Thank you, Apple, for forcing me to buy another keyboard when my current one is completely sufficient. Why do you have to point a virtual gun (a beautifully designed new product) at my head and make me buy this?
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New iMac Keyboard Revealed?
- Thread starter mrat93
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I just wish "Apple, Inc" would release the darn thing so we can start critiquing the actual product!
At this point they may wait until after school starts, to try to sell off their exisiting higher profit margin iMacs. If they were going to update the iMac for the back to school season, they probably already would have.
At this point they may wait until after school starts, to try to sell off their exisiting higher profit margin iMacs. If they were going to update the iMac for the back to school season, they probably already would have.
I'm not sure if you've just not looked at the pictures and never seen a macbook, or if you intentionally entered falsehoods into your post.
The pictures clearly show USB ports on the side of the unit.
Second, my macbook pro uses every function key from F1 to F10 for something other than expose, etc...
F1 - dimmer screen
F2 - brighter screen
F3 - mute
F4 - volume down
F5 - volume up
F6 - num lock
F7 - screen toggle
F8 - keyboard backlight off
F9 - key backlight dimmer
F10 - key backlight brighter
F"13" - eject
It's so annoying, I had to dig and dig through system preferences to find the function key toggle so I could actually use expose, which is far more useful on a laptop than on a desktop due to the smaller screen size. And then the function key is on the opposite side of the keyboard, so I can't hit both keys one-handed.
As for replacing obscure, meaningless symbols with words, I can't tell you how many times I've told someone to press the command key and they say "the what?" and I have to say "the Apple key" and they say "oh" because the classic command symbol is not a "command" symbol it's a "place of interested symbol".
As for the symbols in the menus, well, let's see if the genius who got rid of the scroll bars on the iPhone can work his magic there as well.
We might actually get keys that have the symbol and the word, like the commad key, that would be cool.
And finally, as for moving the eject, and volume keys from the last four positions on the right, that sucks. It was easy to say "press the eject key, on the upper right of the keyboard." Now I have to say "press the eject key, in the upper right of the left most part of the keyboard" or "the eject key, in the upper middle of the keyboard, slightly to the right ... nevermind, I'll do it myself."
Oh yeah, and the only time I ever had to replace an Apple keyboard was when mine got run over by a car...
The reason these keys are missing is because an extra part to this keyboard is missing. A matching brushed metal Apple Remote can magnetically be connected to it, which includes volume and so on. Similar to the detachable Logitech DiNovo keyboard.
Looks Photoshopped to me.
I'm hoping for a Bluetooth keyboard w/ a multi-touch touchpad. I know some people don't like 'em, but I'm loving the two-finger scrolling on my MacBook.
I'm hoping for a Bluetooth keyboard w/ a multi-touch touchpad. I know some people don't like 'em, but I'm loving the two-finger scrolling on my MacBook.
F4 is a small clock, and therefore Time Machine? 
I doubt its Power, why have a power button on the keyboard of a Desktop?
Overall, Im massively divided over this keyboard. On the one hand, its a stylish design in terms of thickness, shape etc. However, I dont think the white plastic keys look good at all with the brushed aluminium outer casing. I also think that this design wouldnt be terribly ergonomic when it comes to typing. Yes, the MacBook keyboard is nice, but lay it flat on a table and I cant see it working too well. Also, why move all the keys around so much?
I seriously doubt this is the real deal, based purely on the fact all the shortcut keys have moved so much. No way would Apple want to do that.
P.S Have any keyboard shortcuts been mentioned in the Leopard demos? Because if they still put Dashboard as F12 etc, then this is fake, no?
I doubt its Power, why have a power button on the keyboard of a Desktop?
Overall, Im massively divided over this keyboard. On the one hand, its a stylish design in terms of thickness, shape etc. However, I dont think the white plastic keys look good at all with the brushed aluminium outer casing. I also think that this design wouldnt be terribly ergonomic when it comes to typing. Yes, the MacBook keyboard is nice, but lay it flat on a table and I cant see it working too well. Also, why move all the keys around so much?
I seriously doubt this is the real deal, based purely on the fact all the shortcut keys have moved so much. No way would Apple want to do that.
P.S Have any keyboard shortcuts been mentioned in the Leopard demos? Because if they still put Dashboard as F12 etc, then this is fake, no?
F4 is a small clock, and therefore Time Machine?
I doubt its Power, why have a power button on the keyboard of a Desktop?
It is most definitely power. It is the same symbol as power. My iMac has a power key on its keyboard. Why not have one? It's my preferred way of turning it on.
Actually, that makes me more confident this is real. There is a blue to yellow gradation from left to right that is a smooth gradient, possibly explained by lighting angle/shadow. The big smear I say would be from fingers wiping off the top layer of whatever. Makes me think it's a prototype.
metal & white
you forgot:
I'm not sure I like the looks of this keyboard prototype, but I do approve of the MacBook-style chicklet keys.
