Overlooked urgently needed updates to Apple hardware

[Nickygoat]

Thanks for the reply

I'm neither in the US or the UK, so I'm going to have to assume I'm getting the UK keyboard (since that's what we have at work, and I'll be ordering through the same company) Since I can't order from the US store (they won't ship here), I might have to look into some other options...

The UK Apple Store (I know you're not in the UK) has an International English keyboard option which I suspect is the one you want. It's available as a stand alone product or as a BTO option. If your supplier is giving you British specced Macs he should be able to get an international KB. Worth asking.

Alternatively try Amazon. The pics on Amazon UK are confusing - the wired ones show the standard UK layout, but the wireless one has the layout you're looking for. I'm guessing that they just used a pic from the US store.

Amazon US will ship to you (or I'd be surprised if they didn't)

HTH

 

[murfle]

The UK Apple Store (I know you're not in the UK) has an International English keyboard option which I suspect is the one you want. It's available as a stand alone product or as a BTO option. If your supplier is giving you British specced Macs he should be able to get an international KB. Worth asking.

Alternatively try Amazon. The pics on Amazon UK are confusing - the wired ones show the standard UK layout, but the wireless one has the layout you're looking for. I'm guessing that they just used a pic from the US store.

Amazon US will ship to you (or I'd be surprised if they didn't)

HTH

Thanks! I know amazon won't ship a full iMac to me, but maybe keyboards are a different story... I know one of my co-workers gets books or something from them, because I'm always seeing amazon.com boxes around his office

but thanks for the info! You definately helped give me a few options to explore Appreciate it.

 

[dpaanlka]

Every keyboard I have is the bottom style. That would make sense, since I'm in the US.

 

[Mr. Amiga500]

The OP needs to get used to the idea that different people have different preferences... which doesn't mean his suggestions are no good, just that they are simply another option.

Read my original post carefully. I said "Here are a few things I want to see" (meaning my opinion). I also said, "Let's hear what product updates you think are urgently required." (meaning I want to hear your opinion)

So I'm making suggestions about what I want to see and asking others what they want to see. So no, I don't "need to get used to the fact that different people have different preferences." I do need to get used to the fact that people don't read carefully.

See, there are many solutions out there, and I wouldn't dream of proclaiming mine "obviously" better than others... and neither should you. Different strokes for different folks.

Do a quick search of this thread and you'll see you're the only one who used the word "obviously" (until now). Don't try to attribute a quote to me that I didn't make. Nowhere did I say my solutions were "obviously" better than others.


I can see I'm on the wrong planet here. I had expected at least one person to agree with me that something should be done about tangled earbud cords getting ripped out of ears. Nobody else has had this problem? Weird.

 

[Mr. Amiga500]

OK, it looks like the new iMac will have a nice new keyboard (...if we can believe the rumours), but I still urgently need "ShufflePhones".

Since I last posted, I've had my earbuds violently ripped out of my ears at least 100 times (snagged on tree branches, door knobs, arms, chairs, cupboards, gear shifter, etc.). I've had to untangle the cords almost every single time I wanted to use my iPod. I still can't believe nobody else has this problem. If Apple doesn't produce a cordless, light, sleek headphone with the Shuffle built in, I swear I'm going to try to manufacture one myself.

Think about what you do now to listen to an iPod: take it out of your pocket, find the earbuds in the mass of cord, untangle, identify left and right, insert into ears, find some way to pocket or roll up extra cord so it doesn't dangle, move head side to side to make sure you left enough cord for movement, readjust if necessary, and turn on. (untangling or identifying left/right are nearly impossible to do in the dark)

With the "ShufflePhones", you'd just take out the collapseable headphones, uncollapse, put it on your head, turn on.

Advantages: No tangled/snagged cords ever again, better sound quality, "all in one" unit and no need to find a pocket or place to clip it (remember, this is light/sleek/small/collapseable headphones, not giant ear-swallowing headpieces)

Disadvantages: probably twice as big as Shuffle


Please, Apple, PLEASE!! Make some "ShufflePhones".

 

[peiffman1]

Personally I don't think the shufflephones would work. I think it would be a failed product... here's why:
1. Yes, ear buds do get a little tangled but it's hardly noticeable. Or they get a lot tangled if you are lazy, or haven't figured out to move the slider thing to the top of them(at the buds) and wind them around your iPod.
2. Ear buds are as much a part of the ipod fad as the ipod itself. People buy white earbuds so they can look cool with their lame MP3 Player, Walkman, or Cd Player. iPod is cool, the buds are part of that image and marketing strategy.
3. Headphones are big, no matter how small. The products that consumers want to buy are transparent. People loved the ipod mini. When the nano came out, most people loved it even more. Why? Look at the size difference. It's absolutely stunning. The ability to have a couple thousand songs with you without feeling it is key. Apple is brilliant at marketing via transparency. Look at all their products. Mac Mini-unbelievably small, you can put it in a drawer and use it. Mac Pro- have you ever opened one? No wires. Upgrades are doable even by a trained monkey, because the internal design makes transparent that which you and I don't need to see. iMac-where's the computer? MacBook/MB Pro - These things are so thin for the amount of power they have, that's why they run so damn hot. I could go through every product... and maybe even good products for other companies. The point is, even though you attempt transparency in your proposed design, it's not... because headphones are bigger than the iPod 80gb for shuffle sized storage, regardless of what kind of folding mechanism you put into it and if you do make them small enough to be transparent, guess what? You have earbuds.

As far as your preference for the trackball-that's cool, and I never could use those things... but!!! I think you might be using your mouse incorrectly. As others have said in this thread and that I have asked in person: you shouldn't be moving your arm when you use your mouse. I barely move my wrist... most of the control is done by my fingers. Try increasing the sensitivity setting. I barely need to move my mouse to reach any point on my screen. Literally less than an inch movement for any point.

 

[Mr. Amiga500]

This is the kind of thing I was talking about. I want Apple to make something like this, but 4 Gb and a bit sleeker (sound-cancelling would be nice too).

I am so sick of wires tangling and snagging and ripping earbuds out of my ears. It's still happening every single time I use my iPod. I'm going to make a stand: NO MORE WIRES. If Apple doesn't make something like this, I'll have to buy from the competition. I don't want to, but I'll have to.