Apple Keyboard Revision

[MacRumors]

One reader reports seeing a slightly modified Apple keyboard image on a new banner hanging in the "Etc..." section of a larger Apple Store.

The user was unable to provide photos, but described a side-view image of an Apple Keyboard which was slightly different (no elevation bar, instead a larger base) than current ones.

Still awaiting verification of this image. Any readers with personal observations/photos are welcome to comment...

[Kwyjibo]

cool i hope someone nabbed a pic

[arn]

per observer... this is a very rough mockup...

[Doctor Q]

Intriguing. We'll just have to stay tuned while arn pumps his army of highly-unpaid secret undercover informants for more information.

[Sun Baked]

So is this just a simplification of the current enclosure to reduce parts count/cost?

[scem0]

Originally posted by Sun Baked
So is this just a simplification of the current enclosure to reduce parts count/cost?

I doubt it. Apple (usually does) needs to innovate, and keeping
the same enclosure wouldn't be an innovation. Although there
isn't much apple can add to the keyboard, I'm sure there is
something they could improve.

[wdw_]

I have a video tape under my keyboard between the bar and the main part. My desk is raised up by a couple of bricks, becasue of a small flooding problem, so I need it at a different angle to be comfertable. Anyway, Apple could use a new radical, functional keyboard design. I love the keyboards now, but I just love it when Apple releases new products.:p

[Natron]

I wonder if Apple will add "touch sensitive" buttons to the keyboard, like the ones added to the iPod. Not to the entire keyboard, but either some at the top or on the side.

Maybe these could be for volume, screen brightness, eject, etc. The keyboard could also add a scroll wheel (like the iPod) that would work like the Powermate for volume, video scrubbing, or even include a center button, and work like the iPod, in the Finder's column view. (I personally think this could be pretty cool.)

[mac15]

I hope the letters glow and are light sensative much like the ones on the 17 and 15 inch powerbooks

[bikertwin]

The reader reported a thicker keyboard . . . isn't that required for a wireless/Bluetooth keyboard?

And as previously suggested, a video scrubber would be awesome (in my dreams, anyway).

[ear2ear]

Ambient light sensors would be great for my little recording studio since the lights are always down low.

Is USB capable of this? (I'm assuming yes given the existence of the Flylight).

Bluetooth certainly isn't.

(Someone should make this at least.)

[makkystyle]

I couldn't even find an "Etc..." section on the apple store. Can anyone divulge it's location? Has anyone else seen this keyboard?

The mock up above looks exactly like the pictures of the keyboards they have up already only with the thicker base. It doesn't seem logical to me that apple would remove the ability to lay the keyboard flat. If the mock-up is anything like what the user saw couldn't it be that the person just mistook the picture currently up on the Apple store site (which has the fold out legs extended) for a new keyboard?

[shakespeare]

The "Etc" section is where accessories (printers, scanners, etc) are stored in physical, retail Apple stores, not online. They tend to be in the back right of the store.

[McCord9]

Wouldn't the large section be designed to hold batteries for a possible wireless model? Just a thought.

[lafbbr]

I saw it at the Southdale Apple Store. The banner said something like The Other Stuff. The keyboard had no USB port on the side.

[From Win to Mac]

Then it's not made by Apple. With the short length of our mouses, with absolutely need a USB plug on both sides.
Now say they were gonna "innovate" by giving the mouse a long cord, that would be dumb.

So the other possibility is Bluetooh. But i would still hope that they leave the USB ports, since i need them both ! And Macs only come with 2 on the back, and 1 is used for the keyboard.
why don't we get 4 or 5 like PC people !

[Niknar]

Well I have been waiting for a new keyboard and mouse.

So I hope this is near release.

I doubt the USB ports will be taken of completely maybe justed moved to a new place.

I am not to bothered with a bluetooth keyboard.

Can somone get a pic of this?

[macguymike]

Personally, I'd like to see the return of the power button to Apple's keyboards. :D

[scem0]

They have digital cameras at the store and macs with internet
access..... So basically anyone can go to the apple store and
post a pic. Think of how cool you would be if you did that... ;)

[bennetsaysargh]

this is sorta on topic.

me and my brother usually go to the palisades mall apple store once in a while. we noticed that a big sign had a 12inch PB, only with IE in the dock instead of safari. it was there since november/december-ish. we didn't notice it was a 12PB until late march. it had silver keyboard, and it said "PowerBook G4"

now we both feel stupid:rolleyes:

my point is, this is probably an apple keyboard.

i wanna see some pictures of this!

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by scem0
They have digital cameras at the store and macs with internet
access..... So basically anyone can go to the apple store and
post a pic. Think of how cool you would be if you did that... ;) I was surprised at the freedom they give you in the stores. For example, no problem getting into iChat and talking to friends online. And no problem setting preferences in an application or saving files to disk. I asked an employee how they keep the systems running when we untrustworthy customers have such freedom. He said they reinitialize from scratch regularly (daily?). Maybe they netboot them. In any case, it's a lot nicer than the stores where you're stuck in a demo or an At Ease/Multiple Users environment and can't really "take the machine for a spin".

[jholzner]

Originally posted by From Win to Mac
Then it's not made by Apple. With the short length of our mouses, with absolutely need a USB plug on both sides.
Now say they were gonna "innovate" by giving the mouse a long cord, that would be dumb.

