Wireless Keyboard for new iMac

[arn]

This ZDNet article discusses how accessory vendors were closely watching the new iMac introduction.... of note, MacAlly seems to be slightly ahead of the game:

One maker that seems to have lucked out is Macally, which had just started equipping a manufacturing plant to churn out several models of a wireless keyboard, each model decked out in white and silver.

Wireless accessories would certainly accent the iMac's simplicity...

 

[eyelikeart]

I like!

very nice....he he he....and they match the iMac perfectly!

I 'd still like to get a fullsize for my TiBook.....maybe one of these?

 

[blakespot]

How about a mod to make the (no doubt superior in design and feel) Apple keyboard wireless. Certainly it's possible. Even if there need be some sort of "wedge" that fit in under the back of the keyboard, not seen by anyone.


blakespot

 

[MattB]

pic?

Can someone post a link to a pic of this new wireless keyboard?

 

[voicegy]

No pics yet...

"...the company did not bring an engineering sample of the new keyboard to the show; the final product won't be ready for about three months. "

 

[MarkMc]

What's the point?

Other than the coolness factor - "Wow look what I got, a wireless keyboard!" which would get old real fast - what's the point? Does this thing take batteries? That would suck having to always replace them, and if they are rechargables... well there goes your cable. I guess in some instances it would be ok, like presentations, etc. but for most of us sounds like a waste.

 

[Unregistered]

Would it be possible to make wireless devices operate over Airport in lieu of Bluetooth or IR or RF. That would be such an elegant solution. but either way I suppose. I agree that the best solution is to modify the current apple keyboard, as it has a great solid feel that few can compare with. Not sure what this would man for the mouse though as that wouldn't be possible to hack and make wireless all that easily. I'm suprised apple didn' take this opportunity to introduce the pro mouse with a wheel built in or sometihng. Multiple buttons would be necessary for gaming, but I wouldn't mind having a sleek looking single button mouse if it at least had a wheel.

 

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by Unregistered
Would it be possible to make wireless devices operate over Airport in lieu of Bluetooth or IR or RF

thats not possible with the current 802.11b techonlogy. It uses NAT or IP Masquerading over TCP/IP...

 

[paulskinner]

Re: What's the point?

Originally posted by MarkMc
Other than the coolness factor - "Wow look what I got, a wireless keyboard!" which would get old real fast - what's the point? Does this thing take batteries? That would suck having to always replace them, and if they are rechargables... well there goes your cable. I guess in some instances it would be ok, like presentations, etc. but for most of us sounds like a waste.

Well for one I can say that my sheepdog nor my five year old would trip over the cord and jerk the iMac off the coffee table. That's worth a 10 pack of AAAs to me.

 

[Unregistered]

Re: Re: What's the point?

Originally posted by paulskinner


Well for one I can say that my sheepdog nor my five year old would trip over the cord and jerk the iMac off the coffee table.

That probably wouldn't happen. The base of the new iMac, if you haven't had the chance to put your hands on one, is fairly heavy, much heavier than it looks. I tried lifting one at MacWorld, and judging from the weight, I doubt that tripping over the keyboard cable would move the thing off a table. It far more likely would rip the USB cable out of the back and send the keyboard and mouse to the floor rather than the computer itself.

 

[Durandal7]

I don't quite see the point in paying extra for a wireless keyboard. A wireless mouse might be worth it but most people don't move their keyboard.

 

[arn]

Originally posted by asurace
I don't quite see the point in paying extra for a wireless keyboard. A wireless mouse might be worth it but most people don't move their keyboard.

it's all part of the clean look of the device.

It just lessens the clutter of wires... sure - it's not everyone's priority... but for some, it would be worth it

arn

 

[huxley]

cordless keyboard - finally!

I use a Logitech Cordless Mouse with the small trackball, and let me say that the cordless keyboard is something I have been waiting quite a while for. I bounce back and forth between the keyboard, mouse and Wacom tablet, and all that stuff on the desk starts getting pretty cluttered. At least the cordless mouse gets rid of one of those cords. As to the argument of changing batteries all the time, I can tell you from experience that you only have to change the batteries on the cordless mouse about every four months. And anyone else in here who owns a Cube will certainly agree with this observation - it's a real shame to have something that is as beautifully designed as either the Cube or this new iMac be spoiled by an ugly tangle of USB cords strewn all around its exterior.

