Apple Extended Keyboard Lives Again

An anonymous reader writes "For all of you that have wanted a firm keyboard (like in the old days with mechanical keyswitches) Matias has released the tactilepro keyboard. This keyboard uses the same mechanical keyswitches used in the Apple Extended Keyboard. Alps was going to scrap the keyswitches, so he had to commit to buy 1 million of them. Here's a great review by Adam Engst." It looks absolutely great, and it's only $100 (though apparently backordered until late April).

Comments

news?

[edalytical]

While the tactilepro is a very cool keyboard. This story is a little late, I'm looking at an ad for one in my old December 2003 Macworld. Nevertheless, Matias deserves support, the one downside to the Mac is you can't go pick up and old keyboard at flee market that the seller doesn't know the value of. As soon as I can afford it I'm going to buy one. Although by that time I may need to buy a ergonomic keyboard. This Kensington Keybord-in-a-box is killing me.

Favorite kbds

[naChoZ]

Personally, my favorite keyboard was always the old fashioned metal keyboard that looks like this one. It could take a major beating, but the keys had such a nice action that I could really fly on it. I've seen some clones for pc's now, but they sure are pricey...

My other favorite was a natural style PC Concepts keyboard with the built in touchpad. I'd love to have one just like that again only with all the fancy extra buttons you see on keyboards now. I refuse to buy a Microsoft one since they can't even adhere to standards in a simple keyboard layout and the 6 is on the wrong side. I just can't get used to that. Hell, I don't feel like I should *have* to get used to it anyway!

Wow!

[geoffeg]

$100? I'd rather stick with my IBM Model M (the old clicky clacky keyboard) which only cost me $20 at a junk store. Now if there was only a way to get an Apple Key on it!

It's a subjective evaluation.

[trudyscousin]

Not to take anything away from the Matias keyboard, but the current Apple keyboard is entirely satisfactory. Besides having a decent feel (the keys have a nice detent that provides tactile feedback), it's easy to clean on the top, and doesn't collect hair or other debris below its circuit board. Costs about half what the Matias keyboard costs, as well. No, you can't adjust the tilt as you could with the Extended Keyboard and the Extended Keyboard II, but I never used that facility anyway.

On one hand, having used every Mac keyboard dating back to that of the original Mac 128k, I feel I should know. But on the other hand, having endured six years of some of the worst Apple keyboard designs ever (beginning with the original iMac), perhaps anything is an improvement.

Only $100?

[Anonymous Coward]

I saw these keyboards on sale at Dr. Bott a long time ago and honestly the cost threw me for a loop. $100 is way too much for any keyboard, even a bluetooth one, which this is not.

This may be a very nice keyboard, but to me, it can't be $100 worth of nice. I'm personally eyeing an iceKey to replace my pro keyboard. The only reason I haven't bought one is that $50 seems a bit much for a keyboard.

Saying "only" $100 doesn't make any sense, it's the most expensive keyboard I've ever encountered.

Got them in Dvorak?

[TwistedKestrel]

Even though I'm a PC user, this article makes me look down at my old-ish Toshiba keyboard and wonder.

Does anybody know of a company that makes really high quality Dvorak keyboards?

Now if only

[obirt]

they could make the keys partly translucent and add a backlight...

Apple needs to

[MoneyT]

figure out a way to get the keyboards they use on their TiBooks into a desktop style keyboard. After getting used to typing on this keyboards I can't stand using any other keyboard.

MicroConnectors Mac Keyboards...

[WiseWeasel]

I have been using a MicroConnectors keyboard for a couple years, and I must say it's been very satisfying. The keys have great feel and action, they click nicely (pretty loudly for some), and it's laid out exactly like the AEK II, with power button and everything (that no longer works to power on Macs since the G5, but can still bring up the shut down dialog while the computer is running). They go for around $50 online, and come in different colors, though I believe some colors are discontinued, and pretty hard to find. Graphite color is still available, and looks fine. The only complaint I've had is that the power key is pretty flimsy, and it WILL break off after a while, though I never use it (leave my Mac on 24/7), so it's not an issue for me. The rest of the keys are sturdy, and this thing has taken a world of abuse over the years, and still works fine. I even had to get another one that's still in its wrapping, for the day when this one gives up the ghost. For a great feel that won't break the bank, MicroConnectors is definitely the best option available for us Mac users, and I've tried them all (you suck MacAlly!). Unfortunately, I haven't seen them in stores, so the only option is to get them online, without trying them first. Comparatively, the recent Apple ones are incredibly mushy, to the point of being a pain to use.

Re:Only $100?

[SoCalChris]

For someone who types all day for a living, $100 for a good keyboard that is comfortable to use and will last for several years is a bargain.

Do you ever hear about mechanics bitching that their Snap-On tools are too much money because they can get similar tools at Wal-Mart for a fraction the price?

Re:Keyboards are important

[russellh]

I noticed a couple months ago that there are now mac-compatible Happy Hacking keyboards with extra USB plugs, so I got one immediately. No regrets.

I've been looking at those recently. I have no use for a numeric keypad - it just puts the mouse farther away. Does anyone really use the keypad? Do most keyboards have them because they seem more... computerish? (Is everyone else an accountant?)

Re:Evolution of Apple's Three-Finger-Salute sequen

[cpt kangarooski]

The Macintosh keyboard had NO Apple symbol at all.

I stand corrected, though I admit, I could've sworn that one had crept in there by the time the Mac Plus keyboard had shown up.

(The IIgs keyboard was never actually sold with Macs, was it? I remember it having a fairly unique design that matched the styling of the GS)

Well... at least by the time I was in the business of selling Macs, none of them but Performas and laptops came with any kind of keyboard. You had to seperately buy whichever sort you liked, which pissed off customers to no end, let me tell you. They weren't cheap at all.

However, the IIgs design was basically the same sort as used in the Mac SE and Mac II that appeared the next year. The IIgs keyboard doesn't really clash or anything. The main differences are 1) the shape of the keycaps, 2) the grooves in the space between keyboard and keypad, 3) the upper area of the keyboard above the number row, 4) the small frame around the keys, 5) the positions of the control and caps lock keys. These don't really stand out unless you know what you're looking for.

The IIc was somewhat more primative in design than the IIgs (not a value judgment; it was just an earlier step) but there's clearly a close connection.

I suggest the book AppleDesign for more on this.

I'm actually puzzled why Apple put the "Apple" on the later command keys, since the symbol is not used in any of their software to denote keyboard shortcuts. The purists among us bristle at references to "apple-q to quit". Bah! It's "command-q". :)

I'm more puzzled as to why they used the symbols they did for Shift, Option, and Control, when none of those were on (domestic) keyboards for a long time. Likewise, naming the button command does little when it's nowhere evident to users that that's what it's called.

I think that symbols _and_ localized names would've been better, for all metakeys.

Of course, I also love the Lisa keyboard pull out help cards, but then, I seem to be much fonder of sensible things than Apple is.