Domain: macally.com
Stories and comments across the archive that link to macally.com.
Comments · 49
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RAID good if used properly
Yes, "RAID is not backup", in that you shouldn't simply RAID your primary drive and consider the backup problem solved, but backing up to a RAID array can be advantageous -- you do disk-to-disk backup (via any of a variety of methods), and monitor the health of the RAID array closely -- if any disk in the array goes south, replace it promptly and your backup stays consistent. And, if you keep a spare drive or two around, you can swap a drive out occasionally to take off-site (and let the array rebuild onto one of your spares).
Personally, I like the ReadyNAS Duo a lot more than the Drobo (hard to explain, I just trust their tech better, and the ReadyNAS is natively networked, rather than needing an afterthought add-on). Last I checked, Amazon will sell you an empty ReadyNAS Duo and a couple WD Green 1TB drives for ballpark $500. That said I haven't got a ReadyNAS yet (because money has so many uses these days); I'm using my second most favorite backup setup, a 500GB laptop drive in an external bus-powered FireWire enclosure. I'm using a MacAlly PHR-S250CC enclosure (which I'm very happy with), using a drive I already had, but for a complete setup, I'd probably go with one of Other World Computing's packages for about $150. This loses RAID (which I ultimately want very much to have, for reliability), and isn't networked (which would be good for backing up multiple machines, and ease of use), but the bus-powered drive is so damned easy to use that I actually do it every day (set the drive next to my laptop and plug one cable between them, Time Machine notices the drive and starts a backup, 5-10 minutes later it's done, and I unmount the drive, unplug the cable, and put it back on the shelf).
My primary machine is a Mac; I use Time Machine for daily backups, and use SuperDuper to clone my MBP's drive onto the same backup disk every few weeks (minus a number of large directories that I know Time Machine is getting anyway); this gives me a backup drive I can boot from (via SuperDuper), and a lot of incremental history stored in a very usable manner (via Time Machine). And a backup system that I actually use because it's painless.
Add a ReadyNAS, and I could have my laptop automatically backing (hourly) up any time it's on the home network.
As far as on-line backup goes, I haven't been convinced yet. It eats a lot of bandwidth, and it means that someone else (that I don't know personally) has a copy of all my data, with only their promise of encryption keeping them honest. Sure, there isn't much there for anyone else to get worked up about (a variety of legally purchased music and software, a bunch of old email and vacation photos), but if it's not out of my hands, then that's one less thing I have to worry about. I do love DropBox for moving non-confidential files around, but I wouldn't use it for backup. -
Re:Simple = best
http://www.macally.com/EN/Product/ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=84
I have an older one for my ibook, works great! -
Re:Travel as light as you possibly can
My best friend backpacking through Asia was a self-powered hard drive enclosure. Just plug your camera into it, hit the transfer button, and it copies all the photos, instantly freeing you up to keep on shooting.
It's great for remote locations where you don't have a computer to offload pictures to, and it's way cheaper than buying a bunch of large memory cards. I use an SLR and shoot exclusively in RAW, and on the average backpacking/sight-seeing trip easily shoot around 5 GBs of pictures a week.
Here's the link to the one I use right now. I would've given a Newegg link, but it seems they've stopped carrying it.
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Re:Keybords
Your in luck, check out the icekey keyboard. http://www.macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/icek
e y.html -
PLEASSEEEEE HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
Hasn't this Revolution controller been around for a while and made by macally and called the air stick? or the even older gyro mouse thing. I remember the gyro mouse when it came out in 1995. What does this Revolution controler do that Gyro mouse and the air stick don't?
The air stick has been out for a good few years.
http://macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/airstick. html -
Re:Why are BT mice and keyboards so damn expensive
http://www.macally.com/spec/bluetooth/btmouse.htm
l
Macally has 3 models, each with $50 MSRP, but yeah, that's still pretty expensive compared to the non-bt mice out there. -
Re:macally iceKEY
I have a macally iceKEY which has almost the exact same tactile response as an Apple laptop keyboard, but it's full sized and USB http://www.macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/icek
e y.html. It has working eject, volume up/down, and mute keys, too.
I have one of these too and use it with my PC as well. It is an awesome keyboard.
