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New iMac Keyboard Revealed?

Macky-Mac said:
the lack of an apple logo on the command key puts me in the doubting camp
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I am so tired of hearing this.

As for the "tan" look that everyone's complaining about, I'm pretty sure it's just lighting. Sometimes my iMac's stand looks tan-ish, not silver. I honestly never noticed this look in the photos because it seemed normal to me. Looks exactly like the adonized aluminum Apple uses everywhere else.

The whole "tan" argument is just an illusion exaggerated by the would-be haters.
 
cleanup said:
I am so tired of hearing this.

As for the "tan" look that everyone's complaining about, I'm pretty sure it's just lighting. Sometimes my iMac's stand looks tan-ish, not silver. I honestly never noticed this look in the photos because it seemed normal to me. Looks exactly like the adonized aluminum Apple uses everywhere else.

The whole "tan" argument is just an illusion exaggerated by the would-be haters.
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I think it's tan because they were experimenting with colors in a prototype.
 
CBAviator said:
The reports about a newly designed keyboard usually mention that the keyboard will be LIKE the MacBook...not IDENTICAL. Too many times I hear people saying "oh, this has to be false because the MacBook isn't like that." Well, things do change over time. What may not be appealing to your eyes may be appealing to an Apple Developer's eyes. Just because you don't like the way something is centered (or not) certainly doesn't mean that's how a majority felt if Apple, say, took surveys or received comments.
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Right - and people get ridiculously hung up on the minute details of these news bits (possible sneak peaks, etc...). This is most likely a NEAR PRODUCTION PROTOTYPE. There's no telling whether this is the final cosmetic unit (again, a reference to what is labeled on the underside of the keyboard). People need to calm down. It likely is a near-production prototype. I really like it, typing on the Macbook-style keyboard is a really pleasant experience, much nicer than traditional keyboards IMO (less mechanical key travel between "pushes" allows me to type faster, and the keyboards are generally quieter). Ergonomically they feel fine to me.
 
cleanup said:
I am so tired of hearing this.

As for the "tan" look that everyone's complaining about, I'm pretty sure it's just lighting. Sometimes my iMac's stand looks tan-ish, not silver. I honestly never noticed this look in the photos because it seemed normal to me. Looks exactly like the adonized aluminum Apple uses everywhere else.

The whole "tan" argument is just an illusion exaggerated by the would-be haters.
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It is just lighting. The back of the iPhone looked tan in certain pictures too, but now we all know that it's anodized aluminum like everything else.
 
CBAviator said:
I'll agree with you on this one in terms of the colors. I, however, believe this to be legit.



I do know something about photoshop being as I am an avid photographer. However, I also know that jagged edges do appear with curved objects when Photoshop is zoomed in/out at certain ratios. Whether it's a limit of the graphics card or what I am unsure. If this happens and the photo is saved at that exact dimension and posted on the web, it's very possible for it to appear jagged. Compression can also cause this. The same type effect can happen when taking photos of people wearing fine stripped shirts...they tend to make a curvy motion at certain zoom ratios.



The reports about a newly designed keyboard usually mention that the keyboard will be LIKE the MacBook...not IDENTICAL. Too many times I hear people saying "oh, this has to be false because the MacBook isn't like that." Well, things do change over time. What may not be appealing to your eyes may be appealing to an Apple Developer's eyes. Just because you don't like the way something is centered (or not) certainly doesn't mean that's how a majority felt if Apple, say, took surveys or received comments.



...maybe until now. Maybe Apple decided to do something a little different. After all, that appears to be the direction they are heading. An old dog may not change and learn new tricks, but Apple certainly isn't an old dog and Apple certainly has the right to change things if they want. There is no manual saying they have to do things as they have always done them (or else they'd be like many of the other computer companies).

It's certainly not my intent to be rude or anything...just pointing out a few things.
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I am glad we agree on the tan-ish metal being lighting, but you didn't mention your thoughts about the cable being bluish. And regardless of your thoughts I still think it's fake.

