Keyboard recommendations

[staph]

My Apple Pro Keyboard is on its last legs (it's become really sticky), so my question is this: does anyone have any recommendations for good third party keyboards?

The current Apple Keyboard impresses me not at all... I'm leaning towards the Macally Ice Key (http://macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/icekey.html) . Has anyone had any experience with this?

[low-fi]

My Apple Pro Keyboard is on its last legs (it's become really sticky), so my question is this: does anyone have any recommendations for good third party keyboards?

The current Apple Keyboard impresses me not at all... I'm leaning towards the Macally Ice Key (http://macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/icekey.html) . Has anyone had any experience with this?

I have no experience of that keyboard, but this (http://halfkeyboard.com/tactilepro/index.php) is so close to the dog's balls of keyboards - Apple's Apple Extended Keyboard II - it just isn't funny. I swear, those II were AMAZING. I'd love one again...oh they typing joy...

[Barto]

Drop what you are doing. Bask in the warm glow. (http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=EAK-US1&other_title=0)

My very own keyboard!
http://homepage.mac.com/barto_act/linkage/kbd_mouse.jpg

Now that you are convinced the Coolermaster Q keyboard is the greatest single computer peripheral ever made (which it is), walk down to your local PC shop and buy it. If they don't have it, you can order it from SecretNet (http://www.secret.com.au) or AusPCMarket (http://www.auspcmarket.com.au).

It works great with Macs. For the G5 owners here, the keyboard matches the color and styling of your awesome computers.

Barto

[torifile]

I've got to heartily recommend the Mx line from Logitech. If you need a mouse and keyboard, go for the Mx Duo. It's great. I've had mine for about 8 months and I've been very happy. I'm thinking of buying another for my office.

[Luca]

Another nod to Logitech. Whatever you do, though, make sure you get a USB keyboard with Mac drivers that work for it, so you don't have to switch the Command and Option keys around. Logitech puts both Mac and Windows symbols on their keyboards, so it works on either one. Microsoft keyboards also have drivers that allow you to switch the keys to match the Mac layout, but it only has Windows symbols.

[Benton]

If you can wait until early Fall, an illuminated keyboard with brushed aluminum is expected in US. Take a look at www.zippy.com for their EL-720. This maybe nice to compliment an evening with a new G5.

[staph]

Thanks for the replies guys!

I've pulled the trigger, because this thing is giving me RSI.

Logitech products are great, I agree, and they feel rather nice too, but the currently more-or-less good products are insanely big, and more-than-a-little ugly. Having said that, I love their work; I'll replace my trusty Apple Pro mouse with one of theirs when it dies. If I can deal with having crappy multiple buttons.

Barto: That is indeed a very cool (and not hugely expensive keyboard)... but it's not extended, and it doesn't have a media keys, which unfortunately is a deal-breaker. For future reference, how does the feel of the laptop-style feel of the keys compare to your iBook?

I ended up going for the Ice Key because:

(1) it's got Mac keys: petty, I know, but vaguely important;

(2) it's rather cute;

(3) the feel of its (scissor-switch) keys is said to be very close to the iBook, which I really love typing on (the most important consideration for me);

(4) it's an extended keyboard, with media keys.

I'll let you know how I go with it when it arrives, if anyone's interested.

[Barto]

Ah well. Maybe I'll convince the next person in need of a keyboard ;)

The feel of the keyboard is nicer IMHO that the iBook's. The keys almost touch each other on all sides. The thick aluminium face and plastic underbelly make it not too heavy, not too light. and it doesn't have the plastic/bouncy feel of a laptop keyboard. Having full size arrow keys is very important for me. It has almost all the keys of the extended keyboard - home/end, del/ins, page up/down - they are simply at the end of the main block and not in their own block. The height isn't adjustable however it doesn't feel flat or sharply angled but a comfortable halfway.

Barto

[staph]

Ah well. Maybe I'll convince the next person in need of a keyboard ;)

You came damn close. I just have too much muscle memory for the Apple Pro layout to willingly retrain myself atm. I'm all at sea without media keys too. ;)

The feel of the keyboard is nicer IMHO that the iBook's. The keys almost touch each other on all sides. The thick aluminium face and plastic underbelly make it not too heavy, not too light. and it doesn't have the plastic/bouncy feel of a laptop keyboard.

Strange as it may sound, I actually really like that slight squidginess/bounciness!

Having full size arrow keys is very important for me. It has almost all the keys of the extended keyboard - home/end, del/ins, page up/down - they are simply at the end of the main block and not in their own block. The height isn't adjustable however it doesn't feel flat or sharply angled but a comfortable

Never fear - next time work needs some, I'll buy it for them. It looks preferable to the Logitech Elite, my current second choice, in terms of taking up huge amounts of space.

The other aluminium keyboard posted in this thread also looked very nice...

[Frank777]

I'd spring for the Mathis Tactile Pro, if only it came in Apple's new Grey theme for pros (like this site!)

Just about everything on my desk is grey, a white keyboard would look oddly out of place. :D

[Mac+]

Barto I like that keyboard... Apple should design something like this in a BT model already.

For those of you that "do music and computer stuff", I thought I'd throw this into the mix. I can't recall where I found the image though, so unfortunately I don't have a reference link. (It may even be a prototype - I can't remember.) music/computer keyboard (http://homepage.mac.com/ajsonego/lookatthis/music_computer_keyboard.jpg)

[EDS66]

My Apple Pro Keyboard is on its last legs (it's become really sticky), so my question is this: does anyone have any recommendations for good third party keyboards?

The current Apple Keyboard impresses me not at all... I'm leaning towards the Macally Ice Key (http://macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/icekey.html) . Has anyone had any experience with this?

It's a really nice keyboard. You will need to install the driver that ships with it to enable the volume up/down and cd eject keys. The driver should work OK. The keyboard is great. The switch-driven keys are great.