Apple Archive

Apple Needs to Offer Keyboards and Mice You Won't Want to Replace

- 2005.12.23

If Apple could offer compelling computer accessories, would PC owners be tempted to buy them? And would Mac users tend to stick with Apple keyboards and mice rather than replace them?

I'm currently using the Apple mouse from my Power Mac G5 on our old 550 MHz PC while I'm back in Connecticut for winter break. While the PC's a bit obsolete (only 2 USB ports, for example), it still runs fine, and it's rather ugly beige case has held up well.

The original keyboard quit working two years ago, and a hand-me-down IBM keyboard replaced it, which is perhaps even uglier than the original one.

This means the white Apple mouse stands out on the desk. Okay, a one-button mouse has limited functionality with a PC, but it's better than nothing - plus it looks good. And don't forget that Apple sells the Mighty Mouse, which has 2 buttons plus a scroll function.

Yes, Apple peripherals work with PCs, but there are a few subtle differences in keyboards, and Apple's cords are too short to connect to a PC tower placed on the floor.

People also often replace the Apple keyboards and mice that come with their Macs with a third-party set. This is generally due to enhanced functionality on another keyboard or mouse, but why doesn't Apple have a selection of keyboards and mice like they do computers?

They used to. There were the Apple Keyboard and Apple Extended Keyboard, first available with the Mac SE and Mac II in March 1997. Then followed the Apple Keyboard II and Extended Keyboard II (neither of which were quite as good as the first versions).

Apple currently provides one rather basic keyboard with all of its desktop Macs (except the mini). Sure, it saves desk space by being small, but I prefer something a bit larger. The older black Pro Keyboard was better in this respect.

However, the most common complaint I've heard about the Pro keyboard is that it's hard to read the keycaps. This never bothered me, as I'm a touch-typist, but it would seem to me that the gray on white would be harder to see than white on black.

Regardless, legibility of the keycaps as well as the spacing of them could be improved (particularly the function keys - I dislike them directly above the number keys and squished together). I also think that the volume controls and disc-eject key should be separated from the number-pad, as I find myself hitting them accidentally sometimes.

Editor's note: And then there's the Help key. Hit that by accident and wait while you watch the help system launch when you didn't want it. It needs to be moved away from other keys. dk

If Apple put time, money, and energy into it, I'm sure they could build a couple of different keyboards that would satisfy different needs. They also need to have longer cables - USB cable extenders are annoying and not too practical, especially when something catches on them and they come unplugged.

As for PCs, the number one complaint I have about most modern PC keyboards is that they have far too many useless "dedicated" buttons on them: buttons to access the Internet, check email, open up a media player, and control the volume. Who uses most of them, let alone all of them?

While perhaps not as easy to use as Apple's dock, Windows XP does put your recently used applications in the Start menu. Why would you want buttons on the keyboard that you might hit accidentally while you're writing an email?

Apple does a good job keeping their keyboards simple. Their current and past keyboards were basic, clutter-free, and, with the exception of the Apple Design Keyboard (which was cheaply made and had an extremely soft feel), generally pretty comfortable to type on.

That's what really matters when buying a keyboard anyway - a keyboard you're uncomfortable typing on isn't only annoying, it can lead to wrist pain, too.

The keyboard that comes closest to my ideal for PCs is the old IBM PS/2 keyboard. It was large, so there was lots of space to not hit the wrong key. It had a very good tactile feel and was well-made. The downside is that it was ugly and very loud to type on.

If Apple were to take this example, along with their original Extended Keyboard, and mix it with some great design, I'll bet they could come up with a nice large keyboard with a great feel that might appeal to both Mac and PC users.

Join us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

Recent Apple Archive articles

iPods, notebooks, and other modern electronics more readily replaced than repaired, 2007.12.07. Whether it's an intermittent failure or a broken display cable, more often than not it's cheaper to replace a broken electronics device than repair it.
Options for replacing your older iPod, 2007.11.19. Whether you've run out of space on your old iPod or want features it doesn't have, here are your options in new and used iPods.
Could the $200 'green' PC with gOS Linux become a threat to Apple?, 2007.11.14. The low cost, low power Everex desktop comes with a customized version of Ubuntu Linux, has a Mac-like Dock, and sells for $400 less than the Mac mini.
More in the Apple Archive index.

Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: Mac IIfx, introduced 1990.03.19. This 'wicked fast' 40 MHz Mac trumped the 33 MHz DOS world.
February 14 in LEM history: 98: A perfect compact Mac - 00: Extended computer warranties worth the cost? - Making your PC work with your Mac - 01: Customize Microsoft Word - 02: Quadra revives a passion for computing - 03: Real world performance - DIY Pismo screen replacement - Best Mac for writing - 03: Fastest browser on the Mac - 06: 15" MacBook Pro - Impressions of a newly acquired Lisa - Finding and using free WiFi - Apple should liberate OS 9 - 07: New Mac mini cheaper than upgrading a Power Mac - 08: Falling in love with OS X
Support Low End Mac

Recent Deals

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Apple Archive articles copyright ©2000-07 by Adam Robert Guha. Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2012 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPad iPhone, iMac, iPod, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
Advice is presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
Email may be published at our discretion unless marked "not for publication"; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.

Custom Search

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay