Comments on: Beyond the Standard-Issue Keyboard

By: Lee Reamsnyder

Lee Reamsnyder — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:31:33 +0000

It really irks me to see that Logitech and Microsoft won’t make their Bluetooth keyboards work on Macs.

Especially when most Macs have Bluetooth built-in — no extra USB Bluetooth receiver needed. And when the only other Bluetooth keyboard Mac users can buy is the so-so one made by Apple. Seems like a no-brainer, right?

If Microsoft ever made a new version of their Ergonomic 4000 (which I use now) that had Bluetooth wireless and worked on a Mac, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.

By: Howard Chan

Howard Chan — Wed, 30 May 2007 03:41:10 +0000

If you want to really improve your speed in editing videos, or photos, you can try one of the shortcut keyboards from WorldTech Devices. The keyboards have laser-etched shortcut commands right on the keys so you don’t have remember them. Studies have shown that using keyboard shortcuts can improve productivity by as much as 50%. For a price of less than $100, it will pay for itself in no time at all. http://www.worldtechdevices.com

By: James Ko

James Ko — Thu, 17 May 2007 05:03:46 +0000

I am, I guess, something of a keyboard fetishist, having gone through a number of keyboards in recent years, searching for the Holy Grail of keyboards.

It doesn’t exist.

That said, like Katherine I am using the Microsoft Natural Ergo 4000. Unlike her I’m making more errors than before, perhaps because I’m not a touch typist.

I used previously a Logitech wireless keyboard on which I typed much faster and more accurately. However, the wireless connection would ALL TOO OFTEN drop out; reconnecting was a pain in the hind end.

Otherwise, the MS 400 keyboard is okay at best. If Microsoft is reading this (ha!) I say the keys need to provide better feedback. If you could backlit the keys (just the characters; not bathe the whole board in light like some illuminated keyboards — which, yes, I tried) so that I might work in the dark, that would be cool.

The Optimus keyboard that is coming from Russia (Google Art Lebedev) is very interesting, but the reported four-digit price is a deal-breaker. Then again, the Optimus might just be vaporware.

By: Richard Mitnick

Richard Mitnick — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:29:00 +0000

Well, you all are getting me totally confused. In what is ostensibly the “Gadgets” column, Ms Boehret today writes about keyboards, which are an integral part of PC’s, both Windows and Mac.

Tomorrow, in the column which is ostensibly devoted to computers, Walt will probably deconstruct a laser guided toothbrush that also trims beards and ear hair. Or, maybe a digital alarm clock that also trots itself down to the kitchen and squeezes orange juice fresh each morning.

By: Dave Barnes

Dave Barnes — Wed, 16 May 2007 03:06:49 +0000

Walter,

I have a Microsoft “Natural Keyboard Elite” ergonomic keyboard connected to my Power Mac. In an earlier life it was connected to my Windows PCs.

This split keyboard won me over years ago. I can’t image using a “flat” keyboard.

My wife and business partner has a LogiTech Comfort Duo keyboard which is similar in construction. She loves it.

,dave