So the other possibility is Bluetooh. But i would still hope that they leave the USB ports, since i need them both ! And Macs only come with 2 on the back, and 1 is used for the keyboard.
why don't we get 4 or 5 like PC people !

I think that keeping the usb ports on the keyboard if they used bluetooth would be pointless...it would be sooooo slow that it wouldn't be worth attching a device to.

[MacRumors]

One reader noted (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/05/20030503010034.shtml) that a new Apple Store banner contains a side view of a revised Apple keyboard -- with a larger base, and no USB ports on the sides.

Per reports -- the new Keyboard will have two USB ports on either side of the keyboard cord, which still comes off the back of the keyboard.

Minor mouse revisions are expected as well.

[bennetsaysargh]

if it was bluetooth, there wouldn't be any usb ports on it because like jholzner said, it wouldn't be worth doing that. rediculously slow.

period.

[jcontonio]

Well damn, considering I can't find the keyboard or mouse anywhere on the Apple Store or the Hardware section of their website that's gotta mean something. I even searched on the Apple Store under Hardware and all that came up was an iMac and a Powermac. You can't buy the keyboard and mouse through the Apple Store?

Or is it because I just woke up and don't know what's going on.

[Kwyjibo]

isn't this already on page 2? why not just move/update the story?

[arn]

Check 3rd Party Input Devices on the Apple store.

they're still there

[Waluigi]

I've heard rumors of updates for the keyboards, mouse, monitors, and powermac cases as well. I like how the iMac has a matching color scheme throughout the system. Their pro series, as of now, does not. Could apple be revising the keyboard, mouse, monitors and powermac cases for the release of the 970, so that everything can match?

--Waluigi

[jcontonio]

That was quick I just posted this...Yeah I just found that. No black one though eh? That kinda stinks.

[Escher]

Originally posted by From Win to Mac Then it's not made by Apple. With the short length of our mouses, with absolutely need a USB plug on both sides.

The front-page article mentions that the rumored new keyboard has the USB plugs to the left and right of the keyboard cable (i.e. in the center rear of the keyboard).

Escher

[Escher]

Sounds good to me. I always bump into the long rolled-up cable for my MS IntelliMouse, which is plugged in on the right of my keyboard. The USB plugs in the back would improve my situation.

The other good thing is that it's still USB, not wireless. For me, there's no point to a wireless keyboard if you have to plug it in to charge the battery. However, I'd love a wireless mouse with charging dock.

Escher

[Escher]

arn: Can I assume you moved the story to the front page because of additional corroborating information you received?

Escher

[Xcyridus]

Originally posted by jholzner
I think that keeping the usb ports on the keyboard if they used bluetooth would be pointless...it would be sooooo slow that it wouldn't be worth attching a device to.


Well, I went to the Apple Store last night and I noticed it, too. I wasn't sure what to make of it but I saw it. Arn's rendering is pretty close. The one thing I would change is to make the bottom totally flat. Then it would be even closer.

I'm not sure what Apple is doing but I did see this picture. It must be a new keyboard from Apple because it's exactly like the current one minus the usb ports and plus a flat base.

I wonder when Apple will release it.

[arn]

Originally posted by Escher
arn: Can I assume you moved the story to the front page because of additional corroborating information you received?


yep

[bones]

Originally posted by jcontonio
Well damn, considering I can't find the keyboard or mouse anywhere on the Apple Store or the Hardware section of their website that's gotta mean something.

Or is it because I just woke up and don't know what's going on.

Yes, you don't know whats going on: Folks are talking about brick and mortar Apple Stores, not online apple store.

[McMac]

I hope any revised keyboard is easier to clean than the current one.

[arn]

Here's a photo:

http://www.macrumors.com/downloads/keyboard_macrumors.jpg

Image provided by Andy Raffensperger.

[pianojoe]

Originally posted by macguymike
Personally, I'd like to see the return of the power button to Apple's keyboards. :D

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

[cubist]

That looks like a very good keyboard. I like the idea of the USB ports being on the back instead of the sides - it will look a lot cleaner on the desk. We can have all the wires underneath/behind the monitor.

[DHagan4755]

What would be the point of releasing a new keyboard without releasing new hardware alongside it (even if it does bluetooth)? I'm perplexed.

[DHagan4755]

And, oh by the way, since Apple has let the cat out of the bag with their banner ads of a new keyboard, could we assume that a future hardware or product announcement is coming this week?

*Cough* a new eMac *cough*

[jessebc]

I think this image might be flipped. This seems to be the left hand side of the keyboard and not the right. The right hand side would have the extended enter key.

This could mean that there is something on the right hand side... like a ipod like jog dial. I would rather have something like that on the left hand site... but the patent drawings did show it on the right.

[redAPPLE]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
I was surprised at the freedom they give you in the stores. For example, no problem getting into iChat and talking to friends online. And no problem setting preferences in an application or saving files to disk. I asked an employee how they keep the systems running when we untrustworthy customers have such freedom. He said they reinitialize from scratch regularly (daily?). Maybe they netboot them. In any case, it's a lot nicer than the stores where you're stuck in a demo or an At Ease/Multiple Users environment and can't really "take the machine for a spin".

anybody know which program they use to reinitialize?

[G4scott]

It seems very G4 Cube-ish...