Thanks for the info about the Customizer.. I need a real keyboard for my Dell at work. -
macally iceKEY
I have a macally iceKEY which has almost the exact same tactile response as an Apple laptop keyboard, but it's full sized and USB http://www.macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/icek
e y.html. It has working eject, volume up/down, and mute keys, too.
I actually just purchased one of these: http://www.pckeyboard.com/customizer.html in a custom Mac and Dvorak layout and it's an awesome experience to type on. These people hold the rights from Lexmark and manufacture the modern day IBM Model M that is so coveted nowadays. -
Macally IceKey
I bought a Macally IceKey because I read about how great it was... It is basically a high quality laptop keyboard with fullsize buttons and full layout. The buttons are very easy to press and your hands can basically rest flat on the table and keyboard because of its minimal height. I sometimes hear that ergonomically it is better when buttons click and the keyboard is "angled" (don't know how to call that... when you use those legs on the back of the keyboard) but I highly doubt that. As I see it, the best thing for your hands would be a startrek like table where you don't have to hold up your hands at all, but of course then you have no feel for the buttons. The IceKey actually has a very good feel and it is very flat - perfect or me.
http://www.macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/iceke y.html
Disclaimer: Yes, it also looks good with my iBook :) -
What's the big deal about the mouse?
I don't understand why the Apple's mouse is such a big deal. I'm sure that most people buy an aftermarket mouse instead of using the one that ships with their new computer anyhow. Personally, I use this mouse with my MAC --> http://www.macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/rfmo
u se.html
Right clicking and scrolling work just fine! -
Macally PHR-250CC
Macally offers the PHR-250CC with both USB 2.0 and a pair of Firewire 400 ports. Choose any 2.5" drive, can I suggest the Hitachi E7K100 or the E7K60, and you're set. The case is just a little thicker than a deck of cards. I've had a pair of these for the past year, alot of miles on them, and no problems to report.
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Macally PHR-250CC
Macally offers the PHR-250CC with both USB 2.0 and a pair of Firewire 400 ports. Choose any 2.5" drive, can I suggest the Hitachi E7K100 or the E7K60, and you're set. The case is just a little thicker than a deck of cards. I've had a pair of these for the past year, alot of miles on them, and no problems to report.
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Re:Whatever happened to BlueTooth?
I dunno, but I do know that my two Bluetooth mice both last much longer on their batteries than any of my three non-Bluetooth wireless mice.
I don't get it either. Especially for a notebook. I want a mouse that 'just connects' wirelessly. I don't want to deal with a funky dongle sticking out the side (or back) of my notebook. I just want to pull the mouse out, hit 'Power', and go.
As for the complaint that it takes a long time for Bluetooth to connect? I have a Bluetooth mouse that takes less than 2 seconds to 'wake up' from sleep. And it only goes to sleep if I don't move it or click a button for 10 minutes. If I haven't touched it in 10 minutes, an extra 2 seconds after clicking a button isn't going to kill me. And a Bluetooth headset for my phone that I can be talking on less than 5 seconds from being all the way 'off'.
I can sympathize with the 'difficulty' aspect, but come on, I don't want a funky dongle hanging off my notebook. (At least recent mice have a place to store the dongle in the mouse itself, so you don't have to worry about losing it, as long as you remember to put it back in the mouse.)
My Bluetooth mice? Apple's, and the Macally BTMicro. (The base is just a charger, and only needs to be plugged in to the wall, not the computer. Although, come to think of it, having the charger base powered through USB, with an optical 'passthrough' would be kind of cool. Use it as a 'wired' mouse to charge it, then use it wireless on battery.)
And claims of Bluetooth usable up to 30 feet? I get more than that. In fact, I have an 802.11g base station approximately 3 feet above my Bluetooth-enabled desktop computer, and if I take my notebook computer away from that room, while using a Bluetooth headset to listen to music from the desktop, the notebook loses it's 802.11g connection before the headset loses it's Bluetooth connection. (Likewise, I can use Bluetooth to transfer files slowly between the desktop and laptop farther away than with the 802.11g.) -
Re:Misread that
That's easy, just add one of these
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Re:Because...
Yes, there is.
Here's one way.
