Re: Rationale behind Apple wireless keyboard design?




On 31/10/08 2:41 AM, in article 1ipmdd8.h6s2u618ayxz4N%nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
"Richard Maine" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Andy Hewitt <thewildrover@xxxxxx> wrote:

Mal Thomas <draconus@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Does anyone know why the numeric keypad and other ancillary buttons are
missing from the Apple wireless keyboard ?

I am sure if it was identical to the wired keyboard (apart from being
wireless of course), more people would probably consider buying one, I know
I would.

No answer I'm afraid, but I'm with you on this one. I recently wanted a
wireless keyboard, but like you the missing numeric pad was a show
stopper for me. I ended up looking for the older keyboard on eBay, and
found one, but I would have bought a brand new wireless one from Apple
had it got the full set of keys.

Me too. I quite like the new Apple wired keyboard (I'm typing on one
now). At first I thought perhaps I wouldn't, but I did rapidly get used
to it. I prefer wireless. No way I'll touch one of those new wireless
ones, though.

As for the reason - well, even though I personally don't like them, it
doesn't exactly take rocket science to figure out what the reason has to
be. (Heck, I can even claim to be a retired "rocket scientist" if it
comes to that). No, it isn't going to be production costs. It is pretty
much bound to be a judgement of the customer base - that people wanting
a wireless keyboard were likely to place a higher value on the improved
portability from the smaller size.

I have no special inside information on the reasoning, but I'm really
quite confident that this is the reason. It's just too obvious. Again, I
don't personally like it, but that doesn't keep me from deducing what
the reason must be.

Yes, I pondered that as well - the wireless aspect does keep the size down
and I suppose being portable suggests people would prefer a smaller
footprint too. Of course I would probably get used to not having the
numeric keypad - I just find it very handy for online banking and other
number intensive functions.

As for trying others, yes I have, but don't I find that the Logitech and
Microsoft keyboards give me the same tactile experience. Yeah that probably
sounds like a lot of w*nk, but the Apple keys have very nice feel to them
and I like the way the keys respond. They are almost (and I stress almost)
like the old Click-O-matic keyboards that IBM used to ship out from Mexico
in the '80s. I had an old one of them stuck into my Windows boxes for years
- only just getting used to life without it <grin>.

One other thing that's probably holding me back is that I like the extra USB
port in the keyboard - then again, USB hubs are cheap these days.

Oh what to do, what to do ...???

Cheers
Mal
Oz

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