But it does look very cool. Instead of the rounded design, the more squared look seems a bit cleaner. And the picture makes it look like the keys are just sitting in lucite. It may just be product photography, but it looks like a cool keyboard...

[mstur]

Originally posted by redAPPLE
anybody know which program they use to reinitialize?

That is a simple one: OSX Server ;-)

[mproud]

This has GOT to be a wireless keyboard. I see no cables, and there's no USB. Wireless keyboard and wireless mouse - these'll both be on the next eMac.

Proud

[mproud]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by macguymike
Personally, I'd like to see the return of the power button to Apple's keyboards.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!


Originally posted by macguymike
Personally, I'd like to see the return of the power button to Apple's keyboards.

Originally posted by pianojoe
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!
This will not happen.

Why?

Apple has phased out the power buttons because:

a) The standard method for turning on a computer esp. in the "PC world" is on the computer itself. It is not very intuitive having the power button on the keyboard. To tell you the truth, novice users get confused - why would the power button for the computer be on the keyboard? All new Macs have accesible power buttons. (Heh, remember some of those PowerMacs that had no hardware on button?)

b) The power button can be simulated by ctrl+eject. Try it out.

I admit, I'm one of the first to use that handy button in the top right corner of my keyboard. But I doubt it's ever coming back.

If you want your precious power button back, either program a key to run an applescript (with or without a prompt) to shut down/restart the computer. If you like powering it up from the keyboard, buy a thrid party keyboard with a power button.

[mykuki]

if apple released bluetooth mouse and keyboard both could use USB to charge.

this would seem at least to me the most appleish solution.

to go on:
since the keyboard would have USB it could double as a USB-hub when connected and even cooler: it could add bluetooth capability to older macs.

USB and bluetooth do go pretty well together in my opinion.

[arn]

Originally posted by mproud
This has GOT to be a wireless keyboard. I see no cables, and there's no USB. Wireless keyboard and wireless mouse - these'll both be on the next eMac.

Proud

It does not have Bluetooth:

See http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/04/20030427011347.shtml

[deejemon]

*

[BaghdadBob]

I'ts convenient. I understand it slows doen throughput, but when you have like five photos for ebay it's easier to stick your camera on the side of your keyboard than on the side of the mac. This convenience has actually been a bragging point for me to my PC friends.

But oh well,

The March...
Of Technology!

goes on. Sigh.

Oh, and as far as the power button goes, you can now sleep your computer with that button, so if we are emphasizing sleep (which I understand is good for your RAM, etc) then having it on the keyboard is convenient.

But I don't want a Compaq-like "email" or "internet" button on my keyboard. No thank you.

[Nightstalker]

Originally posted by jessebc
I think this image might be flipped. This seems to be the left hand side of the keyboard and not the right. The right hand side would have the extended enter key.

True, see the small space on the highest key row between the first and the second key? that is probably the space between "esc" and "F1".

Originally posted by jessebc
This could mean that there is something on the right hand side... like a ipod like jog dial. I would rather have something like that on the left hand site... but the patent drawings did show it on the right.

Where can i see those patent drawings?

Nightstalker

[makkystyle]

Originally posted by jessebc
I think this image might be flipped. This seems to be the left hand side of the keyboard and not the right. The right hand side would have the extended enter key

I don't think this is necessarily the case. On the PB keyboard (15") the enter key is only one row high, unlike the 12 and 17 which are two rows (am i the only one that thinks these keys aren't wide enough?). Also there is a gap between the eject key and the F11 key. Just a bit of nitpicking.

if you want to see the patent drawings nightstalker go to the thread on apple's new rotary mouse. There is a link somewhere in there.

[ultrafiel]

Ok, I don't think this has bluetooth, but I wonder about bluetooth mice and keyboards. I've never used one, but at work we have computers set up very close to each other, and the university labs are the same deal. So, if they all had bluetooth, how does the computer recognize which input to trust? Maybe there is a switch or something you can check for different channels, but when you have ten computers in the radius bluetooth could handle I hope it would still work. Just a question, anyone know?

[DHagan4755]

Is it me, or does this supposed new keyboard have a slightly more curved arch?

By the way, I think its important to note that Apple has never updated keyboards without also updating hardware simultaneously. The current white keyboard was a result of the new flat-panel iMac. The black pro keyboard was released during a MacWorld when iMac CRTs were revved, and previously the tiny keyboard and hockey puck mouse were heralded in with the original bondi iMac.

[MacFan25]

the pic looks pretty nice. Like the poster above me said, i think that a new keyboard will come with hardware updates. maybe emac updates?

[Nightstalker]

Originally posted by makkystyle
I don't think this is necessarily the case. On the PB keyboard (15") the enter key is only one row high, unlike the 12 and 17 which are two rows (am i the only one that thinks these keys aren't wide enough?). Also there is a gap between the eject key and the F11 key. Just a bit of nitpicking.

But as you say, you're talking about a PowerBook keyboard.
If this is going to replace the current Apple Pro Keyboard it will be a full sized keyboard wich makes your argumentation obsolete...

and btw, i still didnt find these pics for a newly patented keyboard...


