Comments on: From The Road: Time For A New Keyboard

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:34:30 +0000

I just sold my Apple keyboard like the one above. I couldn’t get the touch typing speed up to where I was on a regular keyboard. The keys on this keyboard just don’t have the feel or the travel of a regular desktop keyboard. After about 10-20 minutes of typing on the Apple keys, my fingertips hurt. The keyboard itself is very solid and it looks great, but it’s not a good keyboard for people who do a lot of typing. I have since gone back to my $20 Dell keyboard and it’s so much more comfortable and I can type about 20 wpm faster on it.

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:24:07 +0000

While most of my friends prefer ‘normal’ keyboards, I love slim ones. Actually I got my current laptop-style keyboard for free from a guy who’d bought it for himself then hated it so much he couldn’t use it. I find it easier to type on a slim keyboard, and it’s also easier for me to switch computers (I regularly use a laptop and a desktop).

By: Andrew Liszewski

Andrew Liszewski — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:20:31 +0000

David, thanks for the suggestions. However, the Wacom tablet was the only thing plugged into the Apple keyboard, which is plugged directly into my PC. Since the Wacom is also my mouse, I don’t use a separate one. I’ve also experienced the same low-power USB error when plugging a USB memory card reader into the keyboard, though just flash drives seem to work fine.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:17:53 +0000

Before you go for the Apple keyboard why don’t you take a look at the Logitech DiNovo Edge. It beats the hell out of the App;\le product plus you get a sweet touchpad with it.

By: Pablo

Pablo — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:59:27 +0000

Yeah that’s right, a MAC PC vs a Windows PC is just like a luxury car vs a tractor. I assume you must be an Apple store employee John Deere. The last time I checked Apple sold plenty of Windows compatible gear including this keyboard so maybe their geniuses (ha) should have a clue about the OS that a good majority of the world uses.

By: Andrew Liszewski

Andrew Liszewski — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:51:14 +0000

I understand your analogy, but I see it a bit different.

Apple sells many products that work on both Windows and OSX, including this keyboard. If they didn’t intend for people to use the keyboard under Windows, why go to the trouble of adding the ‘alt’ text on their ‘option’ key. I wasn’t asking some in-depth question about DLL libraries or other Windows-centric concept, I just had some simple compatibility questions. Somehow I don’t see a Windows PC and a MAC PC being as different as a car and a lawn tractor.

By: David Dennis

David Dennis — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:38:09 +0000

Not that we should really help someone who condones use of the Operating System of Evil, but the answer to your USB power question is simple, if somewhat obscure.

1 Unplug all USB cables from your keyboard.
2 Plug in the USB device that uses the most power first (this would be your tablet).
3 Plug in your mouse, which uses less power.
4 Enjoy.

In short, maximum power is given to the first device plugged in and the second device gets the balance. So plug in the most power consuming device first.

I think there’s an item on this in the Apple knowledge base, but I can’t really blame you for just figuring it was a normal thing, since many keyboards don’t do this.

Hope that helps.

By: Ptarmigandalf

Ptarmigandalf — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:33:33 +0000

Weird… mine has a tall and narrow Enter key that I keep missing (different from the one in the picture). Other than that, it’s a terrific keyboard.

By: John Deere

John Deere — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:41:38 +0000

“…the people at the Apple Store were as useless when it came to answering my questions as any other retail employee…”

Let’s put this in context: You went to the store for company A to see if their product was compatible with something from company B; they couldn’t answer your questions.

I feel your pain; I regularly go to a local BMW auto dealer to see if their accessories are compatible with my John Deere yard tractor. Wouldn’t you know it: they haven’t a clue either.