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BT Mouse + Gaffer's tape
Personally, I've always preferred the tactile feel of a mouse, particularly a small one. Macally has a nice optical Bluetooth mouse called the BTMouseJr. As an optical mouse, it will function on almost any non-reflective surface. As a Bluetooth device, no cable is required. (They have the OptiMicro if you don't have Bluetooth or don't want to deal with batteries.)
To avoid the possible problem of needing to use your laptop without an available mousing surface, just slap some gaffer's tape to the right of your trackpad, or cover it entirely. I've found that you need surprisingly little space to mouse accuratly. In addition, most current operating systems will allow you to disable the trackpad when a mouse is connected, and some can disable it entirely on command. Gaffer's tape is similar to duct tape, but is matte rather than reflective. (It's usually black.) You can also find more elegant solutions vis-a-vis adhesive mouse pads, though you will need to trim them to fit. (Hint: mark out your lines beforehand, or you'll likely end up with crooked edges. Ask me how I know.)
;-) Alternatively, there are a number of super-thin mouse pads to be had for very little that can simply be glued into place, or kept loose to be stow-able to protect your laptop's finish.If you prefer a trackball to a mouse, you may already have your best solution, unless you want to use one of those annoying little button that comes on the Thinkpads. (No offense to Thinkpad users intended; I've just never liked the feel or apparent lack of close accuracy that I associate with it.) If not, a small, portable mouse may be your best bet.
Good luck!
:-) -
BT Mouse + Gaffer's tape
Personally, I've always preferred the tactile feel of a mouse, particularly a small one. Macally has a nice optical Bluetooth mouse called the BTMouseJr. As an optical mouse, it will function on almost any non-reflective surface. As a Bluetooth device, no cable is required. (They have the OptiMicro if you don't have Bluetooth or don't want to deal with batteries.)
To avoid the possible problem of needing to use your laptop without an available mousing surface, just slap some gaffer's tape to the right of your trackpad, or cover it entirely. I've found that you need surprisingly little space to mouse accuratly. In addition, most current operating systems will allow you to disable the trackpad when a mouse is connected, and some can disable it entirely on command. Gaffer's tape is similar to duct tape, but is matte rather than reflective. (It's usually black.) You can also find more elegant solutions vis-a-vis adhesive mouse pads, though you will need to trim them to fit. (Hint: mark out your lines beforehand, or you'll likely end up with crooked edges. Ask me how I know.)
;-) Alternatively, there are a number of super-thin mouse pads to be had for very little that can simply be glued into place, or kept loose to be stow-able to protect your laptop's finish.If you prefer a trackball to a mouse, you may already have your best solution, unless you want to use one of those annoying little button that comes on the Thinkpads. (No offense to Thinkpad users intended; I've just never liked the feel or apparent lack of close accuracy that I associate with it.) If not, a small, portable mouse may be your best bet.
Good luck!
:-) -
The nicest keyboard I've ever used
The keyboard is so nice on my 15" PowerBook that I bought the Macally IceKey, which has similar keys. I can't recommend it enough.
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Re:Sorry, has to be said: OS X has scroll wheel
Yeah - plug in a USB three button scroll wheel mouse and it just works.
Just because they ship with their one button mouse does not mean that they've hamstrung the whole system.
I use an iOpti Junior from Macally - but there are a ton of standard USB mouses you can use - OS 9 and OS X too. -
How's this news?
A lot of similar devices popped up in recent months. And I really mean a lot. Maybe not all of them are powered by AA batteries, some have Li-Ion rechargable battery, some have bundled power adapter. I did a bit of research on this some time ago, here's list of already available devices (as opposed to the one from story, which will be available in mid Jan only):
http://www.macally.com/new/new_syncbox.html, review of this product.
