My life with the new Apple keyboard

I’m not the first person in the queue when it comes to new products, I’m usually the person stood away from the queue watching from a safe vantage point. When apple announced their new keyboards though I couldn’t resist. I’ve written before about my old apple keyboard’s nifty additional feature as a snowdome. Of course, I doubt that top of Mr Job’s list of testing was rolling tobacco smoking designers with a habit for eating at their desk. Upon seeing the new ones though I felt a little leap of joy as the snowdome could be removed.

And so it begins

It got delivered and my office was filled with the ‘new Apple product’ smell that many an un-boxing has been performed to. I personally think they must have a ‘perfume de Apple’ or something they spray onto every product as every thing seems to waft the same odour upon opening. I have a theory about this scent o Apple and a direct link in Flickr un-boxing pictures and Apple ooo and ahing. Theory aside though, for something as benign as a keyboard it was a nice package set up – only to be expect from Apple but always a good thing.

As expected for a keyboard, there was minimal ‘bunf’ in the box. I was pleased to see a USB extension which enables you to have a long or short cable. A manual was also included to wrap up the additional contents. On first lift out of the box I was impressed by the lightness of the keyboard. It really not only looks impressive but it is lightweight about it.

Installation via update

If you do get one though remember to update your mac as to get the new buttons working (bar a few, these are ones you get with a powerbook or macbook/ pro). Once you do this you can just like a laptop control things like volume and brightness by clicking the top buttons – to actually get function keys working you press the func key. One thing I will note is that my dashboard and a few other keys don’t seem to be working – I’ve not investigated this fully yet but it could be as I’m running it off my powerbook.

Hey there good looking

Like most people I’ve owned my fair share of keyboards over time. My bias has always been towards those on laptops though and this was also a part in my decision to jump on the new keyboard wagon. The keyboard itself is very responsive. The actually typing initially took a little getting used to but I quickly found my usual speed was possibly improved – time will tell on this.

As for looks, well what more can you say apart from it’s damn sexy. I actually thought it would slant more than it does. A few people have been muttering about ergonomics being thrown out of the window, however it sits for me exactly where my hands naturally sit – it’s about half the width of my thumb at the lowest point and the full width at the tallest. This for me is a very natural typing position. I do suffer a bit from RSI and have today using this keyboard found it seems a lot easier on my wrists which is great.

The metal design and almost flush keys really are a sight to behold. It looks a lot more than the price they come in at. Yes, you can get some nice looking keyboards but usually you’re talking over the £50 for them and the wired version I got is only £29. I personally think for something that looks this well it’s a surprise to be such a low price.

Sounds like one mouse on tip toes not elephants tap dancing

One of the problems I have with keyboards is I am a fast and heavy typer. I get carried away typing and often sound like I’m recreating the dance of a 10,000 tap dancing elephants. The new keyboard sounds more like a little mouse ballet dancing on tip toes. Keyboards are not known for their acoustic quality and often it is a sound we just put up with. This keyboard though coupled with the styling and the sound reduction really does give you a bang for your buck with looking and sounding like a more expensive one.

Goodbye Apple key, hello better keyboard

One of the big things is the removal of the Apple key – well removal of the actual Apple sign really as the key is there just known as ‘cmd’. To be honest, I don’t really mind. I never had an attachment to it – people can see it’s an Apple so the point of having it on the keyboard beyond telling me this is the ‘magic’ key, was never there for me. We may have lost an Apple but we sure have gained one nice keyboard. Time will tell on wear and tear along with the longer term usage issues if there are any. For now, the initial feel I have is that I’m glad I paid the money. Often with Apple you accept paying more, yet this keyboard really is one of the best I’ve found in the lower price bracket.