[Palomine]

 I haven't seen the new keyboards or new iMacs in person but of course I'll probably like them since I was so fond of the prior iMacs. I've become accustomed to the Kensington SlimType keyboard I'm using now... though it's lack of a USB pass-thru port is a PITA. When it or my other (Adesso) dies, I'll have a look at the new silvery Apple ones.  

[3deroticer]

I sent that picture to my brother-in-law
he is the descendant of the original waffle maker inventor. Interesting enough to know that the family name is dying off because they keep bearing female and no male to carry the family name.

[Shara]

Quote:
You would very welcome there. Women are, as you know, very much in the minority at LAN parties. They are often treated like royalty (more so if they aren't there with their BF or husband ) Just think how popular you would be if you happen to mention your hobby using GIMP, too.  

IF anyone (guys, too) could make it (Eau Claire, WI, Aug. 10-11), here's the website.

AWOL LAN party main page

For anyone who remembers me mentioning this other years, this LAN has replaced the 36Hour LAN Madness that was held under a tent. Now it's held at a facility that has all kinds of funn activities called Action City. We'll be doing indoor and outdoor go-carts (my favorite) and laser tag, among other things. The favored PC game seems to be Battlefield 2142 and it's earlier versions, but Guitar Hero II was popular last year and will probably be back.

poor lads watch out for ex-supreme commander ysotope

[TheZookie007]

Again, it's from Tekserve:

Quote:
Kensington SlimBlade Wireless Keyboard & Mouse

This slick wireless keyboard and mouse desktop set has a compact mouse with a large, smooth 360º scroll ball and a modular keyboard with detachable numeric keypad. A tiny USB RF receiver provides the connection (up to 30' range-- even through walls).


$129

[Palomine]

 A brief update: I just got the Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser (for Mac) (LINK HERE)  

 
...Amazon users rated it 4 out of 5 stars, whereas the comparable Kensington combo unit only fetched 2 stars. I haven't had it long enough to form much of an impression yet, other that to say that installation was painless (as is always the case w/OSX but still worth mentioning).

It cost about $45. including tax and shipping (new but open box... everything seems as new but CD was missing so I downloaded the install software from the Logitech website)... MSRP is $79.99 but it can usually be be purchased for about  $65. from Amazon, or a bit less on eBay.

I'll post an update later as I get more used to it... thus far, I see no reason not to recommend it to others... Logitech makes a whole bunch of VERY similar Windows-layout cordless keyboard/mouse combos (they come in black, which I'd have preferred actually) in case you're a WinTel user. Of course, both the S 530 keyboard and mouse have numerous special/programmable features which I'll never use (ideally, I actually prefer a plain 1-button mouse and basic keyboard but it's almost impossible to find those in cordless/aftermarket versions)... details on the website linked above if you're curious.

[Q_BE]

Palomine, I took the opportunity to rifle through old threads to which I've subscribed over the years and I found this one (again) and laughed my butt off (again). Your rants are hilarious, and I was wondering if you have anything further to rant on your odyssey to find a decent Mac keyboard.

Being as I now have a Mac laptop, I would probably jump on whatever model you happen to be using because you would be the best recommendation I could imagine, what with your blazing fast fingers.

As an aside, have you taken any interest in "speak-write" software?

Q-"Laugh a minute"-BE

EDIT: 1900 posts!

[Palomine]

I don't know much about speech to text software, but I can't imagine that the best of it would enable me to input any faster than I can type. Besides, I don't have CPU cycles to spare anyway.

Lately, I've been using a wireless keyboard and mouse (which I may have mentioned below but didn't check just now) and am fairly happy with them: a Logitech S 530 Mac (model #Y-RAK73) keyboard with the mouse it came with... not sure of the mouse model number... it's white and silver and has a zillion buttons on it... of course, I only use the regular 'single mouse' button (call me a traditionalist).

My complaints are few... once maybe every 30-40 wakes (from **82**) the keyboard seems a bit logey... missing a character now and then. I just reboot the machine, which seems to get everything back up to speed again. The keyboard/mouse are RF-based wireless... not bluetooth (I have a bluetooth thingy, but never use it).

I'd recommend this keyboard... it hasn't got a lot of travel in the keyswitches, but decent tactile feedback, plenty of bells-and-whistles keys (none of which I ever use of course), etc... and basically I can exceed 100 wpm with it with very few typos. It wasn't even expensive... I seem to recall maybe $45. or so new via eBay. Personally, the wireless bit isn't important to me, so if you don't mind wired connections, I'd just ask if Logitech uses the same mechanisms in a wired set.

Good luck.

[Palomine]

I may have spoken too soon (i.e.: it was too good to last). The cordless 'laser' Logitech Mac keyboard I've been using for the past few months is developing a problem: on waking from **82** 4 times out of 5, they keyboard seems to have trouble communicating with its RF/USB receiver: skips keystrokes, etc... Only a full reboot of the system restores proper communication. The batteries are full, the receiver is literally just about a foot from the keyboard, worked fine till recently, etc...

Been waiting a few days since contacting Logitech tech support... still no reply from them on this. If I can't get it resolved, I'm going to stop purchasing Logitech products and also switch back to a corded keyboard... if I'm feeling self-indulgent, perhaps I'll treat myself to an IBM Model M (Unicomp Customizer) keyboard and use it till I'm dead.

http://jseliger.com/2009/01/31/ibm-model-m-unicomp-customizer-keyboard-update-mac-edition/

[MaxBigfoot]

I may have spoken too soon (i.e.: it was too good to last). The cordless 'laser' Logitech Mac keyboard I've been using for the past few months is developing a problem: on waking from **82** 4 times out of 5, they keyboard seems to have trouble communicating with its RF/USB receiver: skips keystrokes, etc... Only a full reboot of the system restores proper communication. The batteries are full, the receiver is literally just about a foot from the keyboard, worked fine till recently, etc...

Been waiting a few days since contacting Logitech tech support... still no reply from them on this. If I can't get it resolved, I'm going to stop purchasing Logitech products and also switch back to a corded keyboard... if I'm feeling self-indulgent, perhaps I'll treat myself to an IBM Model M (Unicomp Customizer) keyboard and use it till I'm dead.

http://jseliger.com/2009/01/31/ibm-model-m-unicomp-customizer-keyboard-update-mac-edition/

Just read the article on the unicomp customizer keyboard, Pal.  Very interesting.  I like it, and I'd probably buy one if my current keyboard was giving me trouble.  It's too bad the recession seems to be hitting Unicomp hard.  If you're going to get one of those keyboards, you might want to do it fairly soon.   

[Palomine]

Looks like the Unicomp will have to wait a bit longer... not having heard back from Logitech for 3 days I finally decided to call them (tech support only available during business hours and not on a toll free number) and went through a manual software upgrade process, which (only a few minutes in) SEEMS to have resolved the issue. No idea why the system didn't notify/suggest the Logitech software update AUTOMATICALLY (like everything else... that's how it's set) but regardless, I'm able to wake the machine from **82** and type normally (so far... I'm almost afraid to consider it fixed so soon... I might jinx things ). I will say the tech support guy there I spoke with was both knowledgeable and friendly... and since he was in Canada, I could even understand his (very mild) accent.

PS: I'd still like to get a Unicomp (IMB Model M/buckling spring) keyboard at some point: but I want a USB version with the Mac layout/metakeys. Apparently NO such keyboard is/has been in eBay in recent memory... must be fairly rare. Right now, I can't justify buying one new (they ain't cheap) given that I literally have a dozen extra (mostly new PS2) keyboards in my garage, but if anyone EVER sees/hears about a Unicomp Mac keyboard for sale used someplace, I could probably muster that bit of self indulgence and would appreciate the heads-up.

Thanks overall for the feedback (as always).

Added later: ARGHHHH! I KNEW I was gonna jinx it.   The problem persists... I've been moving the router to different locations on the theory that it's bleeding into the frequency range of the RF receiver for the keyboard/mouse, but thus far no luck.

[Q_BE]

I love this thread. Palomine's play-by-play is priceless.

You can blame the jinx on me, Pal. I'm the one who necromanced this thread.

Q-"Happy Q_BE! Happy Q_BE!"-BE

[Palomine]

Well, after more than two weeks of troubleshooting, I finally gave up and am shipping back the S530 Laser combo today... they're sending a replacement but given that it works on the same frequency as the one I'm exchanging, I don't expect much joy from it. In the interim, I'm back to a decade-plus-old single button Apple mouse (which works fine though I admit I miss a scroll wheel) and a fairly crappy Kensington laptop-mechanism keyboard that I had retired a while ago: both are wired of course, so at least the cordless thing won't be an issue.

Still lust for the Unicomp SpaceSaver in black/USB/buckling spring switches w/the optional Mac keycaps set (Windows keycap version pictured below).  Remember, these are keyboards for typing: so they don't have two dozen function keys, gaming controls, pointing devices or backlit LCD displays, etc... An interesting Youtube review is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIU-40Zc1IQ

[pedonbio]

Still lust for the Unicomp SpaceSaver in black/USB/buckling spring switches w/the optional Mac keycaps set (Windows keycap version pictured below).  

Pal, I thought you still lusted for a weekend with Chloe V...

By the way, someday you and I will have to chat about your "no more actresses" rule. I thought I was the only male who had that rule.

Pal replies: re the rule... just me trying to learn from my own mistakes PB! There was only one for whom I'd make the exception, and that was ages ago. And I never stop lusting for Chloe... that's just a contstant... a given.

[TheZookie007]

Hey, Pal, have you considered getting the Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless Keyboard? It works for both PC and Mac, and runs about $80.

Pal replies: I got a new Logitech wireless multi-platform (Mac AND PC layout compatible) keyboard and mouse... I forget what model... it's still in the garage (I think it's black and silver). I've been using an extra wired/shop kbd/mouse for a while and am just used to it. Eventually, I'll get around to trying the new Logitech stuff... I'm so far behind in my to-do list.

PS: though Safari is still my primary browser due to speed on old CPUs, I just upgraded my OSX Firefox to 3.5.5 and it's crashed twice today so I expect there'll be a bug fix release on that soon (I hope).

Added 12/16/9: Firefox (for OSX) update 3.5.6 is already out... presumably they fixed that stability bug in the last build.
 

[Chestnuts]

I'm currently in the market for a new keyboard and looking at the Logitech DiNovo Edge wireless for Mac. Customer reviewers love the key response but hate that it doesn't have usb ports. Some reported they could type very fast on them and they are fairly quiet. I still prefer a wired keyboard though (precisely because of problems with connections on wireless keyboards) so may settle for the latest variation of wired Apple keyboard. But damn the DiNovo sounds like a good keyboard for typing, and I do a fair amount of typing.

Has anyone tried the gaming Logitech keyboard with the backlit keys and how is it for plain ol' typing?

Pal replies: I haven't used Logitech's backlit keyboard, but just about every other backlit keyboard I've played with seems to have what's essentially a laptop keyboard mechanism, without a lot of key travel. Presumably, this is necessary to leave room for the backlighting element and whatnot. Since I'm more of a typist and not a game player, I generally prefer a full-travel keyboard with a lot of tactile feedback (I also like them to last more than a year or two if possible) I'm not wild about keyboards intended for laptops: usually very little travel, varying amounts of feedback and sometimes quite flat too. Still, you can get used to most anything: the keyboard I'm using at the moment is a fairly mediocre Kensington model called Slim Type ...it seems like it is very much of that 'laptop type' group: flat, small-travel keys. Despite that, I'm used to it and typing on it well enough that I've still not yet opened the Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave kbd/mouse I got (not as fancy as their DiNovo, though I do like that it's printed for both Windows AND Mac layouts).