As far as the jagged cutout of the usb cable, it is not gonna have anything to do with your processor or whether the view was zoomed in or out (maybe if it was a screenshot of the picture at a view other than 100% but thats silly), the fact is, the jagged-ness does not appear anywhere else. parts of the cable were cutout better than other parts. That is inconsistent regardless of what you think the cause is. It's also not a aliasing issue if that is what you were trying to say because that's more of a vector rendering type thing, plus there's no pixelation, just a pattern that shows up when someone uses the erase tool or the quick mask tool.

And as far as the other inconsistencies regarding where things are placed on the keyboard. It's not a matter of what I think is aesthetically pleasing. It's bad design, and Apple doesn't have inconsistencies like this hardly ever, none I can think of off the top of my head.

I just don't understand why so many people find this thing so legit, Apple isn't gonna get rid of the apple on the command button just like windows never will. And IF they did, then why? That's not the reason I think it's fake though. Look at the bottom of the keyboard, .7mm? that is small! and there's nothing 0.5 that would equal the same as .7mm. None that I can think of.

Whoever took the photos is kinda ghetto with the cheap dirty ruler and the Nikon lens cap or whatever that is with the Nikon logo.

I'm not saying apple wouldn't change because who here thought a Intel change would've been in Apple computers 4 years ago? But seriously this just doesn't look real when you analyze it closely. Call me wrong but that's my opinion and everyone else has theirs too.
 
Poor image quality sometimes appears when careless designers mix images of different resolutions, and especially when dropping an image with a low DPI into an image with a higher one.

Based on the image quality, lighting, keyboard layout, and flawed design this thing is obviously a fake and it is starting to loose its "Cool a MacBook keyboard in a desktop form!" feel. Now it is just tacky and I know it will be a pain in the arse to use. The MacBook keyboard may be comfortable and what not... but it can't replace a desktop keyboard with big keys. Leave the slim line keyboard to the laptop lovers and give those the use big desktop our big keyboards.

Those that say the image is fake have given a lot of prove as to the fact. Those that say it is real... we know... we like to dream to.
 
China makes everything cheap. It's a wonder why their economy hasn't fallen.

Anyways, even if it wasn't a fake, it would have only been a prototype. There is absolutely no way that apple would allow a product to be seen before release.
 
it cant be just me but the keyboard looks REALLY UGLY and the fact that it doesnt look comfortable to type on doesnt seem to help

and hasn't apple learned anything about wrist rests on a keyboard yet??
 
The real deal...

Speaking as a professional product designer, I say it's real.

I haven't had time to go through all 600 posts so I apologize if I repeat something already mentioned.

First, "not cosmetic" mean it really works. A "cosmetic" unit would look just like a working unit but would be an apperance model. This one is functional and may or may not have the final colors and material finishes. But this one looks like it does have the correct finishes.

Second, the movment of the function key shortcuts has Apple written all over it. Why would a knock off want to piss people off by moving hot keys? That would take re-writing Mac OS software. I beleive someone could physically create a knock off Apple keyboard without cooperation from Apple, but re-map keyboard shortcuts? I think not.

In fact Apple loves to mess with something like the keyboard layout for the sake of consistency. Now they can have the same keyboard layout for both laptops and desktops. The eject key on my MacBook Pro is F13. Now the new iMac will be the same. It's actually brilliant. I love that Apple isn't afraid to offend a few people in order improve ease of use.

As for the removal of the :apple: from the cmd key. Now they can sell this thing to windows or linux users. Again, briliant. Plus the :apple: is just confusing. It's refered to as the command key and its symbol is a cloverleaf. The :apple: part never enters the equation. I too pine for the days when I'd close this window with an "Open Apple - W". But we've all grown up and now it's "cmd-W"

As far as the appearence is concerned, everyone is entitled to thier opinion. I think it's hot. It made me look down at my current wireless keyboard and think "wow, that looks old". Whether it's "stylish" or not (a word I detest) it looks modern, thin, and light. To paint the keys silver would incure extra cost. I'm sure the MacBook Pro keyboard is expensive with its backlit painted and etched keys. The new iMac is gonna have some white plastic on it, so it's gotta match. Plus there is an authenticity to the use of real metal. Having painted keys would ruin that.

