Macally USB Slim Keyboard - ICEKEY
by Macally
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List Price: Our Price: $20.58 You Save: $19.41 (49%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $18.11 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Macally USB Slim Keyboard - ICEKEY
Customer Review: Excellent Keyboard from Heaven, Indeed !!
Summary: 5 Stars
First, my sincere thanks to VRH for their review here, which finally led me to the object of my fingers' desire !
Sometimes you don't consciously know what you like, or what you're looking for,
until you have a sufficient contrast-frame experience to compare with.
I hadn't realized several "little - big" things I'd grown accustomed to on my excellent pro-star PC laptop,
until 2 things conspired to make me conscious -
first, spending time on my new fiance's Apple keyboard with its dual USB ports
(their design sense outshines Win-tel once again :>),
and second, spending time on a variety of desktop PC keyboards.
I learned that I must have the short key-travel distance provided by the low profile "Scissor-Key-Switches" laptop style
keyboards technology, versus the long key-travel & tall clunky keys found on standard type keyboards.
Also, I must have 3 double-width keys - the Shift, Enter or Return, & Backspace or Delete keys.
I began to notice how some of these were only 1 key wide on some keyboards, vs. 2 keys wide on my laptop.
This Macally USB Slim Keyboard is a diamond at a cubic zirconia price, & will no doubt totally satisfy the Apple/Mac group, since it allows the special keys to be configured with the Apple/Mac software drivers provided on the included disc.
Plus, I won bonus points with my fiance for buying this keyboard for her second Mac at the office.
Since my search was for a "Windows" flavour slimline PC keyboard with 2 USB ports & minimal additional keys,
I followed reviewer VRH's hint to the DC International note station site,
and found a nearly identical keyboard specifically configured for PCs -
the 4 PC-functional keys on the top Right are Volume UP, DOWN, MUTE, & computer STANDBY.
And the 2 USB 1.1 ports are more than sufficient to power a mouse & my USB memory stick.
Spend the time to experiment & identify what works for YOU, and YOUR time in Silicon-land will be happily rewarded !
Customer Review: Best keyboard I have used in years.
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this keyboard for my ibook to spare the built-in k/b ( and because I simply can't type fast enough on the ibook's ). After shopping around on Amazon it came down to this one or the Apple Pro k/b. The cost and reviews of the icekey swayed me and I am ecstatic about my choice.
The keys are solid and respond quickly without the normal squishy computer keyboard feel. My fingers don't have to travel a mile and a half to register the keystroke and I enjoy hearing the gentle click after completing a key press.
The closest comparison to the feel to this keyboard is the keyboard on the Apple IIc that I had so many years ago ( I am dating myself..I realize).
I am really happy now. I can type at full speed, I have two USB ports ( just like an Apple Pro k/b) , and a full numerical keypad. I am also thrilled that the volume control keys and eject keys work flawlessly.
If looks concern you - this is one hot looking little number as well.
I am now hard at work trying to program the "mystery key" ( to the right of the control key) to trigger my coffee maker.
added:
I swear I tried to use the Apple keyboard on my iMac but honestly I was used to better so I just plugged in the MacAlly k/b and it is a thousand times better. I bought it for my ibook but it works perfectly with the iMac G5 and I reiterate that no k/b is better. As a writer the reaction of the keys is very important and this is now the best k/b I have ever used ( including the IIc).
Sadly, it has spoilt me totally and I cannot use any other keyboard now. MacAlly should win an award for creating this fine piece of machinery. And no...I have no connection with the company ( you can check me out in Fodor's Caribbean). This is an excellent and amazing keyboard and after almost 2 years it still looks amazing.
Customer Review: Good4Mac
Summary: 5 Stars
The dreaded nemesis of keyboards, coffee, assassinated my iMac aluminum keyboard. Took 2+ years but finally succeeded. But I never did like the action of that keyboard, returned the 1st one thinking it was defective. The replacement had the same defect..maybe it's me. Anyway, I needed something. Shopped locally and found nothing. Then I discovered this keyboard on amazon and I'll address the issues people had with this keyboard as best as I can remember them.