http://www.macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/table ts.html - "coming soon"
http://www.delkin.com/pdf/product_docs/usb_bridge. pdf
http://www.usbgear.com/USBG-OTG25.html
http://www.sarotech.com/cgi/main_eng.cgi?cmd=cutie dx_e
http://www.welland.com.tw/html/otg.html
http://www.welland.com.tw/html/otg/940otg.html
http://www.sitecom.com/index.php?prod_id=308&grp_i d=1
http://www.usbgear.com/USBG-OTG1.html
http://itsupplier.trustpass.alibaba.com/offerdetai l/12276816/Sell_font_color_red_Otg_font_Enclosure. html
http://www.globalsources.com/si/6007000637244/Prod uctDetail/Flash-MP3/product_id-1000452775/action-G etProduct.htm
Make your pick. But remember that some USB devices (like flash drives) are powered through USB port directly, so USB On-the-go host is supposed to provide power both for embedded hard drive and whatever you attach to it. Think about it when buying device powered by AA batteries - they may be not enough for some power-hungry USB appliances, microdrive-based "flash" drives are coming to mind here. -
How's this news?
A lot of similar devices popped up in recent months. And I really mean a lot. Maybe not all of them are powered by AA batteries, some have Li-Ion rechargable battery, some have bundled power adapter. I did a bit of research on this some time ago, here's list of already available devices (as opposed to the one from story, which will be available in mid Jan only):
http://www.macally.com/new/new_syncbox.html, review of this product.
http://www.macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/table ts.html - "coming soon"
http://www.delkin.com/pdf/product_docs/usb_bridge. pdf
http://www.usbgear.com/USBG-OTG25.html
http://www.sarotech.com/cgi/main_eng.cgi?cmd=cutie dx_e
http://www.welland.com.tw/html/otg.html
http://www.welland.com.tw/html/otg/940otg.html
http://www.sitecom.com/index.php?prod_id=308&grp_i d=1
http://www.usbgear.com/USBG-OTG1.html
http://itsupplier.trustpass.alibaba.com/offerdetai l/12276816/Sell_font_color_red_Otg_font_Enclosure. html
http://www.globalsources.com/si/6007000637244/Prod uctDetail/Flash-MP3/product_id-1000452775/action-G etProduct.htm
Make your pick. But remember that some USB devices (like flash drives) are powered through USB port directly, so USB On-the-go host is supposed to provide power both for embedded hard drive and whatever you attach to it. Think about it when buying device powered by AA batteries - they may be not enough for some power-hungry USB appliances, microdrive-based "flash" drives are coming to mind here. -
Use it for photosI have an H140 and I use it to store photos when I'm traveling. You can use a syncbox to transfer images from a compact flash card, etc, to the device without a computer.
If it had a color screen, you might be able to look at those pics, which you can't currently do.
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Re:Mouse Expose'
Oh snap! I never thought of that! Thanks! I just got Panther (yeah, late adopter), and love Expose, but couldn't come up with a good place to make it convenient. I forgot my trackball's wheel clicks (too many buttons syndrome).
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MacAlly IcePad works well for me
My MacAlly IcePad seems to work as well as the products in this review, but is rigid instead of fabric-based. It can lie flat, or tilt up a couple of inches. It has little airflow channels along the top surface and dissapates heat really well. It has a grippy surface and I've never had trouble with the PowerBook slipping while on it. Given how much my PB used to heat up if I had it sitting on a blanket or pillow, and how cool it runs now sitting on the IcePad, $30 is a reasonable price for not cooking the $2k computer (or me).
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As an alternative
Macally.com makes the SyncBox which allows you to transfer USB->USB without a computer for about $32. Runs on AAAs. Especially handy if you've already got a USB hard-drive based MP3 player.
At least it'd let you empty those media cards and get to an internet cafe with a CD burner less often.
Looks like the Kangaru CD-burner (above) might meet your needs better if you can justify the price tag. -
Scissor keyboard from Macally
If you like the feel of your laptop keyboard (I have a Alum Powerbook, not sure how this would compare to your TiBook) try the IceKey from Macally.
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Re:Opposite.
MacAlly has something similar: IceKey
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What I carry
I carry my laptop to work every day and have for 2+ years. It's an iBook, but the advice works for any brand.
1) Good carrying case. I use a Marware Sportfolio II, but get whatever works for you. Just get something with good padding and a shoulder strap. I chose the one I did because it's very light weight to go with my sub-5 lb laptop.
2) A retractable Ethernet cable and a retractable phone cord. When you're in a hotel or on the road or whatever, you'll love these, and they won't get tangled in your bag like a regular cable.
3) VGA adapter cable and AV adapter cable to get your video output onto TVs, projectors, and other places you need to show presentations, do code reviews, etc.
4) A Kensington Flylight is invaluable when you're on an airplane or somewhere dark and need to use your computer.
I hope these suggestions are helpful. -
What I carry
I carry my laptop to work every day and have for 2+ years. It's an iBook, but the advice works for any brand.
1) Good carrying case. I use a Marware Sportfolio II, but get whatever works for you. Just get something with good padding and a shoulder strap. I chose the one I did because it's very light weight to go with my sub-5 lb laptop.
2) A retractable Ethernet cable and a retractable phone cord. When you're in a hotel or on the road or whatever, you'll love these, and they won't get tangled in your bag like a regular cable.
3) VGA adapter cable and AV adapter cable to get your video output onto TVs, projectors, and other places you need to show presentations, do code reviews, etc.
4) A Kensington Flylight is invaluable when you're on an airplane or somewhere dark and need to use your computer.
I hope these suggestions are helpful. -
A "few" suggestions...
Well, here's what's in the cavern I call a backpack:
A Mini-Mouse
I don't know about the rest of you, but for me a button pointer or trackpad just can't beat the feel of a mouse. MacAlly makes a niftly little mouse called the iOptiJr, which is just the smaller version of the iSweetNet. Nice and small, thus very precise; two buttons, wheel button, and programmable, and it's Mac/PC compatible. But... you'll have to get used to it being so small. I think other mice are big and bulky by comparison now, but that's because I got used to this one. You may need to install drivers, depending on your machine. You can get a wireless version, but then you have to worry about batteries. Optical is WAY better than your basic mechanical ball... unless you're using it on the surface of your laptop, or another shiny/sparkly surface. Think ahead.A Mini USB Hub
Here's a slick one by IOGear. This has proved useful occasionally, but I haven't used it in over six months. Buy at your discretion. Mine (Not the IOGear one; a different brand) came with a cable that was split into two USB plugs; one to provide basic functionality, and one to provide added power, so you could use more power-hungry devices (like external USB floppy drives, scanners, etc.) without needing to plug the hub into the wall. But... this can drain the power of your laptop if you aren't careful.A Wireless Network Card
If your machine doesn't ship with one (or with functionality on the motherboard), buy yourself an 802.11g PCMCIA card. They're backwards compatible with 802.11b, and network access (copying files, etc.) is up to five times faster. However, this won't matter for internet access unless your sitting behind a T3. If you aren't planning on networking large files EVER, than spend half as much on 802.11b. Definitely get one though, because most internet cafes and hotspots are swithcing to wireless-only access, if they haven't already.A Portable Flatbed Scanner
Obviously, this'll only matter if you need one. But I've found Canon's LIDE series (I've got the LIDE 30)to be a nice addition to my bag. Good quality, fast, small (same footprint as my 17-inch powerbook, and only 1.5 inches think!), and it's powered by the USB cable!A Webcam
there are about a billion and a half of these out there. Think about what you're actually going to use it for, if anything. Don't spend extra because it's detachable and can take still photos. You're better off buying a digital camera. I've never needed one, but you might.A Bluetooth Adapter PCMCIA Card or USB dongle.
This may be a non-issue for you, but if you have or think you might get any bluetooth devices (such as a wireless mouse or Bluetooth-enable PDA), this could well be worth the money. Again, it may already be on your motherboard.Cables! (Oh, and a cable bag.)
Okay, one USB cable, normal-sized, and one of the mini-plugged ones, for digital cameras and other devices. Although... I've never needed to use this. (I try to stay as modular as possible, and use things that work with more standardized cables, etc.) A firewire 6-pin to 6-pin (for large devices such as drives), and a 6-pin to 4-pin, for smaller devices such as DV-camcorders. Other cables (such as a USB light, A/V and monitor cables, etc.) are up to you.A Digital Camera
Obviously, not a necessity for a laptop user, but usually pretty handy if you don't have one. Buy one that uses Compact Flash (cheapest memory, MB/dollar), and AA batteries. Buy rechargables, highest capacity you can find... usually around 1800-2200 mA. Oh, and you can get a great 30-minute charger by Energizer for about $40 at Best Bu -
MacAlly / PCAlly makes really good stuff
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They left out the truly nice and stylish
I've been using my MacAlly IceKey USB keyboard for nearly a year now and haven't been happier. It's just like a MAC powerbook laptop keyboard, just full-sized and better looking. http://www.macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/icek
e y.html -
Re:Hmmm...
So in that vein, the IceKey from Macally features the same scissor key action as the laptop keyboards.
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Since the Apple Extended Keyboard is out of prod..
...many recommend the MacAlly iKey keyboard as a close replacement.
Why they specify it as a 'mac keyboard' is beyond me - it's a USB keyboard. Maybe if you need Windows keys or something it might be a problem. I use the Apple keyboard on linux via an iMate USB /ADB adapter and it works like a champ. This keyboard is at least ten years old - they used to come with the $6500 computers.
Fortunately I haven't had to try a MacAlly myself yet as Old Faithful is still going strong, but at least the pipe is nice and fat, where a unix geek needs it to be. -
Re:Apple used to make the best keyboards...
Macally makes a keyboard that seems to be a direct copy of the Apple Keyboard II (or whatever they called the consumer version).
Granted, it's not the old Apple Pro Keyboard, but it's still way, way better than any USB keyboard Apple has ever produced. -
Re:Apple used to make the best keyboards...
Oh come on, the apple keyboards are great. What do you replace it with? An old apple keyboard with out F-keys? You can't replace it with a PC keyboard unless its usb, and even then you still lose a few keys.
I replace it with this Macally keyboard, which is modeled after the old Apple keyboards, though not quite as well designed.
The new Apple keyboards are too small. And I HATE half-sized keys! It's definitely form over function. -
Todays keyboards aren't what they used to be
My favourite keyboards were the one for the PCjr (not the chicklet one) and the one for the Atari PC1. They both had a very light, non-rubbery feel to them.
I've just spent an exhaustive search for a replacement desktop keyboard and was absolutely dismayed by the garbage keyboards out there. What I really wanted was one that had key switches similar to my old IBM T23 laptop, the best keyboard ever IMHO. I eventually found one, and it is close, but not quite as good as the IBM.
For those interested, you can see it at Precision Squared. Look for the PSK-5000 model. For touch typists, I highly recommend this keyboard. Mac users can find its equivalent with the MacAlly IceKey which appears to be a re-branded PSK-5000. -
Re:Why the Logitech Keyboard?
While not shaped the same, you could have a look at MacAlly's netkey . Tell you the truth though, maybe just getting the keyboard in white would help.
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Re:Maybe.
If you want a laptop-style keyboard for your desktop machine, try the MacAlly IceKey. Should work on Windows boxen with USB, although the Alt/Windows keys will likely be switched. A friend who bought one at Macworld says it feels like a really good laptop keyboard.
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Favorite keyboard...ever...
...is the original ADB keyboard that came with the old Power Computing Mac clones. Very lightweight, a nice snap to the keys, etc, and a rounded-bottomed space bar (very comfy).
Power Computing is out of business now, but MacAlly makes USB clones of their old keyboards now for the Mac market. As mentioned previously in the thread, you can remap the keys however you like them, and they're BIOS supported.
They're very, very quiet -- very comfortable and have satisfying feedback.
You may need to test a couple of them though before buying, though. I own several and one of them (a Bondi model, FWIW) feels "soft" when typing.
I actually installed one of these on my token WinBox (eMachines: loudest keyboard EVER, but great feedback, ala old IBMs) for the same reason you mention -- becuase my girlfriend playing that word-scramble game on Shockwave.com was driving me completely batshit while I was trying to code.
MacAlly has a couple of other 'boards with additional features -- I'm eager to try the IceKey.
MacAlly stuff is generally carried in your local CompUSA in the Mac section, so you should be able to test drive one.
Don't be afraid to take it out of the box and play with one if it's not on display. CompUSA employees are generally scared of Mac people and won't say a word, if they are even brave enough to come near the section. :) -
Favorite keyboard...ever...
...is the original ADB keyboard that came with the old Power Computing Mac clones. Very lightweight, a nice snap to the keys, etc, and a rounded-bottomed space bar (very comfy).
