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Mac Forum / General / Hardware / August 2007New keyboards
Was disappointed to see that neither of the new Apple keyboards announced yesterday have no backlighting option. I'm looking for a MacBook-like keyboard complete with backlight. Any ideas? Thanks,  SignatureJohn English >Was disappointed to see that neither of the new Apple keyboards announced >yesterday have no backlighting option. I never knew keyboards were made with backlighting options. Why? > I never knew keyboards were made with backlighting options. Why? Google for "backlight usb keyboard". Lots of them. For use in a dim environment, most likely. For example, typing from the couch while watching the display from a distance... Anyone know of a small/thin one like the new Apple ones with backlight? SignatureJohn English >Google for "backlight usb keyboard". Lots of them. > >For use in a dim environment, most likely. For example, typing from the couch >while watching the display from a distance... > >Anyone know of a small/thin one like the new Apple ones with backlight? So it would be of the biggest advantages for the battery operated keyboards - but they would also drain the battery. I haven't ever used a computer in the dark, nor from a couch - and don't look at my keybard when I do use it. > >Google for "backlight usb keyboard". Lots of them. > > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > So it would be of the biggest advantages for the battery operated > keyboards - but they would also drain the battery. Not significantly, and the backlighting can be disabled. > I haven't ever used a computer in the dark, nor from a couch - and > don't look at my keybard when I do use it. Err, so don't get one, easy enough. Lots of us find it useful. SignatureTom "Tom" Harrington MondoMouse makes your mouse mightier See http://www.atomicbird.com/mondomouse/ > I haven't ever used a computer in the dark, nor from a couch - and > don't look at my keybard when I do use it. That's why we have choices. Signature<http://designsbymike.info/shop/mac.cgi> Mac and geek T-shirts & gifts <http://designsbymike.info/shop/musings.cgi> Muckraking T-shirts <http://designsbymike.info/shop/prius.cgi> Prius shirts/bumper stickers <http://designsbymike.info/shop/dance.cgi> Ballroom dance shirts & gifts > >Was disappointed to see that neither of the new Apple keyboards announced > >yesterday have no backlighting option. > > I never knew keyboards were made with backlighting options. Why? To me, its a completely useless feature because I never look at my keyboard when I type: ever. The keys are always in the same place and there aren't that many of them, so I never need to look, even when I need to type less common characters such as |. On the other hand, a friend of mine was just raving the other night that he got a wonderful backlit keyboard for his Mac. He didn't say what it is, but I imagine if you google for "back lit keyboards" or check your favorite online computer gear store, you should be able to find one. As for Apple's new keyboard, I tried it today and it is by far the worst keyboard I have ever tried. It is completely non-ergonomic. The keys are like toys with little tactile feedback and the damned thing sits almost completely flat which is a terrible position to type. No thanks! > > >Was disappointed to see that neither of the new Apple keyboards announced > > >yesterday have no backlighting option. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > like toys with little tactile feedback and the damned thing sits almost > completely flat which is a terrible position to type. No thanks! Yesterday, I tried the new keyboards, and I found it fine (then again, at home I've been using iBooks and MacBooks for the past 4 years, and a Pismo for 3 years before that, so I'm used to the style of keys on the new keyboards. One of the problems I have with the older desktop Apple keyboards is that they take more pressure, and for me especially the shift key. At work, I'm always finding I didn't capitalize something even though I know I moved my pinky finger to the shift key. I it most embarrassing to spell your own name "Bob harris" no matter how well you know your last name should start with a capital H, or "bob Harris". I get frustrated by it. So I'm considering getting one of the new keyboards for my system at work. I'm also thinking about a LogiTech keyboard as well. I just haven't decided on which way I'll go. So in many ways it is an "Eye of the Beholder" situation. Bob Harris > So I'm considering getting one of the new keyboards for my system > at work. I'm also thinking about a LogiTech keyboard as well. I > just haven't decided on which way I'll go. In my work I use a variety of different keyboards on different computers. MS keyboards and mice are good and arguably offer the best software