Hardware Review
Apple Keyboard
Could it be that a flat, standard keyboard using rubber membranes could displace the mechanical key switch-using Datadesk Smartboard I had come to know and love? That was the question I set out to answer when I purchased the Apple Keyboard (wired version) a month and a half after its debut in August of last year. I’ve been using Apple’s latest keyboard since mid-September, and I haven’t looked back.
Though it has been termed Apple’s “Aluminum Keyboard” for the purpose of identification, the only aluminum part of it is the slender top surface. The even slimmer bottom surface is made of white plastic, like the keys atop. In a nod to the color of the aluminum, the print on the keys isn’t black, as one might expect, but a grey.
The keys themselves are, of course, inspired by the keyboards of the MacBook line. My only experiences with such a keyboard prior to the purchase of this one, were the few times I’d tapped out lines in TextEdit while on a MacBook in an Apple Store. Not long enough to make a truly informed decision, but at least long enough to know I didn’t totally hate it. As it turned out, not only do I not hate the keys on the Aluminum Keyboard, I love them. So much so, that I’m hoping Apple brings this keyboard style to the next MacBook Pro refresh.
Speaking of the keys, the function keys on the Aluminum Keyboard sport a lot more functions than did those of its predecessors. With the Keyboard Software Update installed, not only do they control the brightness and volume levels of your system, but they can also launch Dashboard and Exposé, and control iTunes. For me, enabling these features meant finding a new capture key for EagleFiler, which by default is F1. Apple has left F5 and F6 “blank,” so F5 was the winner.
A look at some of the special-feature F keys.
Moving from a keyboard like the SmartBoard, which uses mechanical key switches—think of the loud clackety-clack of keyboards of yore; those used mechanical key switches—to one using the now more-common rubber membranes to control key function can take some getting used to, and it was an odd couple of days at first. Now, I can’t imagine going back. You don’t have to press very hard on these keys, meaning less finger travel, which saves wear and strain on your digits’ muscles. Likewise, the low profile and slight angle of the Aluminum Keyboard take the strain off of my wrists just as much as the SmartBoard did with its design. Unlike with the MacBook keyboard, there is no flex to the Aluminum Keyboard when you get into a heavy typing session.
The keyboard is very thin, but very sturdy.
I imagine the wireless version of the Aluminum Keyboard is very similar in operation, though I have no personal experience with it. I have noticed that the arrow keys are smaller on the wireless version, and users should note that keyboard also lacks the numeric keypad and function keys F13–19 found on the wired edition.
If I had my druthers with the Aluminum Keyboard, I would move the two USB ports further out to the edges of the board. The current placement by Apple is more for aesthetics than practicality, and I nearly always have to lift up the keyboard to line up the plug of the device I’m plugging in with the port.
As with many things, using a keyboard is very subjective. I like the reclaimed desktop space due to its smaller size, and the fact that my fingers don’t have to work as hard as before. I really like Apple’s latest keyboard, but there are plenty of folks who do not, and that’s okay. If you’re in the market for a new keyboard for your Mac, though, you could do a lot worse than Apple’s Aluminum Keyboard.
Copyright © 2008 Christopher Turner, cturner@atpm.com. Yes, Managing
Editor Christopher Turner was quite serious when he said he hoped
the next version of the MacBook Pro has a keyboard like that of the
MacBooks. Really. Reviewing in ATPM is open to anyone. If you’re
interested, write to us at reviews@atpm.com.
Reader Comments (49)
I have never been a connoisseur of keyboards, but I can say from my very limited experience of the previous Apple keyboard and a few Windows keyboards that this is my favourite.
I'd much rather have a cheap ADB keyboard and get USB converter than use this even though I very much like the wireless aspect.
It took me 10 minutes to go from, "Hm, weird. Don't know if I like this…" to looking online for a cheap price and quick shipping on one for myself.
I didn't "get used" to the Aluminum Keyboard, I instead immediately found it to be the purest form of keyboard yet devised.
The aluminum keyboard isn't just decent, it's rock solid, and it definitely benefits from its thin form factor. I think it's now the most compelling keyboard from any of the big-name computer manufacturers. (and all this without messing with the keyboard layout, which is something both Logitech and Microsoft can't seem to help themselves from doing. Grr.)
I was worried that the (brilliant) Caps-lock delay would impact those who (smartly) remap Caps Lock to another key. Thankfully, that isn't the case. When the Caps key is remapped the delay doesn't take effect.
Next up for Apple, a new mouse? (I actually like the feel of the Mighty Mouse, but the build quality is poor. Our school has a few general-purpose computer labs stocked with new iMacs and the scroll ball on every single Mighty Mouse died within a few months of use.)
The other advantage is that this keyboard is silent, nice for typing in the bedroom, etc. (that's why I bought it).
You need just to press a little longer than others keys.
It's done to prevent to activate caps because you miss the right touch when you type. It's really smart.
My wife absolutely fell in love with the keyboard and it now lives plugged into her older white plastic model iMac.