I didn't think I would like them, but I went to a store to try typing on a MacBook and I decided I like them.
Ahem...it's nothing new.
you forgot:
I'm not sure I like the looks of this keyboard prototype, but I do approve of the MacBook-style chicklet keys.
I didn't think I would like them, but I went to a store to try typing on a MacBook and I decided I like them.
That's not design error.... P.E.B.K.A.C.
I hate it because they went Vista and changed things that didn't need to be changed... but I am calming down now that I know it is a bad mockup.
It's been there for a good while... It will never change back. This is the 21st century and there is no reason for Apple to change things that work. Leave the Apple logo there, right where it is. Moving it would be like Microsoft.
That would suck. I would have to buy a keyboard and the remote for my MacPro and have a useless remote. Or for my MacBook Pro and have a second useless remote.
It is photoshopped. I hope the multi-touch never makes it to an Apple keyboard ever. The mouse is much more versatile. Fix the mighty mouse scroll ball which sucks and keep the keyboard, which has been fine since its inception, the same. Change the design slightly, keep the key layout.
And what kind of engineer do you purport to be, exactly? I'm not sure what your issues are with the icons being used for Expose and Dashboard. The Expose icon is the same as the one being used in System Preferences and it can be seen in many screenshots of Leopard. The Dashboard icon is the same as the one in your dock and/or Applications folder, the dial with a meter.
The Apple logo serves no functional purpose on today's Macs whereas the cloverleaf actually is used throughout the OS for shortcuts. To continue using the Apple logo would confuse new users into thinking this key opened the Apple menu, much like how the Windows key opens the start menu. There will be less confusion, and now every icon has a purpose.
The eject key caused problems for many when it was on the edge of the keyboard and was often hit by mistake. Perhaps Apple did some user studies and research to find it was better placed further in on the keyboard and coincidentally in the identical spot as on MacBooks - consistency strike again.
Function keys on the right are programmable, and are most likely for spreadsheet applications to be used in conjunction with the numeric pad. The 'Function' key that replaces 'Help' is a modifier for the appropriate Expose and Dashboard F-keys.
An engineer analyzes, finds connections, and believe it or not needs to think a bit. You can't attack it, probably out of fear of change, and claim fake before even beginning to wonder why these changes could make sense and lead to better usability.
Looks nice, let's hope it's real.
I'd also like one to be Bluetooth and with illuminated keys, like my MBP.
I'd also like one to be Bluetooth and with illuminated keys, like my MBP.
I say keep the "alt" for switchers who need it. Plus, that start menu thingy in windows is annoying - I have to use it as my option key in my emulated system. Is there a way to keep it from opening the start menu?
FAKE!!!!!
Too many reasons... but the most noticeable is the total inconsistancy of shadows on the back. Some light sources coming from the top, some from the bottom, some from the side...
Too many reasons... but the most noticeable is the total inconsistancy of shadows on the back. Some light sources coming from the top, some from the bottom, some from the side...
Its a fake. You can clearly see that the faker simply edited a macbook keyboard. While else would it go f12, eject ,and then return to the f keys. Also notice the size of the space bar its laptop sized. Its not only a fake but a totally unbelievable one.
If you look at it from a purely spacial stand point its not possible either. The usb cable is a standard thickness. It would need to either come into a area slightly larger then it or be slimmed down right at the connector. Neither of them are shown.
Finally the back of the keyboard makes mention of Apple Computer not Apple inc. It is also lacking the "Designed by Apple in California" thing they put on the bottom of every single product they make.
If you look at it from a purely spacial stand point its not possible either. The usb cable is a standard thickness. It would need to either come into a area slightly larger then it or be slimmed down right at the connector. Neither of them are shown.
Finally the back of the keyboard makes mention of Apple Computer not Apple inc. It is also lacking the "Designed by Apple in California" thing they put on the bottom of every single product they make.
I was wondering the same; the keys sit at a lower height than most regular keyboards so it may be more ergonomic than it looks.
Other than that, I agree that the white/metal look doesn't click that great, and I don't know what the newer iMacs will look like but this new keyboard would look great with a Mac Pro or a G5. I'm also impressed about the slim-ness of it. You'd figure they might re-design the Mighty Mouse if they re-design the keyboard. I'm looking forward to all the new stuff as well.
Someone doesn't remember the hockey puck mouse....
Ug, that was horrible. One of three things I upgraded on my iMac (the others being the RAM and DSL over the internal modem when it busted).
Agreed!
Yes, ALU all over!
swingerofbirch
macrumors 68040
The keyboard is beautiful. If it's a faked picture, Apple should still make it or someone else should. Looks very easy to clean!