Power Computing is out of business now, but MacAlly makes USB clones of their old keyboards now for the Mac market. As mentioned previously in the thread, you can remap the keys however you like them, and they're BIOS supported.
They're very, very quiet -- very comfortable and have satisfying feedback.
You may need to test a couple of them though before buying, though. I own several and one of them (a Bondi model, FWIW) feels "soft" when typing.
I actually installed one of these on my token WinBox (eMachines: loudest keyboard EVER, but great feedback, ala old IBMs) for the same reason you mention -- becuase my girlfriend playing that word-scramble game on Shockwave.com was driving me completely batshit while I was trying to code.
MacAlly has a couple of other 'boards with additional features -- I'm eager to try the IceKey.
MacAlly stuff is generally carried in your local CompUSA in the Mac section, so you should be able to test drive one.
Don't be afraid to take it out of the box and play with one if it's not on display. CompUSA employees are generally scared of Mac people and won't say a word, if they are even brave enough to come near the section. :) -
FireWire and RAIDSmartDisk (which I think either bought out VST or something) has a product called the FireWire RAID tower for Macs that allow you to setup four VST FireWire hard drives and a battery, and using FireRAID software to create a RAID array. Since the max FireWire transfer rate is 400Mbit/sec (or 50MByte/sec), performance wouldn't be too bad. Another solution is a larger IDE to FireWire RAID enclosure, like one from MacAlly that supports Windows and Mac OS.
Maybe in the near future, we will see Serial ATA RAID controllers utilizing a PC Card slot that supports say two drives in either RAID 0 or RAID 1, that would connect to drives and powered by either a battery or an external power source.
Software RAID under Windows may not be the most optimal solution due to it's processor overhead, but it's still a somewhat viable option.
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The whole-mouse-button doesn't work fer meI love the look and feel of the Apple ProMouse. But when I rest my hand on it, I tend to accidentally click a lot.
Also, in my cramped mousing space, I tend to bump it aginst things a lot, which also sometimes results in a click.
Thus my move to the MicroMouse.
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Then use the macally oneThe macally iOptinet mouse is a two-button, optical, scroll-wheel mouse. Works great, and looks pretty OK. 'Tis my mouse of choice.
But the macally MicroMouse just came out and seems even cooler. I'm thinking of gettin' me one of those....
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Then use the macally oneThe macally iOptinet mouse is a two-button, optical, scroll-wheel mouse. Works great, and looks pretty OK. 'Tis my mouse of choice.
But the macally MicroMouse just came out and seems even cooler. I'm thinking of gettin' me one of those....
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Re:Why not PPC?MacAlly sells a two-button mouse just for laptops, Logitech sells a Wheel Mouse, Micro$oft sells the IntelliMouse Optical and IntelliMouse Explorer, and Apple has something up their sleeve to be unveiled in three weeks (although I don't know about PowerBook/iBook compatibility for Apple's new mouse, since it's wireless and I suspect the RF transceiver will be built into the new keyboards).
If you want to use the built-in trackpad though, you're stuck with one button. :-(
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Re:Why not PPC?MacAlly sells a two-button mouse just for laptops, Logitech sells a Wheel Mouse, Micro$oft sells the IntelliMouse Optical and IntelliMouse Explorer, and Apple has something up their sleeve to be unveiled in three weeks (although I don't know about PowerBook/iBook compatibility for Apple's new mouse, since it's wireless and I suspect the RF transceiver will be built into the new keyboards).
If you want to use the built-in trackpad though, you're stuck with one button. :-(
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Re: Ergonomics???
I've got no idea what they were thinking with regard to the keyboard and mouse either.
I've got a Power Mac G4, and the first changes I made to the system came from MacAlly. I bought their iKey USB extended keyboard and their iSweetNet 2-button USB scroll mouse.
Now I can interact with my G4 like an adult, at least. And no, I don't work for MacAlly, I just really like their products. -
Re:O/T: Two Button Mouse?
Hey, can I buy one of them leftover keyboards from you? I want an external kbd for my powerbook, but blowing $70 on that damn iKey is looney. Any USB kbd will supposedly work now with a Mac, but "any" kbd doesn't come with the power button on the keyboard.
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