I'm actually using a Microsoft Natural Elite ergonomic model that is easier on my wrist. It has keys that I never use and I had to remap the bottom row keys to Mac standards (easy), but it is well made. That and a trackball help a lot to relieve repetitive use pain.
I suppose it's possible that this is only a problem with the wireless version, or maybe Apple has updated the behavior in a recent update (I stopped using my keyboard on day one as I'm a heavy Emacs user who always remaps Caps Lock to Ctrl), but you're the first person I've seen who says that the delay is dependent on the key's mapping.
My partner has the bluetooth model on her desk and loves it so much that I've never got a look-in ... maybe I ought to snaffle it one evening. Looking for a replacement for my ailing Matias Pro ...
And I LOVED not having the numeric keypad -- it meant I could keep my mouse right next to my keyboard.
But the typing -- it was awful. So in the end I had to give up and buy some $40 USB thing.
Now I still have the bluetooth aluminum on my desk. It haunts me with its beauty. But "slowly driving me insane" is not putting it too strongly. I cannot use it.
A sad tale.
notably the IBM Model M keyboards (easily the loudest and most popular old keyboard you can still find today) used buckling springs on top of two membranes with circuits printed.
same as your cheapo OEM keyboard, but with buckling springs on top instead of rubber domes. that was the part that made all the difference.
they're still hardy, they still last forever, and you can still defend your family against invaders with one, but they are not keyswitched devices.
I love my AEII, but it was too big, and the drawer... awkward. So, now I type with the new keyboard, but the small keyboard now lives on the upper level of my desk.
I don't really miss not having the extra keys. So, I echo the other positives here on the Aluminum keyboards. The size, the "small key travel," and the extra cool function keys (control iTunes), are all pluses for me.
the change shipped while I was drinking the kool aid.
When the ADB port was killed off I tried a few USB to ADB adaptors and eventually accepted keyboard mediocrity. Then Matias brought out a keyboard that very nearly replicated my beloved Selectric. I bought three of them and just recently gave the first its burial. Two days prior to that a new iMac had been delivered to my desk so with a grown, I grabbed that tiny thin aluminum keyboard and plugged it in. Amazing!
Of all the notebooks I've owned, my MacBook has the least lousy keyboard and this new Apple keyboard is its twin. Once I stopped moving between the low profile keyboard on the MacBook and the clacky long throw of the Matias board, I realized that it wasn't just a not bad keyboard, it was a quite good keyboard. I wound up not pulling out a new Matias board - I quite like this thin little keyboard.
Anyone sticking with older types of mechanical keyswitch keyboards are not seeing the big picture. Plus its like 1000x easier to keep clean and sanitary. Spread the word!
It's all very well to say "Anyone sticking with older types of mechanical keyswitch keyboards are not seeing the big picture" (that's a comment, not part of the review) but the fact is not everyone has the same fingers, and there's a reason why there are hundreds of different keyboards for sale, and not two.
Darren: Thanks for mentioning the Caps Lock delay. I should have brought that up in the review, and failed to do so. It was disconcerting at first, but now, I'm glad it's there.
A better mouse from Apple would be nice, but probably wouldn't make any difference to me personally. I roll with a Logitech Trackman Wheel and love it.
Steve: My wife was very pleased by the quiet aspect of this keyboard, as compared to the loudness of the SmartBoard, especially when I get on a typing roll.
Mark Fig: If you're looking for a good home for your wireless keyboard, I happily accept donations. :-)
Ged: Thanks for bringing up the cleanliness issue. It's certainly true!
Thanks to others for clarifying technical details, and to everyone for reading!
It doesn't seem to agree with the internal emulation of the KVM.
Quite a few others have had problems with other emulation KVMs too so a caveat is in order if you are a KVM user.
Not sure why this is the case. EVERY other keyboard has worked with this KVM. But I guess this isn't a test case for Apple (even if all the devices on the KVM are Macs!).
With the classic "deep" keys, it was enough to slap the thumb over the gap between the keys and you could be reasonably certain that you're holding both of them down together.
With the aluminum keyboard it's a bit more of a balancing act to get both keys down correctly, and it gets especially awkward when adding Shift into the mix (pinky on shift, thumb on Cmd-Option), since this contorted hand position makes it very hard to hold both keys with the side of the thumb.
I think that's my only annoyance with the Aluminum keyboard. Has anyone else found this to be a problem?
My MacBook Air, to me, feels identical to the aluminium. A great advantage here is the fact that the keyboards match key for key, so there is no relearning or adjusting to go from one to the other.
Its unergonomic, awful for typing, gaming and any activity where you need not watch the keyboard but your screen.
i'll be replacing this asap with something proper.
Which is why I'll never use it, because my tendonitis flares up like a bonfire when I use a keyboard that's so flagrantly flat and square.
I tried the aluminum keyboard but it had two issues:
a ) too flat -- I couldn't get use to the angle
b ) it seemed i was typing with my fingernails or the keys were coated with teflon.
I love my Apple Pro Kbd (black keys w/ keypad that includes eject key, mute, and sound up and down keys) and wouldn't trade it for anything. This is the best kbd Apple ever made, IMO.
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