All in all, this thing has got me very excited about the new iMac! I am inclinde to believe Apple is allowing these pictures to stick around just to build hype. I mean, who here was worried about the keyboard of the new iMac? It would be like showing the new earbuds for the 6G iPod. A "Cease and Desist" isn't needed but someone is going to get in big trouble.
 
I said it was fake, but now I have a closer look at it and thinking on what S_S said, I think this could well and truely be the new iMac Keyboard.















WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!​
 
starscream45 said:
Very interesting, would Apple honestly allow this? NOOOO
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You an get anything in China..... Diesel Jeans at the factory door etc

I don't believe it would be hard for someone at the plant to get their hands on some of these.

That doesnt mean i think its legit though, i am just saying.
 
S_S said:
Speaking as a professional product designer, I say it's real.

I haven't had time to go through all 600 posts so I apologize if I repeat something already mentioned.

First, "not cosmetic" mean it really works. A "cosmetic" unit would look just like a working unit but would be an apperance model. This one is functional and may or may not have the final colors and material finishes. But this one looks like it does have the correct finishes.

Second, the movment of the function key shortcuts has Apple written all over it. Why would a knock off want to piss people off by moving hot keys? That would take re-writing Mac OS software. I beleive someone could physically create a knock off Apple keyboard without cooperation from Apple, but re-map keyboard shortcuts? I think not.

In fact Apple loves to mess with something like the keyboard layout for the sake of consistency. Now they can have the same keyboard layout for both laptops and desktops. The eject key on my MacBook Pro is F13. Now the new iMac will be the same. It's actually brilliant. I love that Apple isn't afraid to offend a few people in order improve ease of use.

As for the removal of the :apple: from the cmd key. Now they can sell this thing to windows or linux users. Again, briliant. Plus the :apple: is just confusing. It's refered to as the command key and its symbol is a cloverleaf. The :apple: part never enters the equation. I too pine for the days when I'd close this window with an "Open Apple - W". But we've all grown up and now it's "cmd-W"

As far as the appearence is concerned, everyone is entitled to thier opinion. I think it's hot. It made me look down at my current wireless keyboard and think "wow, that looks old". Whether it's "stylish" or not (a word I detest) it looks modern, thin, and light. To paint the keys silver would incure extra cost. I'm sure the MacBook Pro keyboard is expensive with its backlit painted and etched keys. The new iMac is gonna have some white plastic on it, so it's gotta match. Plus there is an authenticity to the use of real metal. Having painted keys would ruin that.

All in all, this thing has got me very excited about the new iMac! I am inclinde to believe Apple is allowing these pictures to stick around just to build hype. I mean, who here was worried about the keyboard of the new iMac? It would be like showing the new earbuds for the 6G iPod. A "Cease and Desist" isn't needed but someone is going to get in big trouble.
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I like your rationalising. I couldnt figure out why Apple drop the Apple and relayout everything but this makes sense now. (Although why did they not map the audio controls to F3-F5 rather than F9-F11. I want expose access and yet this convenience is a bit lost as I need to function key it...)

My only real concern now is the BT version. I would be pretty annoyed if they release a new shiney iMac design but for wireless I am stuck with the existing keyboard (which I am typing on now). Obviously I would get the wired BUT it would annoy me because wireless is so convienent.
 
aswitcher said:
My only real concern now is the BT version. I would be pretty annoyed if they release a new shiney iMac design but for wireless I am stuck with the existing keyboard (which I am typing on now). Obviously I would get the wired BUT it would annoy me because wireless is so convienent.
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Why would Apple not release a BT version?
 
It doesn't seem Apple-consistent to move some of those hot keys around, since they won't fit with some of Apple's other products. For example, if that's the new layout in that prototype, where will Apple put the hotkeys for the keyboard backlight on the MacBook Pro? Why only one key for Exposé? There are three Exposé hotkeys. And what about Spaces? Why no hotkey for that? Since it is a prototype, I bet the moving around of some of those hotkeys will not be present in the final shipping version.
 
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