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iMac Wireless Keyboard

urbanmacUser

urbanmacUser

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 9, 2008
291
265
What do people think of the wireless keyboard with the numeric key pad? Anyone have any regrets getting it and wished they had gone for the wired numeric one?

I'm about to order but cant make my mind up!
 
urbanmacUser said:
What do people think of the wireless keyboard with the numeric key pad? Anyone have any regrets getting it and wished they had gone for the wired numeric one?

I'm about to order but cant make my mind up!
Click to expand...

There's no wireless WITH the numeric pad (I'm guessing you meant without). I was concerned, since I'm used to entering numbers on the 10-key number pad. I told them at the Apple store that I wanted the wired keyboard with number pad and they gave me BOTH! I'm using the wireless right now to give it a chance, but I think I'll switch to the wired one soon.

The biggest wireless benefit is the small size, so the mouse is closer. I've used a mouse next to a wide keyboard for a long time, though, and it's not a problem. The extra wire isn't that big of a deal for me, and there's also a bonus of 2 USB ports on the wired keyboard. They're a bit lame in that they're recessed into the sides, but they're still better than none on a keyboard.
 
I dont regret it. wireless one without tenkey.

the keys lack feedback with I dont really like, but the overall size and type-ablility is good.

the wired 10-key doesnt make sense in my opinion, why move back in technology.

They should make a wireless ver with 10-key for all you accountants out there.
 
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urbanmacUser said:
What do people think of the wireless keyboard with the numeric key pad? Anyone have any regrets getting it and wished they had gone for the wired numeric one?

I'm about to order but cant make my mind up!
Click to expand...

do they make one with num pad and wireless?

I've got the wired w num pad and love it
 
i7QuadCoreMania said:
the wired 10-key doesnt make sense in my opinion, why move back in technology.
Click to expand...

How doesn't it make sense?

My opinion, having used the old Apple wireless keyboard with the 10-key pad, was that, while nice for that uncluttered look of not having that wire, it didn't make sense to me.

Notably... my keyboard never moves, it's never far away from the Mac, having to regularly swap batteries seems wasteful to me where the wireless wasn't a big deal, and even unpowered, those two easy-access USB ports have been incredibly useful. Also, criticism of the older white wireless keyboard, lag time was very noticeable and annoying (I'm a very fast touch typist, so I noticed this ALL THE FRIGGING TIME), the keyboard never worked right with BootCamp or the Mac startup (in case I needed to boot to CD by holding down C, etc... the keyboard was ignored until I was in OSX)

Until the wireless keyboard becomes a no compromises alternative to the wired one (ie - wireless charging, wireless USB/new input standard, the return of the 10-key), probably won't buy another wireless one - unless Apple completely discontinues the wired keyboard, all my current wired Apple keyboards (I have 4 for all my Win/Mac machines) die, and there are no decent wired alternatives from any other manufacturer.
 
Alan64 said:
There's no wireless WITH the numeric pad (I'm guessing you meant without). I was concerned, since I'm used to entering numbers on the 10-key number pad. I told them at the store that I wanted the wired keyboard with number pad and they gave me BOTH! I'm using the wireless right now to give it a chance, but I think I'll switch to the wired one soon.

The biggest wireless benefit is the small size, so the mouse is closer. I've used a mouse next to a wide keyboard for a long time, though, and it's not a problem. The extra wire isn't that big of a deal for me, and there's also a bonus of 2 USB ports on the wired keyboard. They're a bit lame in that they're recessed into the sides, but they're still better than none on a keyboard.
Click to expand...

oops what a typo! yeah I meant without :rolleyes:

Think I'll push the button on the wireless one as I have a wired one I can fall back on on my G5!
 
RexTraverse said:
How doesn't it make sense?
Click to expand...

Hence the option..., wireless technology isnt going to get better unless there are some who adopt it and create a market for it. At the end of the day if you still perfer a wired one, by all means.;)

I prefer my desk uncluttered with wires.:D
 
I thought I would really miss the numeric keypad... but so far that hasn't been the case. The new keyboard feels tighter somehow :)
 
i7QuadCoreMania said:
Hence the option..., wireless technology isnt going to get better unless there are some who adopt it and create a market for it. At the end of the day if you still perfer a wired one, by all means.;)
Click to expand...

I agree with that, but I don't consider the wired one a step backwards either - not while the wired one continues to offers features that the wireless one cannot or does not.
 
urbanmacUser said:
What do people think of the wireless keyboard with the numeric key pad?
Click to expand...

I wish. I would LOVE a wireless keyboard with number pad. I tried the wireless keyboard that came with my iMac but quickly replaced it my old wired with number pad.

I also found the bluetooth keyboard and new mouse to be kind of glitchy. I will use the wireless keyboard and mouse for my future Mini HTPC downstairs.
 
I can't remember the last time I had to 10-key and I like the action on the new wireless keyboard so I'm happy. The absence of wires is nice, not that my keyboard moves around on my desk much, but it's one less thing for the cat to play with on my desk.
 
urbanmacUser said:
Think I'll push the button on the wireless one as I have a wired one I can fall back on on my G5!
Click to expand...

I don't mean to be rude, but why did you ask the question then? By the way, I did a similar thing. I already have a wired KB with numeric keypad and so decided to get the wireless one for the iMac for something different. I can use either.

I'm not a fan of it though. Maybe its just familiarity but the keys of the old one just feel more at home, and I CANNOT live with the "other" delete key and all the other navigation keys (the bank of 6 keys). I don't mind not having the numeric keypad and the location of the arrows is ok, but I NEED pageup, pagedown, home, end, delete etc.

I don't know how Mac users can live without these keys... I'm sure there's some lame Command-alt combo but that's not gonna fly. These keys need to be quick to access and especially, without looking.
 
Anyone who does bills and balances a checkbook or does school work on a computer can understand the need for a keyboard with a number pad. I don't understand the novelty of using a crippled wireless keyboard without a number pad full time unless you are across the room most of the time. Most of you are right in front of the computer, so a wireless keyboard is such a waste with the batteries it chomps through over the years.
 
I'm planning on getting the wired keyboard, because the main reason I want my mac is to run logic and protools, and anyone who has used protools would know the rediculous amount of keyboard shortcuts mean you NEED a numeric keypad.

I'm hoping I also get that awesome deal of being able to have BOTH when I buy from an apple store
 
jvalente said:
I'm hoping I also get that awesome deal of being able to have BOTH when I buy from an apple store
Click to expand...

If you can't get that deal and still want both, it's cheaper to get the wireless one with the iMac and buy the wired one separately, as the wireless one is nearly twice the price of the wired one*.

I'm thinking of doing that, as I've never used one without the extra keys (I paid a lot more on my first Mac, a IIcx, in order to upgrade from the standard keyboard to the Apple Extended Keyboard) and wonder if I can get used to the loss of keys that are old friends.

Are the keys on the current wired keyboard of the short-travel type used on the wireless keyboard or of the long-travel type as on older desktop Macs?

*The UK Apple Store has the wired one at £28 and the wireless one at £55.
 
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