support for Macs. (I know, I know, wash my mouth out.) LogiTech keyboards are the best IMHO, except that the model made specifically for the Mac is rather pricy. You won't catch me putting any money at all down for any Apple keyboard of the last five years or so. True, they aren't all the same, just different levels of bad, and the mice are shocking. The last decent keyboard to come from Apple that I have tried is on my ancient PB1400. Unfortunately it is a laptop keyboard, no number keypad or other extra keys. Some of their ADB keyboards were also very good. > > So I'm considering getting one of the new keyboards for my system > > at work. I'm also thinking about a LogiTech keyboard as well. I [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > keyboard, no number keypad or other extra keys. Some of their ADB > keyboards were also very good. Well if you want to go back to ADB keyboards, then the keyboard that came with the Mac SE was the best Apple keyboard ever, as it put the control key where it belonged (next to the 'a' key), and put the almost useless Caps Lock key at the bottom of the keyboard. I owned 2 of them, and used them until I no longer had an ADB capable Mac. And yes I know I can now re-configure the Keyboard System Preferences to make the Caps Lock a control key, and before that there were utilities such as Double Command and uControl that allowed me to bring sanity to the Caps Lock key. My other favorite keyboard was the Digital Equipment Corporation LK201 keyboard (the LK401 was OK), but when Compaq took over, they started screwing everything up by shipping PC style keyboards with all the workstations. And HP continues the trend having absorbed Compaq. But like I said, I am comfortable with the laptop keyboards, and I did not find the new Apple keyboard offensive at all. But I also think my opinion is only important to me. As for mice, the Apple mice do not thrill me. On my MacBook I do like the multi-touch touch pad very much. And at work use a LogiTech 4 button mouse, but I've been thinking about getting the LogiTech MX Revolution, and have a gazillion buttons and scroll wheels. I may never have to touch the keyboard again, with a mouse like that (just kidding :-D ). Bob Harris > Well if you want to go back to ADB keyboards, then the keyboard that came > with the Mac SE was the best Apple keyboard ever, as it put the control > key where it belonged (next to the 'a' key), and put the almost useless > Caps Lock key at the bottom of the keyboard. I guess that's, er, uh, "great" if you always use the left hand to reach the control key. To me a great advance in human engineering, keyboard wise, is to have the bottom row symmetric so that it is uniformly accessible by both lefties and righties. SignatureJames Leo Ryan ..... Austin, Texas ..... taliesinsoft@mac.com > > Well if you want to go back to ADB keyboards, then the keyboard that came > > with the Mac SE was the best Apple keyboard ever, as it put the control [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > have the bottom row symmetric so that it is uniformly accessible by both > lefties and righties. Hmm. Used a Mac laptop, ever? I'd say "not". > Hmm. Used a Mac laptop, ever? I'd say "not". The new USB keyboard is mirror image, re. Cmd, Opt, and Ctrl keys. SignatureDaveC me@bogusdomain.net This is an invalid return address Please reply in the news group > In article <0001HW.C2E51E6D0004FA99B019F94F@news.supernews.com>, > TaliesinSoft <taliesinsoft@mac.com> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Hmm. Used a Mac laptop, ever? I'd say "not". Actually my one and only Mac is indeed a laptop but I use its built-in keyboard as little as possible, using an external keyboard instead. SignatureJames Leo Ryan ..... Austin, Texas ..... taliesinsoft@mac.com >> In article <0001HW.C2E51E6D0004FA99B019F94F@news.supernews.com>, >> TaliesinSoft <taliesinsoft@mac.com> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Actually my one and only Mac is indeed a laptop but I use its built-in > keyboard as little as possible, using an external keyboard instead. \I'll amplify a bit. The laptop is a 17" MacBook Pro and the keyboard is an Apple USB keyboard soon to be replaced by the newly released model. The reason for using an external keybord is the combination of preference for the keyboard layout and the fact that using the internal keyboard places the screen both too too close for me and at an uncomfortable height. When the laptop is on my desktop it is also lashed up to a myriad of peripherals connected by USB and both firewire 800 and 400. SignatureJames Leo Ryan ..... Austin, Texas ..... taliesinsoft@mac.com > > Well if you want to go back to ADB keyboards, then the keyboard that came > > with the Mac SE was the best Apple keyboard ever, as it put the control [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > have the bottom row symmetric so that it is uniformly accessible by both > lefties and righties. Symmetry is great, unless you happen to be a software developer that lives inside of Vi/Vim where control keys are your bread and butter. Having the control key just to the right of the 'a' key puts a lot less strain on your hand, then trying to move the pinky to the bottom row. And I confess it is "My" opinion for me. I may whine about the PC industry moving the control key from where Digital and other early terminal vendors put it, but these days, as long as I can remap the keyboard, I'm a happy camper. And as someone else pointed out, laptop keyboards do not have symmetry. But I'm not whine about that either, I just use Double Command to make the 'enter' key another almost 'fn' key and use it for one handed page up/down/home/end functions. Keyboards and mice are often very personal, so some I love and some I avoid. It would be a waste if every keyboard or mouse was cookie cutter identical. Bob Harris > In article <0001HW.C2E51E6D0004FA99B019F94F@news.supernews.com>, > TaliesinSoft <taliesinsoft@mac.com> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > control key just to the right of the 'a' key puts a lot less strain on > your hand, then trying to move the pinky to the bottom row. Er, Uh, methinks you meant to say "control key just to the left of the 'a' key". :-) That aside I have no difficulty using the control key on the symmetric keyboards with either the left or right hand depending on which control character needs to be entered. > And I confess it is "My" opinion for me. I may whine about the PC > industry moving the control key from where Digital and other early > terminal vendors put it, but these days, as long as I can remap the > keyboard, I'm a happy camper. Once long, long ago I used a Digital VT-100 terminal. But that was so long ago I honestly can't remember where the control key was placed. > And as someone else pointed out, laptop keyboards do not have symmetry. > But I'm not whine about that either, I just use Double Command to make the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > avoid. It would be a waste if every keyboard or mouse was cookie cutter > identical. I strongly agree with you that keyboards and mice and such are indeed personal. I know people who have mice with a myriad of buttons, something that would drive me, someone fully satisfied with ljust a eft button, a right button, and a scroll wheel. SignatureJames Leo Ryan ..... Austin, Texas ..... taliesinsoft@mac.com > > In article <0001HW.C2E51E6D0004FA99B019F94F@news.supernews.com>, > > TaliesinSoft <taliesinsoft@mac.com> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > terminal vendors put it, but these days, as long as I can remap the > > keyboard, I'm a happy camper. I really ought to try remaping the control key to caps lock (which I don't ever use) and see if it makes life easier for me, or if I just get confused moving between a custom layout and standard ones (like a work where I cannot modify these things). > Once long, long ago I used a Digital VT-100 terminal. But that was so long > ago I honestly can't remember where the control key was placed. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > that would drive me, someone fully satisfied with ljust a eft button, a right > button, and a scroll wheel. Anyone here ever try the macally icekey kb? I LOVE the laptop style scissor keys. I don't like the caps lock without the indented right side (far too easy to accidently hit, so I have disabled it) and the weird blank key to the right of the right control key. Still the best kb I've used in years :-) Regards, Jamie Kahn Genet SignatureIf you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. > > >>> Well if you want to go back to ADB keyboards, then the keyboard that > > >>> came with the Mac SE was the best Apple keyboard ever, as it put the [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > Jamie Kahn Genet > -- You must not have ever used an electric typewriter keyboard. The layout is very similar. When the first computer keyboards were developed they were layed out basically the same way. This was so a person familar with a typerwriter keyboard could easily adapt to it. Thus knowing that certain key functions were in the same place. As an example the 'return' key on my Mac is basically in the same place as the 'return' key on an IBM Selectra typewriter. Fred Ellis SignatureWho do you serve. . . . And who do you trust? (To e-mail me, remove the X from my address) > Was disappointed to see that neither of the new Apple keyboards announced > yesterday have no backlighting option. They all have no backlighting options SignatureTom Stiller PGP fingerprint = 5108 DDB2 9761 EDE5 E7E3 7BDA 71ED 6496 99C0 C7CF |
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