New keyboard - Wired or wireless?

lirand

Hey,



I'm going to switch to the Mac soon and I plan on buying the new iMac. However, I'm trying to decide which keyboard should I buy - the wired one, or maybe the wireless?



I've been using wireless keyboards for a long time and I like them (they give you more mobility and no cords, though I don't think it's a "must" for me). The problem is I understand that all the "special keys" were removed from the wireless keyboard (expose, dashboard etc.) and they seem to be very useful.



What do you think? Should I skip the special keys and go for the wireless, or maybe just the other way around?



Thanks.

sequitur

Quote:

Originally Posted by lirand


Hey,



I'm going to switch to the Mac soon and I plan on buying the new iMac. However, I'm trying to decide which keyboard should I buy - the wired one, or maybe the wireless?



I've been using wireless keyboards for a long time and I like them (they give you more mobility and no cords, though I don't think it's a "must" for me). The problem is I understand that all the "special keys" were removed from the wireless keyboard (expose, dashboard etc.) and they seem to be very useful.



What do you think? Should I skip the special keys and go for the wireless, or maybe just the other way around?



Thanks.

There's a thread and/ or a bunch of posts on AppleInsider relating to the keyboard. If you can't find it by browsing, click on Search and enter Keyboard.

ireland

The special keys aren't removed, all that has been removed is the number pad on the right (among other things) and the 'big' cursor keys. If you'll want to play games much on your Mac you'll need the big cursors, if not then the small ones will do. Other than that the only question you have to ask yourself is whether you 'really' want a big number pad or not? I'm typing this on the new wired keyboard, but when I get my new iMac I'm getting the wireless one, go figure.

lirand

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireland


The special keys aren't removed, all that has been removed is the number pad on the right (among other things) and the 'big' cursor keys. If you'll want to play games much on your Mac you'll need the big cursors, if not then the small ones will do. Other than that the only question you have to ask yourself is whether you 'really' want a big number pad or not? I'm typing this on the new wired keyboard, but when I get my new iMac I'm getting the wireless one, go figure.

How do you know that?



I've heard the special keys are removed. Do you have some photo of the wireless keyboard? I didn't find any on Apple's site...

sequitur

Apple Wireless Mouse and Keyboard Tips and Tricks



http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/mac/.../wireless.html



===================

Apple Wireless Keyboard from Apple Price: $79.00

Estimated Ship: 4-6 weeks Free Shipping



Apple Wireless Keyboard from online stores:

CompUSA

$59.99 | In stock: Yes

CDW Corporation

$59.00 | In stock: Yes

MAC Connection

$59.00 | In stock: Yes

==========================

jasenj1

I'd like to get the wired international keyboard. Back when they were introduced someone posted a picture of the intl. keyboard and it retains the beloved Apple key. I can't find a big picture of the intl. keyboard anymore, and would like to see what all the keys are.

Part number from the UK store is MB110Z/A.



Anyone in the US bothered to get the intl. keyboard?



- Jasen.

ireland

sequitur

Ireland,

How familiar are you with the wireless board? Is there a way to page up / page down / Home / End ?

what are the F4, F5, and F6 function keys? What is the fn key (lower left)?

Did the site where you found the pic of the board explain the functions?

Thanks

gon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireland


The special keys aren't removed, all that has been removed is the number pad on the right (among other things) and the 'big' cursor keys. If you'll want to play games much on your Mac you'll need the big cursors, if not then the small ones will do.

I guess I missed that memo. Small cursor keys, as long as they are in the regular inverted-T setup, are every bit as good as far as I'm concerned. And what game needs them? All I can think of from the near past that I have played with the arrow keys were obscure Japanese arcade shoot'em ups. Everything else tends to work better with WASD.

extremeskater

Quote:

Originally Posted by lirand


Hey,



I'm going to switch to the Mac soon and I plan on buying the new iMac. However, I'm trying to decide which keyboard should I buy - the wired one, or maybe the wireless?



I've been using wireless keyboards for a long time and I like them (they give you more mobility and no cords, though I don't think it's a "must" for me). The problem is I understand that all the "special keys" were removed from the wireless keyboard (expose, dashboard etc.) and they seem to be very useful.



What do you think? Should I skip the special keys and go for the wireless, or maybe just the other way around?



Thanks.

For me the wired keyboard is better option because with wireless you lose the 2 usb 2.0 ports. That along makes it worth getting the wired. All the fuctions are there for the exception of the extended number keypad.

gon

Quote:

Originally Posted by sequitur


Ireland,

How familiar are you with the wireless board? Is there a way to page up / page down / Home / End ?

what are the F4, F5, and F6 function keys? What is the fn key (lower left)?

If it's the same than Apple laptop keyboards, fn toggles the special function keys to regular function keys for the duration you press it. This can be reversed in preferences so the keyboard presents you with function keys, and you reach the special functions with fn. This is great news on a desktop keyboard since now you can have the Apple controls quickly accessible, yet use regular F keys when an individual app wants them (I have had to go and unbind Expose for the duration of using Eclipse, for instance), or bind your own quick access stuff there.



And if it's the same than the laptop keyboards, fn+up/down is page up/down, fn+left is home and fn+right is end. My desktop and laptop keyboard are both like that, works well. I don't feel slowed down any since fn works with the left hand, the arrow keys with the right. My keyboard has a right-handed fn too so it's possible to use the keys with one hand if necessary. That's not present on the laptops but I'd use it so rarely that it hasn't bothered me. It's weird they didn't label the buttons though. It would be a dealbreaker if it didn't do pgup/pgdn but I don't believe they'd screw that up.



The logo on the F4 key is Dashboard. As the F5 and F6 don't have logoes, I'd guess there are no special functions bound to them. It's an interesting question if you can, though. I think it would be confusing if you would get F5 by pressing the F5 button, yet didn't get F4 when you pressed that button.

sequitur

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gon


If it's the same than Apple laptop keyboards,

Thanks. Caught - I can't hide the fact that I've never used a laptop.

jeffdm

Quote:

Originally Posted by sequitur


===================

Apple Wireless Keyboard from Apple Price: $79.00

Estimated Ship: 4-6 weeks Free Shipping



Apple Wireless Keyboard from online stores:

CompUSA

$59.99 | In stock: Yes

CDW Corporation

$59.00 | In stock: Yes

MAC Connection

$59.00 | In stock: Yes

==========================

The alternative stores have the $59.00 price on the old version. The new version isn't in stock at any of the stores and are priced at $79.00 The one you quoted from The Apple Store is the new version.