Apple Keyboard Revision

[BaghdadBob]

I like the USB Port on my keyboard

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]

bluetooth question?

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]

The image IS flipped.

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

 

[mnkeybsness]

Re: The image IS flipped.

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]

Buckling Springs! Please!

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

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]

Re: Buckling Springs! Please!

Originally posted by mstecker
http://www.dansdata.com/ibmkeyboard.htm
[/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]

Keyboard

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]

Re: Keyboard

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]

Re: Re: Keyboard

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 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]

Re: Re: Re: Keyboard

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:

 

[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]

Re: Re: Keyboard

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.