New iMac Keyboard Revealed?

[starscream45]

fake

You tell me, have you noticed that the "M" is simply an upside down "W" on the current keyboards too? ( http://www.macworld.com/2006/05/images/content/macbook-keys.jpg )

too many signs pointing to fake, that truly is an upside down W.

That and look at the size on the back, .5 (0.7mm). Anyone have any idea how small .7mm is? and what is the relationship to .5 because nothing .7mm equals .5.

Apple hasn't asked any sites to remove the keyboard images. That doesn't seem very Apple-like. They like to keep everything secret. So if it was real they'd have asked macrumors and engadget to remove the photos.

The keys are mixed up AND the apple on the command key is gone.

The command key says command and has the symbol. Doesn't this seem redundant for Apple as they have never used a symbol on a key and also wrote it out. That's just repetitive, AND inconsistent with anything they've done before.

The keyboard has no curve to it. That thing is NOT gonna be very functional and Apple is known for being very functional and good looking. That keyboard is gonna give you carpal tunnel. Apple is not gonna do that to us. The curve to the keyboard is there for a reason.

That and apple is not gonna put the usb port on the sides, the mouse cord is gonna get in the way of itself. They put the usb port on the top for a reason.

The jagged edges on the usb cord in the birds eye view of the keyboard tell me that it has been cut around in photoshop and added. It's sloppy photoshopping, it's not pixelation OR aliasing. Zoom in on it in photoshop you can tell. And it only shows in some areas and not others, further proving it's NOT pixelation or aliasing.

The keyboard is tan-ish because of the lighting, and the USB cord is bluish because of different lighting. Further proving the cord was added in photoshop and therefore wouldn't be a working model.

Plus it's ugly. If by a strange chance this was real, i'll stick with my current keyboard or buy a 3rd party keyboard.

 

[Tom B.]

I 99% believe that this is something that Apple have made.

The way the function keys have been moved around indicates that it is not fake. If it was fake, why would the faker do this?
The way the command key does not have an Apple on indicates that it is not fake. If it was fake, why would the faker do this?
Pretty much everything about it indicates that it is not fake.

How can people still say it's fake?

 

[c.joe.go]

why would apple have sites remove the pictures? wouldn't that raise more speculation and interest on something they are already certain to know has been spawning so much conversation on forums.

let the pictures stay online, let people claim it is fake or "un-apple", and laugh when you pull the curtain on a very similar or inspired piece.

 

[starscream45]

why would apple have sites remove the pictures? wouldn't that raise more speculation and interest on something they are already certain to know has been spawning so much conversation on forums.

let the pictures stay online, let people claim it is fake or "un-apple", and laugh when you pull the curtain on a very similar or inspired piece.

Why is a good question? But Apple never lets this stuff be seen before it's released. They were so secretive about the iPhone that the testers went out in public with the iPhone disguised as a different phone, read about it on digg.com. I just read that. This is just the way apple is, and I doubt they'd change with the keyboard.

 

[Digital Skunk]

I don't understand how that betters the case of it being fake. The M on the MB KB and on this keyboard are both upside-down W's. How does that make it more fake?

Also, this means the person couldn't have built it himself out of MB keys because there is no number in the corner of the M and nearby keys for the keypad.

It means they took the photo and photoshopped it together, Apple can't be that lazy to just use the same keyboard from a laptop and turn it into a desktop keyboard with an awful key layout. If Apple did then we have seen the end of greatness and Steve Jobs will fade away into the pages of history. Apple will then revert back to 1990's Apple with the hockey puck mouse, G4 Cube, clamshell iBook, and AT&T phone service.

I 99% believe that this is something that Apple have made.

The way the function keys have been moved around indicates that it is not fake. If it was fake, why would the faker do this?

Because he/she is an idiot and knows nothing of electronics design or consistency in Apple products.

The way the command key does not have an Apple on indicates that it is not fake. If it was fake, why would the faker do this?

Because he/she is a moron, and knows nothing of what was previously said above.

Pretty much everything about it indicates that it is not fake.

How can people still say it's fake?

Are you serious? Please tell me you're not serious. Let me edit your post for you:

I 99% believe that this is something that Apple have made.

The way the function keys have been moved around indicates that it is not fake. If it was fake, why would the faker do this?
The way the command key does not have an Apple on indicates that it is not fake. If it was fake, why would the faker do this?
Pretty much everything about it indicates that it is not fake.

How can people still say it's fake?

Naw just kidding... I know it's a fake because of the hundreds of posts where people gave solid evidence that it isn't real, and from the inconsistencies in Apple design and keyboard design. Besides, this thing is FUGLY!

 

[Phormic]

Just one thing. Why would you fake a new keyboard? Wouldn't the fraudsters gain far more "prestige" by faking the new iMac or faking the iPhone Nano? Why fake a keyboard? It's only one step above faking a new power transformer. Actually, it would probably be much EASIER to fake a new iMac than fiddle about with keys.

Reason. Logic. Think about it people.

 

[starscream45]

Just one thing. Why would you fake a new keyboard? Wouldn't the fraudsters gain far more "prestige" by faking the new iMac or faking the iPhone Nano? Why fake a keyboard? It's only one step above faking a new power transformer. Actually, it would probably be much EASIER to fake a new iMac than fiddle about with keys.

Reason. Logic. Think about it people.

You're right, think about it. wouldn't it be easier to make a keyboard and base it off of an existing keyboard (macbook) and then scramble some keys around and add some silly icons and call it good? It'd be a lot easier. Plus it'd look real silly to copy the macbook screen into a new imac.

 

[mathwhiz90601]

Apple hasn't asked any sites to remove the keyboard images. That doesn't seem very Apple-like. They like to keep everything secret. So if it was real they'd have asked macrumors and engadget to remove the photos.

Ah, but doing so would indicate it was real, and people would go ballistic. By neither confirming nor denying they can build up the suspense and say: "Yep, it was real! Ha ha!"

That and apple is not gonna put the usb port on the sides, the mouse cord is gonna get in the way of itself. They put the usb port on the top for a reason.

What? Apple puts USB ports on the top? My keyboard has it on the sides...

You're right, think about it. wouldn't it be easier to make a keyboard and base it off of an existing keyboard (macbook) and then scramble some keys around and add some silly icons and call it good? It'd be a lot easier. Plus it'd look real silly to copy the macbook screen into a new imac.

Why would the guy go and make a new keyboard out of macbook parts? Plus, how'd he get the numbers off the keypad keys?

 

[arn]

why would apple have sites remove the pictures?

For what it's worth, here's my take on it:

http://normalkid.com/2007/07/28/final-verdict-keyboard-fake-ipod-ui-real/

with a history of Apple's legal involvement in leaks.

arn

 

[Will_reed]

i like the keys (always loved the macbook keyboard), but i'm not sure i'm a fan of the white on metal look. i'm always wondering about a wireless version. where could the batteries go?

They could always use a slim line battery back, I would actually prefer it this way. That way you could plug it into the USB every so often when the battery goes flat instead of buying more AAs.

 

[The Macster]

What? Apple puts USB ports on the top? My keyboard has it on the sides...

I think he means at the back of the keyboard (where the cord comes out).
Apple has made various keyboards changing the USB ports layout.

 

[mathwhiz90601]

I think he means at the back of the keyboard (where the cord comes out).
Apple has made various keyboards changing the USB ports layout.

Man, I AM out of it! I'm still using the KB that shipped with my iMac 7 years ago. Too bad its mostly broken. This is an example of how it types:

hellomynameisbobsmith.mykeyboardisbrokenbecausemycatspilledwateronit.darnthatcat1healwaysmesseseverythingup.it'salwayshisfault.bytheway,heisofficiallyevil.hegotontowww.catsthatlooklikehitler.com

And so forth.

 

[unimac]

Apple store website down !!!

The apple store website is ... Well, done.
*Gets the nervous jitters

 

[ju5tin81]

UK 1 still up though...

It's a Monday... and it's unusual for updates on this day.... Might be more boring maintenance like last time....

Still hoping though!

 

[koobcamuk]

UK 1 still up though...

It's a Monday... and it's unusual for updates on this day.... Might be more boring maintenance like last time....

Still hoping though!

I can access the UK store. Here's hoping for an update!

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I don't know if anyone's mentioned this, but there was a lot of talk of the Apple sticker on the back of the keyboard not looking like Apple's..

Well, if you go to Apple's website, on the navigation menu the Apple that Apple inc uses is the same one that's in the photo... I just realized that.

 

[blipoids]

Just one thing. Why would you fake a new keyboard? Wouldn't the fraudsters gain far more "prestige" by faking the new iMac or faking the iPhone Nano? Why fake a keyboard? It's only one step above faking a new power transformer. Actually, it would probably be much EASIER to fake a new iMac than fiddle about with keys.

Reason. Logic. Think about it people.

You made my day!

 

[happylittlemac]

I feel it's just a fake, it looks nice, but I think it will be a photoshop job.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Just one thing. Why would you fake a new keyboard? Wouldn't the fraudsters gain far more "prestige" by faking the new iMac or faking the iPhone Nano? Why fake a keyboard? It's only one step above faking a new power transformer. Actually, it would probably be much EASIER to fake a new iMac than fiddle about with keys.

Reason. Logic. Think about it people.

Where have you been since Apple's inception....? Or since Steve came back...? People make mockups of all apple products and have been for years and every one will continue to suck sans a few done by actual product designers. Every iMac mockup on the web sucks except for the one with the clear screen. That is the only one that carries Apple's design and innovation style, although some elements won't be available for many years to come. The keyboard was just easier to do for them I guess, or maybe they got tired of seeing iMac and iPhone mockups.

Geeks that just get their grubby hands on Photoshop think they are digital wizards by plastering a black box over top of the side of G5 or use Blender to make the iPhone into some God awful touchscreen iMac... it's horrible. I am glad that they don't work with JI or any part of Apple. They are young and influenced by the hype of new technology and Star Trek and don't take much practicality into consideration. Here is some of what I am talking about.



FUGLY... beyond FUGLY.... no imagination what so ever and this thing is just terrible... let me not waste my typing.



Even Fuglier. Can't believe they spent the time.



This is exactly what I am talking about. This thing took no effort but all the MacRumors newbies were "Gee Goshing" it like it could have actually happened... Not trying to be too harsh but where have you ever seen Apple design like this? They blew us away with the iPhone design and then some guy thinks... "Hey the next iMac could look like this..." If it did then the machine better read my mind or do something amazing because it's bad.



Now we all know what the iPhone looks like for real... so it really makes the mockups look terrible... but this was a nicer try then the ones that looked like iPods with numeric buttons on it. Let's take this for example. This is the mockup by a guy that had some imagination... Apple introed the iPhone and the design simply destroyed our wildest imaginations. So why would Apple toss us scraps from the MacBook table to feed our desktop keyboard needs? Why would they ever design something that was awful to use or too ugly to put on your desk next to you beautiful Apple product?



This design has plenty of flaws I am sure but at least the designer thought of new and innovative ways to compute. That's what Apple does... that follows Apple's company profile that's Apple's essence... combine that with consistency and you have a company that can double their market share with paltry updates to their computers and one very cool phone.

Now, out of all of those designs which one would you pay $2000 for? None right? I wouldn't pay $29 for a laptop keyboard that was frankensteined into an uncomfortable aluminum inclosure either. And as stated before.... the layout makes no sense whatsoever... and Apple doesn't make products that make no sense. They may be expensive, they may be niche, and they may be for conformists with no real character or minds of their own (iPhone ) but they all make sense and this keyboard is not one of them.

Reason. Logic. Think about it people.

 

[koobcamuk]

good post... and Apple doesn't make products that make no sense...

What about the cube? Not just expensive, but underpowered = no sense.

Saying that, I did own one. If someone gave me a good offer - I would still buy one. Much better than the mini (to look at).

 

[Jarcrew]

Doesn't it stand to reason that if the iMac was going to be all metal, the keyboard would be too? It'd look like a Powerbook keyboard. The keyboard, to me, suggests it will look like a slimmed-down version of the current iMac with a metal edge, if you get me - so the edge of the screen will be white plastic and the sides will be aluminium.

Plus, if that picture set is real, there'll almost certainly be a black iMac.

 

[AlexisV]

too many signs pointing to fake, that truly is an upside down W.

Plenty of fonts utilise an inverted W for an M. Have a look at the MacBook.

That and apple is not gonna put the usb port on the sides, the mouse cord is gonna get in the way of itself. They put the usb port on the top for a reason.

Before the current iMac, every Mac had the USB at the side, at the top.

The jagged edges on the usb cord in the birds eye view of the keyboard tell me that it has been cut around in photoshop and added. It's sloppy photoshopping, it's not pixelation OR aliasing. Zoom in on it in photoshop you can tell. And it only shows in some areas and not others, further proving it's NOT pixelation or aliasing.

I can barely see anything and what little there is looks like image size reduction to me. If they photographer's reduced the originals by a odd percentagem this can sometimes happen.

The keyboard is tan-ish because of the lighting, and the USB cord is bluish because of different lighting. Further proving the cord was added in photoshop and therefore wouldn't be a working model.

Two different surfaces will not necessarily reflect the same colour light. It looks perfectly natural to me.

Plus it's ugly. If by a strange chance this was real, i'll stick with my current keyboard or buy a 3rd party keyboard.

It's a derivative of the MacBook keyboard. You can't call something a fake just because you think it's ugly AND there's virtually an identical keyboard in production already!

 

[The Macster]

Plenty of fonts utilise an inverted W for an M. Have a look at the MacBook.



Before the current iMac, every Mac had the USB at the side, at the top.


I can barely see anything and what little there is looks like image size reduction to me. If they photographer's reduced the originals by a odd percentagem this can sometimes happen.


Two different surfaces will not necessarily reflect the same colour light. It looks perfectly natural to me.


It's a derivative of the MacBook keyboard. You can't call something a fake just because you think it's ugly AND there's virtually an identical keyboard in production already!

YES!! I'M VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY MAN IN THIS THREAD THAT IS MAKING PERFECTLY GOOD SENSE!!

 

[Digital Skunk]

What about the cube? Not just expensive, but underpowered = no sense.

Saying that, I did own one. If someone gave me a good offer - I would still buy one. Much better than the mini (to look at).

Forgot about that one... touche. I think I can recant that statement after looking at some of the mistakes that Apple has made besides the Cube. It was a bit better to look at and more customizable but I think the Mini holds it's own. I may still get one over the Apple TV if someone can hack it to use a real HDMI port.

Doesn't it stand to reason that if the iMac was going to be all metal, the keyboard would be too? It'd look like a Powerbook keyboard. The keyboard, to me, suggests it will look like a slimmed-down version of the current iMac with a metal edge, if you get me - so the edge of the screen will be white plastic and the sides will be aluminium.

Plus, if that picture set is real, there'll almost certainly be a black iMac.

I would love to see a black iMac but on that looks like the keyboard ( with a white front metal on the edges) would be an eye sore.

YES!! I'M VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY MAN IN THIS THREAD THAT IS MAKING PERFECTLY GOOD SENSE!!

You haven't been reading or keeping up with the posts. The guy you quote makes sense just like every other supporter of the "this is real" statement but no one on that side of the fench has yet to offer and answers to the two main questions as to why this is certainly a fake/prototype never to see the light of day.

(1) The keyboard layout makes no sense... read past posts for explaination
(2) The keyboard is inconsistent with Apple design trends, and standard/proven keyboard ergonomics... read past posts for explanation
(3) The keyboard if just FUGLY

It's not "fake," per se.

It's a cosmetic EVT prototype. Apple Legal has not pulled it likely because it is so far from the final design that it's not worth going through the hassle of getting it removed. Besides, they appreciate the attention.

Because of that, everyone who thinks the keyboard's ugly can breathe easy... unless you think the final design is ugly too.

I have not seen the final design but I just really hope that it isn't like the ones we have seen so far. I liked it at first and thought it was a step in the right direction but as I studied it some more and heard the other responses my favoritism faded away to realism. I hope the keyboard either uses actual desktop keyboard parts, or MacBook Pro keys that have a back light with them. The MacBook keys are okay, but if we have to use laptop parts for everything now can we use ones that are a bit more cooler and professional? And keep the key layout the same... it doesn't make any sense to change it, and the one on the mockup is terrible and lacks logic.

 

[cleanup]

It's not "fake," per se.

It's a cosmetic EVT prototype. Apple Legal has not pulled it likely because it is so far from the final design that it's not worth going through the hassle of getting it removed. Besides, they appreciate the attention.

Because of that, everyone who thinks the keyboard's ugly can breathe easy... unless you think the final design is ugly too.