Nightstalker

[Spart]

Note the clip that keeps wider keys from rocking (present on the shift key), and the elongated tab key:

[mnkeybsness]

Originally posted by Spart
Note the clip that keeps wider keys from rocking (present on the shift key), and the elongated tab key:

ha ha...very good observations...i was just about to do the same thing when i noticed your post

[mstecker]

I can't think of anything especially good to say about the last few batches of Apple keyboards. They feel cheap, soft, have key throws that are WAY too short, and have almost no positive tactile feedback.

As much as it pains me aesthetically, the keyboard on my G4 tower is a vintage IBM keyboard:


http://www.dansdata.com/ibmkeyboard.htm (IBM Buckling Spring Keyboard)

No one has produced a better keyboard before or since.

(I use it with a usb-ps2 converter, and key remapping software to help me get around the loss of discrete cmd and option keys).

[mkaake]

Originally posted by mstecker
http://www.dansdata.com/ibmkeyboard.htm (IBM Buckling Spring Keyboard)
[/B]

wow. that's sick dude.

although, the geek side of my brain really wants to type on one of those babies...

matt

[ibookin']

Originally posted by mstur
That is a simple one: OSX Server ;-)

Actually no. I've seen them reinstall all the systems when I was at the Apple Store Pasadena past closing time because of being at the Genius Bar getting my iBook sent in. They use LaCie firewire hard drives and a specialized program similiar to the software restore that comes with Apple computers.

[Freg3000]

Can this be a backlit keyboard? Apple should make a regular keyboard for a desktop with the lighted keyboard, just for a cool factor. Plus it can be useful if you have the lights off for some reason and are typing.

[aarond12]

Okay, you have convinced me this is a flipped picture. I do not like losing keyboard-mounted USB ports. It's very easy to attach my digital camera to the end of the keyboard to download pictures. Why take that away?

[arn]

Originally posted by aarond12
Okay, you have convinced me this is a flipped picture. I do not like losing keyboard-mounted USB ports. It's very easy to attach my digital camera to the end of the keyboard to download pictures. Why take that away?

I guess no one reads the front page (macrumors.com) anymore. I'll quote it here:

"Additional reports indicate that in the new Keyboard design, the USB ports have been moved to the back, positioned on either side of the keyboard cord."

arn

[dguisinger]

Originally posted by arn
I guess no one reads the front page (macrumors.com) anymore. I'll quote it here:

"Additional reports indicate that in the new Keyboard design, the USB ports have been moved to the back, positioned on either side of the keyboard cord."

arn

I like and hate this design.
It doesnt look adjustable, I hate that. I wish it had a more adjustable angle than the current keyboard.

Second, Its nice the mouse cable wont bunch up..........however, its not as easy to plug into the back. I'm not sure what to think of the USB positions.

[G4scott]

Guys, just for a second, stop and look around. We're all talking about rumors of a friggin keyboard that will be released shortly...

You can't help but to laugh at the fact that we're obsessing over the simplest things here...

I thought I'd just point out the humor in the topic of this thread. Nowhere have I seen keyboards discussed so much. I guess it's what makes us Mac Users...

[iElvis]

Originally posted by G4scott
...I thought I'd just point out the humor in the topic of this thread. Nowhere have I seen keyboards discussed so much. I guess it's what makes us Mac Users...

LOL :D :D couldn't have said it better.

And thats why i'm a Mac User** and not a PC User.

**Soon to be...once i have enough money.

[beatle888]

the thing is, if this forum discusses the latest keyboard in such detail, can you imagine how much the apple designers talk about them?

[BaghdadBob]

Originally posted by dguisinger
Second, Its nice the mouse cable wont bunch up..........however, its not as easy to plug into the back. I'm not sure what to think of the USB positions.
Well if they're concerned about the mouse cable getting bunched up why don't they just make it shorter? Makes about as much sense. And I don't like cables going any further than they need to, that just gives them more opportunity to get caught up in stuff. Personally I think the currnt positioning of the USB ports is ingenious. Do they have this on the PC?

And no, it's not as easy to access the back as it is the side...I read the front page all the time, arn :)

If they finally make USB 2.x default then having that port there is even more convenient for cameras, etc, because you won't have the throughput issue anymore (I think).

Obligatory extra emoticons: :confused: :p :eek: :D :rolleyes:

[Jeff Harrell]

Originally posted by mproud
All new Macs have accesible power buttons.

If you buy an Apple display, there's a touch-sensitive spot on the front that acts as the power button for the computer and monitor, and also as the "sleep" button.

I have a 17" Studio Display that's currently out with a burned-out backlight (darn it), so I'm using a friend's third-party CRT. The first thing that struck me was how blurry this CRT is compared to the Apple monitor, but the very next thing was the absence of that little glowing light. I turned the monitor off and sat there for a full minute, puzzled as to why my computer wasn't going to sleep.

I'm fine with having the power button on the monitor instead of the keyboard, especially if it helps keep the keyboards lean and mean.

[h00ligan]

Originally posted by ibookin'@mwny
Actually no. I've seen them reinstall all the systems when I was at the Apple Store Pasadena past closing time because of being at the Genius Bar getting my iBook sent in. They use LaCie firewire hard drives and a specialized program similiar to the software restore that comes with Apple computers.

it;s probaably caqrbon copy cloner, at my work it takes us about 14 mins to restore os x with classic environment, 4 mins to restore os 9 only, apps included. I know cuz i made the images :)

[Freg3000]

Originally posted by beatle888
the thing is, if this forum discusses the latest keyboard in such detail, can you imagine how much the apple designers talk about them?

