Re: Rationale behind Apple wireless keyboard design?

The wireless keyboard seems intended for road warriors who lug their
laptops around from flight to fligh, country to country; these people
want a full keyboard experience (for whatever reason), but do not want
the full keyboard to take up too much space; as such, lack of numeric
equals smaller footprint

Oddly, this also happened with some of the very first Apple Mac
computers in the 1980s. No numeric keyboard came with early versions,
and you had to purchase an extension. So, it's either (a) to take less
space up in your travel bag or (b) because it's a new technology and
they didn't want to sink too much money in if it didn't sell.

If sales keep happening, and if Apple hears enough woe from you, the
users, they will include numeric on all wireless.


On Oct 31, 6:14 am, Mal Thomas <draco...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On 31/10/08 2:41 AM, in article 1ipmdd8.h6s2u618ayxz4N%nos...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,





"Richard Maine" <nos...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Andy Hewitt <thewildro...@xxxxxx> wrote:

Mal Thomas <draco...@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- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

.