
With the Apple Keyboard, however, the experience is remarkable. Not only is the keyboard perfectly sensitive, but the tactile response is exactly what you’d expect from a high-quality peripheral. Best of all, the buttons are all in the right place. As Tim Bray explains:
The larger [keyboard] includes the useful cluster with arrow keys, page up/down, home/end, “fn”, and the real “delete” key. The “control” key is large, at the lower left, and by some physical-mechanical equivalent of Fitt’s Law, is real easy to get to.
In addition to the detail around key placement and tactile response, Apple has also made the keyboard really easy to clean. (In fact, its construction makes it even harder to get crumbs and debris stuck between and underneath keys.) While this might seem insignificant to many keyboard manufacturers, it is certainly significant to consumers.
Now let’s see if Steve Jobs can get the keyboard guys to help out the Mighty Mouse designers. I’m in the market for a new mouse, after all.
mike
i tried it in a store and hated it. too mushy feeling; not enough travel. no f/j finger bumps (if i remember correctly). brushed aluminum wasn’t grippy enough, combined with flat keys, made fast typing like running around on ice with running shoes.
but most of all i’m just addicted to ergonomic split-keyboards. i’ll never understand why people insist on getting these carpal tunnel producing devices.
Tuesday
July 29, 2008
Sameer Vasta
To be honest, I’ve never actually used a split-keyboard for an extended length. Every time I’ve tried one briefly, it has felt foreign to me. A bit like how you felt with the Apple keyboard.
I’m thinking that keyboard preference is shaped considerably by extended use — maybe I need to give a split-keyboard a chance for a week; and you, an Apple keyboard! =)
Tuesday
July 29, 2008
miker
i actually went in to an apple store over lunch to give the keyboard another try… felt better than i remembered. travel was nice. better grip to the keys than i remembered. and they do have the f/j bumps. i think i could get used to it…
Tuesday
July 29, 2008
miker
how’s the wireless versions?
Tuesday
July 29, 2008
Sameer Vasta
Oh yech. I tried to go without mentioning the wireless version. I wouldn’t call it an ‘epic fail’ or anything, but it surely had much less thought put into it than the wired version.
Wireless Apple keyboard = not really recommended.
(Got any recs for a good split keyboard?)
Tuesday
July 29, 2008
ScottBruin
The best split keyboard, by far, is the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 (http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=043).
It DOES take a while to get used to and the keys are a bit squishier than I would like, but the resting hand position is incredibly natural and did a lot to reduce wrist pain I was beginning to experience as I ramped up the # of hours I spent working in front of a computer.
I have the new Apple keyboard at home and I like it to some degree, though I have some wrist pain with it at times. I also find it more difficult to type accurately with than some keyboards. However, my biggest complaint is that on the left-hand side the rubber foot doesn’t touch, instead the plastic at the upper left does so this side slides around and clanks when I type with force.
Tuesday
July 29, 2008
miker
Scott got it right. most comfortable keyboard i’ve ever used. picked one up OEM at tiger for $20 about a year ago.
only use the front raiser thing if your desk is at the right height for it, or else it’s reallllly uncomfortable.
Tuesday
July 29, 2008
Sameer Vasta
Hey Scott, that problem with the left-side foot not touching is probably a manufacturer’s defect. I’d check that out and get them to give you a new one.
That being said, I think I’ll give the MS keyboard a try. I don’t really get much pain from using a keyboard — using a mouse, however, is a whole other painful story for me — but it should be worth checking out.
Wednesday
July 30, 2008
ScottBruin
Give this sucker a try: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=086
It lets your hand rest on the desk while using the mouse so there’s less tension in your wrist.
Wednesday
July 30, 2008
Sameer Vasta
That’s a pretty little mouse, I must say. I’ll head over to Best Buy and see if it’s compatible with my Mac too. Thanks again for the reco!
Wednesday
July 30, 2008
jennainvoire
Tahnks for posting
Saturday
August 2, 2008