I wish I could be a fly on the wall and listen in on the creative design meetings. I mean, seriously, I'd die to hear all the little plans of Jonathan Ive. :)

[Sun Baked]

Originally posted by arn
I guess no one reads the front page (macrumors.com) anymore. I'll quote it here:

"Additional reports indicate that in the new Keyboard design, the USB ports have been moved to the back, positioned on either side of the keyboard cord."

arn This is starting to make it look more and more like a part count reduction/design simplification.

Redesigning the case and reducing the part counts shaves some labor/part cost for the keyboard. And moving the USB ports to a location that can be place on the board will reduce time needed to assemble the keyboard.

If you can knock a buck out of the cost of the keyboard, it'll add up over a year.

And people do complain about the complexity of the keyboard after they've taken one apart to clean it.

[Jesus on OSX]

Originally posted by mac15
I hope the letters glow and are light sensative much like the ones on the 17 and 15 inch powerbooks

when did 15" PB ever have glowing keys? It's 17" exclusive.

[verndog]

First off, everyone has been talking about the USB being moved to the sides of the USB cord. My question is, how would these be oriented? I currently use a keyboard in front of my iBook, vs. the smaller built-in one, hopefully the USB cord won't be sticking straight out of the back, as it would force me to move the keyboard another 1.5" or so away from my comp. Perhaps they are sideways like the old performa keyboards, with the cord running in tracks along the back? Note also that the picture is taken is such a way that you can't see the middle of the back of the keyboard where these new ports are to be, rather it is shifted to the right so the the second row from the bottom is straight on.

One perhaps completely wrong idea could be a sort of mini keyboard, minus all the stuff on the right, arrows, keypad, etc. I don't really believe this is how it will be, but it came to my mind as a possible reason.

Lastly, I want to know why they would put that image up early first of, but secondly, why is it flipped? If they really wanted to put the left side of the keyboard up there, why flip it? It really seems odd to me. I posted a flipped picture below, and yes it does look right, but why?

But hey, what do I know

[Sherman]

I agree, that picture must be reversed. That or it doesn't have a numpad on it, which would be dissapointing for what's supposed to be a full size keyboard.

I have to say I would like one of those large IBM clicky-clakey keyboards. The one on my iBook is just wayyy to squishy for me. At work they have this old 386 with one of those keyboards attactched to it, I'm considiring stealing it for my own use. But whatever.

I do like the tactile feel of having a good click feeling. It's nice to have a keyboard that's supposed to do it, and it's not just crumbs caught under the keys...

[arn]

you guys are reading into the flipping thing far too much...

I bet the image was flipped so it would look better on the banner.

Little did that graphics art designer realize that such a minor change would spark so much speculation :)

arn

[zer0army]

If this keyboard is indeed released with a new eMac then I don’t think it is going to be anything special. Why would Apple introduce a new keyboard with Bluetooth, USB hub, drink holder or whatever else someone is going to dream up in the next few days on its lowest end machine ?

Maybe the new design was built around the idea of supporting Bluetooth or whatever but we wont see it in this design until a Powermac revision. (hopefully soon, and 970 too!)

[BaghdadBob]

Originally posted by Sherman
I do like the tactile feel of having a good click feeling. It's nice to have a keyboard that's supposed to do it, and it's not just crumbs caught under the keys...

I'm not sure whether it is ergonomically more correct or not, but I know when I worked at CIGNA I did just about nothing but type emails (business-related emails!! OK, over half of them...) 75% of the day, and I had a very heavy-stroke IBM keyboard.

I can say using my iMac keyboard at the end of the day took a LOT of adjustment, and I often didn't like it. However, since I've been using an Apple keyboard almost exlusively for a few months I've found that not only do I type faster, but my hands have less of a tendancy to ache, once I made the adjustment.

Once again, I don't know the ergonomics, but from my personal experience I am going to say that once you get used to it a softer keyboard is probably better for you. And as far as how far they stick out, as one poster commented on, those of us whose fingers tend to glide over the keys very low like this as we make less mistakes.

But to each his own...kinda like the mouse argument ;)

[Wardofsky]

Sorry, but I don't like the sie on look, unless you want to wedge your door open...

[redAPPLE]

Originally posted by jcontonio
Well damn, considering I can't find the keyboard or mouse anywhere on the Apple Store or the Hardware section of their website that's gotta mean something. I even searched on the Apple Store under Hardware and all that came up was an iMac and a Powermac. You can't buy the keyboard and mouse through the Apple Store?

Or is it because I just woke up and don't know what's going on.

i think, it is the second.

[redAPPLE]

Originally posted by h00ligan
it;s probaably caqrbon copy cloner, at my work it takes us about 14 mins to restore os x with classic environment, 4 mins to restore os 9 only, apps included. I know cuz i made the images :)

as far as i know, the Apple Stores use OS X only.

does not carbon copy cloner only work with os9 (classic)? if one wants a pure OS X environment, one must use another program...

correct me if i am wrong on these points...

[AppleMatt]

Originally posted by zer0army
drink holder or whatever

Now THERES an idea!

AppleMatt

(incidentally if you follow the keys along you can see a break, maybe where the keypad will be, maybe just where the enter key is)

[iAlan]

interesting design...not sure where the USB connection would go...interesting comments from many people...but it is only a keyboard after all...I am sure it will have added functionality (jog controllers, application launch buttons, etc)...I will not go out and buy one though...

[dstorey]

If this is forthe eMacit wont have bluetooth....imagine the kids fun (and teachers annoyance) from being able to swapp keyboards around so the user types into the wrong computer (also a big security risk when typing in passwords) and how easy they would be to steal. On computers designed for an officewhere users are more mature (or suppost to be ;)) and at home on the iMac line for eg it would be fine. Of course all rumors or most seem to point to no bluetooth too :(

I kinda like the look so far of this keyboard and don't as well. I like the clear plastic base and curved shape of the keys, looks very classy. ?I don't like how its not bluetooth, though as someone said, maybe a bluetooth could come out later for higher end machnes or maybe as a build to order option. I also dont like how you can see the inner workings of the keyboard (the part under the keys). It spoils the clean lines i think. Id prefere a brushed metal, chrome or white plastic strip there instead, going round the keyboard. Though maybe if it does have the light in the keyboard then it will look pretty dam cool with the blue glow coming out the side and lighting up the clear plastic stand part. That way it would kinda look like the keyboard is floating on blue light or something. I cant see any fibre optics under the keys though...bu t i don't know what i'm looking for so maybe there are some there somewhere.

[Grimace]

I don't see much point in bringing out a new keyboard if it doesn't have bluetooth. There is not much Apple can do with a keyboard except put a power button back on.

[itsbetteronamac]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
I asked an employee how they keep the systems running when we untrustworthy customers have such freedom. He said they reinitialize from scratch regularly (daily?). Maybe they netboot them".

I saw them the reinitializing from an external firewire hard drive. The just set it up and the screen of the computer just blinks do not touch until it's done.

[evilfunkgenius]

[evilfunkgenius]

This is taken from the Orlando store wall. Note the new keyboard in the grouping of items on the wall.

[evilfunkgenius]

And another.

[Nightstalker]

Thanks for the additional image, evilfunkgenius.
But the second picture you posted is the same as the first one...
(obviuosly you just corrected this :D )

And btw, is that just the perspective, or does the mouse in the lower left corner look different, too?

Nightstalker

[dstorey]

i was gonna say that, the mouse looks more chunky and the side look like it could be a button but its hard to tell....

[jcontonio]

You ever think that this could just be a total made image because the side of the real Apple Pro Keyboard is ugly?

[rt_brained]

If it's wireless, fine, but I'd still prefer to see USB ports on the side for wired mice and other devices. Sending wires out the back would not be efficient for those folks with limited desktop real estate and extra-large monitors.

My guess is that they'll launch wireless keyboards and mice and leave it to us to deal with whatever conflicts arise.

[Grimace]

I think most of us can agree that the future (say, 3 years from now) is with wireless everything (bluetooth or otherwise). I say, innovate now and make everyone else follow or flounder.

[jimjiminyjim]

Originally posted by arn
you guys are reading into the flipping thing far too much...

I bet the image was flipped so it would look better on the banner.

Little did that graphics art designer realize that such a minor change would spark so much speculation :)

arn

If we're going to speculate, let's speculate big. Let's give apple some ideas to think about. Let's get talking about things that don't exist. Bluetooth? It's out there. Where the USB is? Come on.

I want microphones on the keyboard. One on each side, they'd know how to cancel out key noise, and noise from outside the person speaking, after all, we all sit with keyboards straight on. And I want a video camera. Or a little video camera plug in in the center. And it needs to have wireless power, or one of those charging pads, at the very least.

And while they're at it, they can add a flip cover to the number pad that I can use as an iPod type conrol.

And for the power user, they can set up the keys to have changing letters/words. For gamers, the OS X should load key sets for games and programs, so that the space bar can say "fire" and the arrows can light up with left, right... and the p key can say pause.... or for people working with video/images:

Come on, if we're going to talk innovation, let's innovate.

There. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

[dantec]

About flipping, Apple did it before in an iMac brochure (333) multicolor ones. There was a lime iMac flipped the opposite way (faced you from the right side but had no ports).

[dstorey]

Originally posted by jimjiminyjim

And for the power user, they can set up the keys to have changing letters/words. For gamers, the OS X should load key sets for games and programs, so that the space bar can say "fire" and the arrows can light up with left, right... and the p key can say pause.... or for people working with video/images:



I had that idea a while ago in another thread. Basically i thought that the keyboard could have blank keys when off then the os controls what goes on the keys via the country settings so you dont need seperate keyboards for different zones and like you said, different programs could control the keys so that for eg pro tolls could colour the keys and set them up like the keyboard you can buy from them. This would be controlled by the dynamic ornimental thing, and they could even put icons on a key so that you could see what the shortcut cey maps are and keys change when you press the modifier keys like alt etc. I think it would be amazing if its possible.

also i think that innovation in power supply is important if blue tooth is to be used...eith a detachable firewire cord thats maybe hidden under the keyboard so you cant see it when not in use or solar power strip or something like kinetic energy.

[Doctor Q]

Big speculation? Apple was rumored to be working on lighted casings with programmable colors. So let's put some of those lights on the keyboard. Imagine if every key could light up with a color controlled by software. Think of the uses:

Listen to iTunes while your keyboard provides the psychedelic lighting:

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing With Color: the keys you are supposed to press turn green, keys you mistakenly press turn red.