1) The color & design is, pick a superlative: ok, fine, nice, great, wonderful. I really like it.
2) Key action. Well in all the writing I've done in the last few days, NOT once, read that not one time, has the Space bar not Spaced. A chronic problem for me with the Apple board. Other Keys simply work just fine, and I like the textured or non-glossy finish of the Keys.
3) I looked at the included CD and decided not to use it, as it seemed too dated. Checked google, went to Macally and discovered a current downloadable driver for the intel iMac. Bit the bullet, downloaded, installed. We all survived, the lights on the keyboard work and so too the USB ports. I've already downloaded pics to iPhoto thru the Keyboard. The Num Lock doesn't work and I use an external sound card so I don't xpect the volume keys to work.
4) I use an audio editing software and have certain dedicated Keys to facilitate my workflow. No settings changed when I switched Keyboards. So,
I like it! It works for me, and I highly recommend it. Don't know why some have had conflicts but none here. Got a Mac? I suggest you consider this keyboard. And of course, amazon is absolutely reliable and ez to do biz with.
Customer Review: Fantastic keyboard for keyboard snobs!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've always been a bit of a keyboard snob. In my PC days I had a treasured OmniKey, at one time the holy grail of mechanical switch keyboards. I also have used and enjoyed a Matias TactilePro, and several other ALPs style keyboards (these are all keyboards which utilize separate mechanical switches for each key rather than the more common membrane style).
I just bought a new iMac, and love it except for one thing -- the keyboard that came with it is incredibly mushy, even by membrane-keyboard standards. It was not comfortable to type on, and I was constanly hitting double letters. It was driving me nuts.
I thought I was going to have to shell out the $150 the Matias TactilePro, but luckily I saw a review for this keyboard. I was wary of a keyboard that didn't use mechanical switches (the IceKey uses "scissor keys" like Apple's PowerBooks do). But, at less than a third the price of the Matias, I figured it was worth a try.
I'm so glad I took the chance -- this is one of the best keyboards I've ever used. It has the solid, crisp feel that mechanical-key users love, a very short travel time for the keys, great spring-back, a nice little "click" to it without being tap-dancer-loud, and it even looks good with the iMac.
I spend a large portion of my waking time in front of a computer and have for years. So far, I've avoided carpal tunnel and other related injuries, and I think it's due in large part to being so picky about what keyboard I use. Mushy, unresponsive keyboards are simply bad for you.
This IceKey, though, is what keyboards are supposed to be. It's a total keeper.
Customer Review: Great Keyboard At a Fair Price
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this keyboard!
The "finger-feel" is just superb, there's no doubt about whether or not a key-press has registered, you can feel it in your fingertips. If you're accustomed to keyboards that register strokes with almost no pressure you may not like this one. It's not difficult to press the keys but it does take a definite, dedicated press to type. Don't get me wrong, it's not arduous and you won't get tired or sore during typing marathons (I can't speak for arthritis sufferers, or those with other physical problems, though).
It's not a noisy keyboard but you can hear the keys being depressed. It's a soft noise, not a "click." The spacebar makes a slightly louder noise.
I'd love to have this available with Bluetooth (I'm using it on my MacBook with a desktop monitor) but that aside, the long USB cord (6 ft. or a bit more) is very handy for those reclining-back-in-my-chair writing sessions. As I've discovered, it's handier to have a wireless mouse than a wireless keyboard. Although if Macally introduces this keyboard with Bluetooth, I'll buy it and use the corded one on my PC.
You'll need to install the driver to use the volume controls on your Mac but everything works just fine and I'm glad that I did.
The keyboard is flat, comfortable to use, solidly made, and the two USB ports are very handy, too. It's not readily apparent on Macally's website but it's available in both white and black colors.
Just a warning, Macally makes cheaper models with similar names, make sure you read the comments about them on Amazon before buying them.