The new Mac Keyboard-cheap and easy

For $50, it adds real value to your life

[weeks]

Do not put the Diet Coke between the mouse and the keyboard. I didn't do it once, but twice on the same day. (Friday was a busy, crazy day.) The second time the keyboard got a little wacky-semicolons everywhere. So, I researched it and found that I could run it through the dishwasher and it would be fine. So, I took it home and tried it.

It didn't work. I suspect that it was because it was a wireless keyboard. Otherwise, the dishwasher trick might have worked. But, after its bath it was worse, not better.

So, I went to Best Buy on Sunday, where I remembered that Apple had enhanced their keyboard this summer. Brushed chrome, very slim--very good looking, very hip, like me.

But, it's more than attractive. First, typing is a delight. It responds to the lightest touch, but you can pound on it as well. Very cool.

And, the PF keys at the top come pre-programmed for iTunes, Expose, and widgets. Very smart! Very useful. (Again, like me.)

It comes with two USB ports hidden on the sides. Very slick.

I didn't get the wireless because it was useless to me anyway (I'm not THAT hip) and the wireless model doesn't have the number keypad on the right, which I thought was odd. And, of course, no USB ports.

[travelin cat]

Weeks,I agree that the the new kb is great. It did take me a while to get used to its very streamlined design but I seem to be able to type faster and more accurately with it.

The only thing I would like to see in the next version would be the ability to raise up the back, but then again, the low profile may be contributing to my new found typing skills.

[Lorel]

and the wireless model doesn't have the number keypad on the right,

Ahhh. Just what I've been looking for. I don't like having 3/4 of my keyboard off to the right full of keys I never use.

I bought a new apple keyboard last year and the space bar sticks and some of the keys too and I'm constantly fixing my typos now. Very annoying. Time to get another.

[weeks]

Lorel, you're going to be very happy. Just remember this arrangement on your desk:
Keyboard-mouse-Diet Coke.
NOT
Keyboard-Diet Coke-mouse.

[weeks]

Update: There is a firmware download for the new keyboard to fix a bug that reportedly makes a key stick.

[travelin cat]

weeks, is that for the wireless or the new slim kb?

[weeks]

Not certain if the update is for the wireless or not.

A friend who bought the new keyboard to use on her Mac Book Pro in her home office reports that there a big difference between the old Mac keyboard and the new hip, slim model is that her cat would only step once on the old keyboard since it wasn't conformable for her, where as on the new one he cat will easily turn out entire paragraphs.

"The cat hasn't written anything surprising," my friend reports. "Just the usual stuff about wanting more cat treats and wanting to sit in my lap."

[travelin cat]

That 's pretty funny about the cat. One of my cats repeatedly will lay a paw on the upper right corner of my kb to attract my attention. With the new slim model, I just get an error beep as the upper right button is now F19, on the old kb it was the eject button and dvds would come flying out when ever he came by.