Apple USB Keyboard - White
by Apple Computer
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Our Price: $59.50 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $13.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Apple USB Keyboard - White
Customer Review: awesome
Summary: 5 Stars
awesome apple keyboard, it came brand new and got here pretty quickly. thanks amazon!Customer Review: Great keyboard with a few minor shortcomings
Summary: 4 Stars
Pros:-Aesthetically pleasing
-Integrated USB cable
-Two additional USB ports
-Driverless (at least under 10.2.8, which is what I'm using), hot swappable
-Adjustable foot for increased or reduced angling
Cons:
-Minor discrepancies that notebook users may find initially annoying
-Tactile response, while good, is not the best
-Cord is too short
-No power key
I use this keyboard with my OS X 10.2.8 based PowerBook, and overall, I'm very pleased. There are some odd glitches, such as the fact that the key repeat rate is slower on this keyboard than on the PowerBook's integrated keyboard, and the tactile response isn't ideal for high-speed touch-typists like myself. On a good keyboard, I can reach about 130 words per minute, but this keyboard doesn't give me the right "feel" for me to hit speeds like that.
If you're used to using your notebook's integrated keys for controlling your notebook's sound or display, you may be initially disoriented by the arrangement of the keys. Turning your notebook display's brightness up or down is possible with this keyboard, for example, but the keys that do it aren't labeled -- I discovered it purely by accident thru experimentation. And where's the function key? Granted, it's not critical -- perhaps not even needed at all -- but I'd still like to have it available to me. The keyboard doesn't have a power key, either, meaning you'll have to use the Mac's power key.
The cord, at only thirty-two inches, is *much* too short. Be aware of this limitation, especially if (for example) you're thinking of plugging this keyboard into the back of a tower that's sitting on the floor behind your desk.
On the upside, the keyboard is very handsome and comfortable to use. In addition to the integrated USB cable, there are two USB ports on either side of the keyboard, allowing you greater flexibility in connecting and placing your USB-based mouse. You can also use the extra port for any other USB-based peripheral (I personally find it very convenient for using my jump drive). No installation or configuration is required for use -- plug the keyboard in and you're set to go. The keyboard is also hot-swappable, so you can plug it in, or unplug it, anytime you like (although you should be cautious if you've connected any kind of storage device to one of the USB ports -- be sure to properly unmount the storage device before unplugging the keyboard). There are some other, smaller, conveniences as well -- such as the CD eject key -- that enhance the keyboard's utility.
All in all, a very good keyboard that's definitely worth your consideration.
Customer Review: The happy medium between the clicker and the mushboard
Summary: 4 Stars
As a former Windows wonk, I was firmly committed to the classic clicker keyboard. That didn't make me very popular with other people in the room. The alternative, the quiet soft-touch keyboard made typing about as enjoyable as plunging one's fingers into a pile of cold raw liver.
When I bought a Mac mini, I decided I'd fully trick it out with a new keyboard. My first few keystrokes on this keyboard at The Apple Store made me wary. "It's too quiet, " I thought, but then I noticed the touch is a lot like the keyboard on an IBM Selectric typewriter. Each key has that moment of resistance before bottoming out, essential for speedy touch-typing.
The built-in USB hub is a nice feature but is the only real drawback. The Mac mini has two USB 2.0 ports but when you plug this keyboard in and plug a mouse (ugh) or trackball (yeah!) into the keyboard, you end up with one USB 2.0 port and one USB 1.1 port. So much for getting your money's worth from any USB 2.0 device you plug into the keyboard's free port.
Aside from that, the keyboard is the perfect match for a Mac mini. The multimedia keys (volume up, volume down, mute, eject) are icing on the cake, especially if your iTunes collection has a wide dynamic range.
Customer Review: Apple white keyboard; functional and clean.
Summary: 4 Stars
The Apple white keyboard conveniently has a smaller footprint than the now obsolete black one: adds a little more desktop space. The whole thing is in a close-fitting, unobrusive clear plastic flat-bottomed case. So, no more problems with pencils and what-nots sliding in under it. This case also provides the built-in keyboard slope often achieved with little plastic flip-out feet on other keyboards that can be bumped and fliped down again. This seems better in that respect. Tactile feel seems pretty good to me. The USB port is moved from the back left-and-right corners to the back side by the signal cable. Still is easy and convenient to plug in and remove a USB memory stick; just seems better this way. Once in a while, it does seem to pop out an extra keypress, in this case primarily with the "d" and "t" keys, and it is difficult to diagnose (investigating with multiple "test pushes") what the root cause of this may be. However this occurs much more rarely than simply making typos, which don't care how perfect the keyboard is. This brings it from a 5 down to a 4. Overall seems to be quite functional. Sure beats the altogether broken keyboard it replaced. :-)Customer Review: Other than that water "allergy", nice keyboard.
Summary: 4 Stars
The water damage remark is spot on, these recent Apple keyboards are really hard to salvage if they get wet. They're also hard to clean, a problem that is exacerbated by the pure white on clear materials. There are covers like iSkin that should rectify that, but the material feels weird.
A pretty decent second choice for a basic compact Mac keyboard is the Kensington Keyboard in a Box. It lacks the dedicated volume and eject keys found on the Apple units, and it has a slightly mushier feel. The enclosure is somewhat larger front to back (it's about the same width as the Apple board), but it comes in a more dust tolerant gray/black color scheme and takes spills a little more gracefully.
Despite the flaws, I'm buying yet another Apple keyboard because the size and port placement are just right for my needs, and I am spoiled by those volume and eject keys.