Whack-a-Mole: smash the keys that light up. (And Apple will get to sell lots of replacement keyboards!)

[Grimace]

and how about a gentle massager where you put your wrists - not enough to jar typing, but just enough to keep you mellow.

[Nightstalker]

EDIT: i just realized that it's only the bigger version to the image evilfunkgenius posted earlier, sry for that

another picture i found on spymac.com

http://www.spymac.com/gallery/data/516/8373IMG_5112-med.jpg

see spymac link:
http://www.spymac.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=27982

[Kal-EL]

I have a question. I have read through every post today on the keyboard subject and looked at the pictures. Very nice picture of the Orlando store by the way ( I had a friend who was interviewed for the managers position there but didn't get it). The nearest Apple store for me is over an hour away, so I don't have the opportunity to just run down there which brings me to my question. For those that have been to a store and seen the Keyboard pictured on the banner, why hsan't anyone asked an employee of the store? Or if someone has, why hasn't it been posted here. If I could run down to a local Apple store, I would. I would then go up to the Genius bar and point out the keyboard on the banner with all the other items and tell the Genius I wanted to buy that keyboard but couldn't find it in the store could he/she help me find it. If it was an Apple branded keyboard it would be interesting to hear the reply. The genius might also say that it was a third party keyboard which would also answer the question. I would challenge every reader of this post who lives near an Apple store to do just that and then come back and post the results here. The reason I would ask the Genius instead of a regular employee is because I believe the Genius is more knowledgeable about future Apple products.

[Doctor Q]

Do any MacRumors members work at an Apple Store? I know that some have applied.

[dotcomlarry]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
Imagine if every key could light up with a color controlled by software. Think of the uses

Another practical uses:

Final Cut Pro/After Effects/Media 100/etc: colors light up according to shortcut grouping, much like the third-party keyboards sold for those programs.

[chamberlain]

I don't want to be a downer, but I have a feeling it is a third party keyboard. I have seen some new ones at CompUSA recently that heavily borrow their design from apple's. There are other third party products on that poster.

[morlium]

Originally posted by chamberlain
I don't want to be a downer, but I have a feeling it is a third party keyboard. I have seen some new ones at CompUSA recently that heavily borrow their design from apple's. There are other third party products on that poster.

it's way too prominent to be a third-party product.

the airport, mouse and keyboard are each pictured larger than the rest.

...and while we're discussing, does anyone think the mouse looks different?

[Grimace]

I don't think it's a separate mouse, it looks close enough. Apple may not have been shooting for perfection with the pictures.

[vitrector]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
I was surprised at the freedom they give you in the stores. For example, no problem getting into iChat and talking to friends online. And no problem setting preferences in an application or saving files to disk. I asked an employee how they keep the systems running when we untrustworthy customers have such freedom. He said they reinitialize from scratch regularly (daily?). Maybe they netboot them. In any case, it's a lot nicer than the stores where you're stuck in a demo or an At Ease/Multiple Users environment and can't really "take the machine for a spin".

I have seen the Apple store employees whipe the hard drives and reinstall everything off of iPods. They did this right at closing time when I observed it. I commented on the process and was told, that they do it to avoid problems (obviously) and do it daily... Anyway, how cool is it that they use iPods for this?

[yzedf]

Originally posted by ultrafiel
Ok, I don't think this has bluetooth, but I wonder about bluetooth mice and keyboards. I've never used one, but at work we have computers set up very close to each other, and the university labs are the same deal. So, if they all had bluetooth, how does the computer recognize which input to trust? Maybe there is a switch or something you can check for different channels, but when you have ten computers in the radius bluetooth could handle I hope it would still work. Just a question, anyone know?
Each bluetooth has its own MAC-style hardware address, plus the range of bluetooth is very short (~6ft). It's a combination of security through obscurity, and ancient old TCP/IP hardware basics.

[prewwii]

Keyboards for the swing arm type writers use to have that kind of arcing key row position. Karma all over again.

[letterspackages]

Originally posted by morlium
it's way too prominent to be a third-party product.

the airport, mouse and keyboard are each pictured larger than the rest.

...and while we're discussing, does anyone think the mouse looks different?


i was just about to post on that.

these are the two best photos i could find (via google image search, since apple.com/mouse now re-directs to the apple store) of the current pro mouse: #1 (http://macfannet.mycom.co.jp/special/MWCExpoSF2002/images/lcdimac/s-050.jpg) & #2 (http://www.jigsaw24.com/Pics/prodpics/M8690BA.jpg) and the in-store photo (http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=336910) posted earlier...

i'd say it looks different. a little more 'round' on the back end and like my crappy radioshack mice i use on my pcs... although it could be the angle-- it looks considerably shorter?

and a side view of the current keyboard (http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/2041/311/store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/whitekeyboard_125.jpg), for good measure.

[Finiksa]

Originally posted by redAPPLE
does not carbon copy cloner only work with os9 (classic)? if one wants a pure OS X environment, one must use another program...

Nope CCC is OS X native, I just used it to restore my classic free system which I'm typing on right now.

[digitalrampage]

The keys are different!

