Do you use an external keyboard with your MBP?

[hdsalinas]

I am waiting on delivery of a 15" C2D MBP. I added a v270 bluetooth mouse as well.

This will be my first notebook so I am not used to a laptop keyboard yet. Would you recommend an external keyboard?

I will be using my MBP almost exclusively for graphic design and as you may know it requires constantly using different keystroke combinations that may be uncomfortable for me at first. I am thinking of getting an apple wireless keyboard.

Any advise on whether is worth investing on a separate keyboard? Is it comfortable enough to use the built in keyboard for 8 hours straight or is it better to use an external keyboard.

Also, how would you rate the apple wireless keyboard?

oh, oh... BTW does the Apple wireless keyboard runs under Windows XP?

 

[CDailey]

I use an external usb keyboard. It's some old, black Kensington keyboard my dad bought a few years ago when he managed to snag a 400mhz pink iMac for $30 at a church rummage sale. I'm looking to get a BT Apple keyboard though.

 

[fansub]

With the Macbook Pro keyboard being quite compact and certain keystrokes needing the "fn" key they take a little getting used to, the major thing that you have to worry about is comfort. If your doing something that requires the CPU's to be working quite hard then it gets pretty hot pretty quick, whenever i've been playing a game such as world of warcraft after about an hour my palms start to sweat, i installed some temperature monitoring software and it was reading the disk drive at 41*C (105*F) using the USB keyboard that came with my old G4 does the trick whenever it comes long haul gaming or the likes. So yes for 8hrs of graphics design i recommend getting a wireless keyboard as the MBP will start to get very uncomfortable.

 

[iBookG4user]

I usually use the MBP keyboard, although I have used an external keyboard on occasion. Albeit only when I have a game that cannot run with my gamepad.

 

[hdsalinas]

One more thing, after using the built in keyboard for extended period of time, day in day out, will it accelerate the wear on the appearance of the MBP?

 

[phungy]

One more thing, after using the built in keyboard for extended period of time, day in day out, will it accelerate the wear on the appearance of the MBP?

I'd recommend getting the iSkin keyboard protector.

 

[tjcampbell]

Smart stuff

When I am at my desk I always use the wired, white apple keyboard and I place my MBP on a stand similar to the icurve.

This is best for your neck and back as it's much better to look straight on at a screen than to tilt your head down.

ALSO... if you have a spill your MBP will be safe. Worst case scenario is that the external keyboard gets soaked, but that's not something to cry over, but a drenched MBP certainly is.

Do it for your neck, back and the safety of your shiny MBP. It's a very smart and safe move to have.

 

[phungy]

When I am at my desk I always use the wired, white apple keyboard and I place my MBP on a stand similar to the icurve.

This is best for your neck and back as it's much better to look straight on at a screen than to tilt your head down.

ALSO... if you have a spill your MBP will be safe. Worst case scenario is that the external keyboard gets soaked, but that's not something to cry over, but a drenched MBP certainly is.

Do it for your neck, back and the safety of your shiny MBP. It's a very smart and safe move to have.

Where did you purchase your iCurve? I searched on Amazon but they didnt have any.

 

[hdsalinas]

Well you guys convinced me ... didn't take much huh?

I just placed an order in amazon for an apple wireless keyboard (I am tired of wires and want to eliminate them as much as possible).

I just wish that my wife doesn't notice it...

I have played with the wired version at a local store and I really like the feel of it. I just wish it had a usb connector

 

[lamina]

I use my PB keyboard, but if I'm eating or doing something otherwise messy, I plug in the Apple keyboard I bought when I got this computer, and the mighty mouse.

Also, if I'm plugging away at a term paper, I like to use either the USB keyboard or my Apple BT keyboard.

 

[crazycat]

I use my laptop normally when i am doing my emails, browsing extra but when i want to play a game or do heavy stuff i plug my aple keyboard.

 

[tjcampbell]

Where did you purchase your iCurve? I searched on Amazon but they didnt have any.

I don't have the icurve, I said that I had "something similar."

The product I got is basically a less stylish chunk of plastic that I got at PC World here in London. It certainly does the trick, but I think the advantage of the iCurve is that it allows more air to circulate where as this stand does not have a gap or any sort of perforation.

If you want an iCurve you should be able to get one from the apple store or something just as good on ebay.

Cheers, Tommy

 

[poppe]

I use the external keyboard and not in bed and sitting at my desk. I feel I could edit a little better this way. And soon I'll be getting my TV, so I'll be using a wireless keyboard in bed with a mouse.

 

[Westside guy]

Huh, there's no "sometimes" option on the poll so I can't really vote.

At work I use an external ergonomic keyboard and 20" display with my MBP. At home I don't.