 

[samy85114]

... for toyko,
Apple should annonce wireless mouse and keyboard... this will enhance the Jobs' philosophy.... no cable! And I'm sure they are already thinking at it !

 

[sparkleytone]

Originally posted by Unregistered


thats not possible with the current 802.11b techonlogy. It uses NAT or IP Masquerading over TCP/IP...

UPnP is all i have to say. Batteries for power and a simple antenna should do the trick. Universal Plug and Play is implemented through the kernel and/or device drivers. I think a cheap solution to this can be found by Apple. I mean damn, I flamed someone for talking about $1800 only being worth it if the new (unseen at that point) iMac had a g4 and a SuperDrive. whoops.

neither NAT nor IPMasq are utilized by 802.11b, they are utilized by TCP/IP. 802.11b is just a bandwidth/quality of service protocol for the implementation of TCP/IP over nonwired connections.

 

[MasterX (OSiX)]

Originally posted by Unregistered


thats not possible with the current 802.11b techonlogy. It uses NAT or IP Masquerading over TCP/IP...

Oh yeah, and airport cards still cost A HUNDRED BUCKS!!! Ok so lets say that Apple makes one for slooooow speed and they use 0% profit on the card itself, still a $119 Keybord. I would like to see a 802.11a/g keyboard use it's 54mbps speed to offer the mac keyboard at the same form factor and the USB 2-port hub. Imagine making any low-power device wireless, cool. (maybe use a Ion-polymer battery)

 

[Screamingbeaver]

I love being cord free....

I have an iMac DV in my kitchen. It's like the central nervous system of my house. I have a USB TV tuner with a VCR & DirectTV tuner hooked up to it ( who doesn't watch TV while they eat at the kitchen table) With an Airport card we use it for email, web browsing, digital pics, MP3 jukebox, and scheduling, with Palm Desktop that I sync with my Visor. My 2-yr-old plays all his Disney and Reader Rabbit games too! All this is made possible with a Logitek Wireless mouse and Macally iWebkey wireless keyboard. they are always just sitting on the kitchen table and work awsome!

I've had them both for about 6 months and have yet to change batteries in either.

I love my wireless!

 

[MasterX (OSiX)]

Re: I love being cord free....

Originally posted by Screamingbeaver
I have an iMac DV in my kitchen. It's like the central nervous system of my house. I have a USB TV tuner with a VCR & DirectTV tuner hooked up to it ( who doesn't watch TV while they eat at the kitchen table) With an Airport card we use it for email, web browsing, digital pics, MP3 jukebox, and scheduling, with Palm Desktop that I sync with my Visor. My 2-yr-old plays all his Disney and Reader Rabbit games too! All this is made possible with a Logitek Wireless mouse and Macally iWebkey wireless keyboard. they are always just sitting on the kitchen table and work awsome!

I've had them both for about 6 months and have yet to change batteries in either.

I love my wireless!

I'm just saying that to make a wireless keyboard using AIRPORT (as opposed to something cheeper) would be dumb unless you could plug stuff into it. And if you plugged in say an optical mouse that would degrade battery life. What kind of USB Tuner do you have? MyTV? I was woundering since I want one, the ATi USB Video thingie is the top of my list currently.

 

[Screamingbeaver]

MyTV

RE: MasterX

I totally agree about what you are saying. I do have the MyTV from EskapeLabs, it works very well. Obviously when you present to full screen it does get a little fuzzy, however I am about four feet away(at the kitchen table) so it look rather good. When you are up close the default 320x240 window size is great. Nice and sharp and very fluid video. I've also used it to capture video from a number of sources and it, again, works great. Captures Quicktime 320x240 @30fps, but you need storage, minutes add up to 100s of megs quick. I usually use QuicktimePro to resample the vids to managable sizes and get good results. It may be crude and definately not High-End, but it works.

 

[networkman]

a wireless keyboard sounds good for a home or an office but not so good for a lab of young children where the keyboards could get mixed up or even lost

the wireless keyboard seems most logical with the new low footprint imac

 

[voicegy]

Options?

1. Apple currently makes keyboards and mice that are wired.

2. Apple then announces that they are selling optional wireless keyboards and mice.

So, on the recieving end (i.e., the cpu unit) there would have to be something built in to all of Apple's devices to recieve the signals (whether one wants the option or not...) or an external little "dongle" thingy that hangs out the back connected via USB. (I might be wrong there...I've never played with current wireless keyboards nor mice)

All in all, IF Apple ever announces wireless keyboards and mice, it should not take over the line - it should remain an option.

As posted here before, since I work in education, the potential for theft is extremely high, and Apple knows better than to tick off that market.

It would be neat to have at the office or at home, but a disaster in the classroom. Personally, I don't think Apple would ever go there, even as an option.

Scott

 

[cleo]

Re: MyTV

Originally posted by Screamingbeaver
RE: MasterX
Captures Quicktime 320x240 @30fps, but you need storage, minutes add up to 100s of megs quick. I usually use QuicktimePro to resample the vids to managable sizes and get good results. It may be crude and definately not High-End, but it works.

::salivating:: i'm rather new to all of this multimedia stuff... up till now (well, actually until my new imac arrives) i've just used my icky old power mac and various pc's for word processing, etc.

but, my point: from reading this thread (at least the OT part of it ) and a quick glance at amazon.com, i gather that there is some way to actually capture tv on my mac via a usb adapter and watch it at a later time? simply amazing. (not only am i a huge dork for the new imac, but also for "24" and "er"). what experiences do people have with this? what equipment have you used? can you get full screen resolution? (i once had a tuner card for my pc that would go full-res, which was great, but wouldn't capture video). how much disk space are we talking to record an hour's show?

 

[Jookbox]

Originally posted by blakespot
How about a mod to make the (no doubt superior in design and feel) Apple keyboard wireless. Certainly it's possible. Even if there need be some sort of "wedge" that fit in under the back of the keyboard, not seen by anyone.


blakespot

yeah, maybe a way to splice the cord very close to the keyboard and attach an IR sensor or whatever. it totally seems like a mac thing to do.

 

[MasterX (OSiX)]

Re: Re: MyTV

Originally posted by cleo


::salivating:: i'm rather new to all of this multimedia stuff... up till now (well, actually until my new imac arrives) i've just used my icky old power mac and various pc's for word processing, etc.

but, my point: from reading this thread (at least the OT part of it ) and a quick glance at amazon.com, i gather that there is some way to actually capture tv on my mac via a usb adapter and watch it at a later time? simply amazing. (not only am i a huge dork for the new imac, but also for "24" and "er"). what experiences do people have with this? what equipment have you used? can you get full screen resolution? (i once had a tuner card for my pc that would go full-res, which was great, but wouldn't capture video). how much disk space are we talking to record an hour's show?

MyTV was the best TV Tuner until ATi made their offering, it has all the same features of MyTV plus cable built-in. Otherwise I believe they're identical, plus or minus a few things the ATi device has. Yes it's USB so there are limits (as opposed to firewire) but I hear it's 90% acceptable. If you want to go into video the best investment you can make is Quicktime Pro 5, $29.95 off Apple.com. If you compress in Sorrenson Video 3 it'll be less than 400MB for an hour. Since all iMacs now have a CD-RW or greater, consider buying Toast 5 Titanium ($80 from roxio.com) it'll let you burn a VCD, great for watching on some DVD platers and on your mac (with a free VCD player). Plus VCDs have the same quality as the video from USB capture devices. But as for your reply to full-screen video, no it'll be a bit blurry, pretty close to the quality of a quicktime trailer from Quicktime trailers in full-screen mode. Hope that covers everything.

~Nick

 

[Hemingray]

Man, all this talk about batteries... it just doesn't seem practical. It goes against the simplicity of the thing. One wire or multiple batteries that will have to be replaced eventually? I'll take one lousy wire that won't lose its charge over batteries any day. Aesthetics can only go so far.