If you look at the side of a current mac keyboard, the bottom key is a solid ENTER Key.. but on this pic, its a split key...

Apple' added something, maybe the 104key keyboard is about to be re-invented....

I can't figure what, but did anyone else notice this... take a look at your keyboard, maybe im just crazy

[digitalrampage]

the shown metal bar thru the see through area is only used on long keys (like shift keys), so this is interesting..

However the simple explanation could be that some photoshopper in apple or if this is rubbish may have inversed a LEFT hand shot of the keyboard to fit in with the poster.

[Nightstalker]

digitalrampage:

better read the previous posts on this topic.

[docero]

Originally posted by Kal-EL
I would then go up to the Genius bar and point out the keyboard on the banner with all the other items and tell the Genius I wanted to buy that keyboard but couldn't find it in the store could he/she help me find it. If it was an Apple branded keyboard it would be interesting to hear the reply. The genius might also say that it was a third party keyboard which would also answer the question. I would challenge every reader of this post who lives near an Apple store to do just that and then come back and post the results here. The reason I would ask the Genius instead of a regular employee is because I believe the Genius is more knowledgeable about future Apple products.

hah! you've never talked to a Genius before, I guess. The Genius crew at my local Store is phenomenal, always surprising my with how much they know about all sorts of crap... but they don't know about future Apple products. No one at Apple who doesn't need to know doesn't know.

so at any rate, I tried this anyway. they're just as baffled as everyone else.

[Grimace]

In my experience, the Genius staff as well as other Apple Store staff play dumb pretty well. They have ideas of things that are being shipped, but can't disclose it. Makes sense - don't believe everything they say that they don't know about...

[Grimace]

One rep even told me to come back in two days for a "personal testdrive" of a new product which they would demo in the store.

I had been asking him about the 17" - he said that "the staff have no idea".

No demo...he wasn't working that day...but there were three 17" that surprisingly arrived...

[jimjiminyjim]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
Whack-a-Mole: smash the keys that light up. (And Apple will get to sell lots of replacement keyboards!)

THAT is funny. As gamers enter a whole new realm where all you need is a computer and a keyboard - screen optional.

[sweetaction]

that mouse has side buttons. did nobody else notice that!?

[redAPPLE]

Originally posted by vitrector
I have seen the Apple store employees whipe the hard drives and reinstall everything off of iPods. They did this right at closing time when I observed it. I commented on the process and was told, that they do it to avoid problems (obviously) and do it daily... Anyway, how cool is it that they use iPods for this?

yeah, imagine reinitializing your desktop or notebook to hide all those dirty porn pix and movs... pretending to sync your iPod...

but the real question would be, what software they are using...

[Spart]

Originally posted by sweetaction
that mouse has side buttons. did nobody else notice that!?

Those are not buttons. They are there so you can click and drag, and pick the mouse up off of the mousing surface. Every single Pro Mouse ever shipped has them.

[Finiksa]

Originally posted by sweetaction
that mouse has side buttons. did nobody else notice that!?

They aren't buttons they're the side grip to hold the top/button down when you pick the mouse up. The current pro mouse has 'em.

[MacQuest]

Originally posted by Nightstalker
digitalrampage:

better read the previous posts on this topic.


Ditto...:rolleyes:

READ THE POSTS!!:mad:

[MacQuest]

Originally posted by sweetaction
that mouse has side buttons. did nobody else notice that!?

OH FOR THE LOVE OF GAWD!!:mad: :mad: :mad:

I'm gonna go postal if I see more posts like this...:rolleyes:

[maxterpiece]

Originally posted by MacQuest
OH FOR THE LOVE OF GAWD!!:mad: :mad: :mad:

I'm gonna go postal if I see more posts like this...:rolleyes:

Be excited. BE BE excited. Side buttons! Rock on! Let's go to the casbah tonight and rock... ROCK! Mix-A-Lot's in charge.
Peace, I'm O-U-T,
Max

[BaghdadBob]

You guys are so quick to judge. I mean, who's to say those aren't side buttons just because they weren't before?

Like, remember the episode of Cowboy Beebop where the chick remembers when she's woken up from cryogenc slumber and the guy's all what's this, what's this, what's this, and, like, they turned out to all be different stuff than what she thought because she was in the future so the stuff she remembered looked like stuff but that was stuff that was different?

It's like that. Or it could be. Free your mind from like preconceptions that shakle your soul, brother.

[iDork]

Originally posted by MacQuest
OH FOR THE LOVE OF GAWD!!:mad: :mad: :mad:

I'm gonna go postal if I see more posts like this...:rolleyes:

Go ahead, we don't care. :eek:

[yuri_koval]

I think apple should keep its keboard design as it is.
I like the design of the apple keyboard.

[mim]

Originally posted by BaghdadBob
You guys are so quick to judge. I mean, who's to say those aren't side buttons just because they weren't before?

Like, remember the episode of Cowboy Beebop where the chick remembers when she's woken up from cryogenc slumber and the guy's all what's this, what's this, what's this, and, like, they turned out to all be different stuff than what she thought because she was in the future so the stuff she remembered looked like stuff but that was stuff that was different?

It's like that. Or it could be. Free your mind from like preconceptions that shakle your soul, brother.

BaghdadBob, that it possibly the least cohesive post I have read in my enitre life.

Congratulations!

:cool: