Those of you who know me are probably aware that I am something of a keyboard aficionado. I just received my latest obsession in the mail; the Mathias Tactile Pro.
I noticed the package waiting for me as I was leaving to go get lunch, so I'm going to have to keep this brief, but WOW, this thing is LOUD. It isn't quite as identical to the Apple Extended II as they claim, but I think that it stands fairly well on its own. (I am getting ready to push "enter" now. BANG!)
Now, for you keyboard freaks out there: this is very definitely a keyboard designed for a mac, so the 'command' key, where the 'alt' key normally goes, maps to a Windows key. And there are key-caps on every key designed to match up with the semantics of the "alt" key on the mac. However, after only a few minutes experience with this keyboard, I would recommend it strongly to anyone who spends 10+ hours a day at their keyboard and doesn't hold with any of this fruity new "ergonomic" stuff.
As to the actual tactile experience: it feels like a tighter Model M; slightly smaller keys, less travel, function keys closer to the home row. The caps-lock key is, thankfully, not the hold-down-and-lock model that came with the Apple Extended II, but it does have a strange, slightly cushioned feel which is different from the rest of the keys. This is actually a nice touch from my perspective, as an emacs user who spends half his life with that key pressed down.
I think the keyboard is still going to take a little getting used to; I've been using a scissor-switch keyboard with very little travel and no gaps between the keys, and although I had no problems with that one, I think I'm very glad I bought this. It's worth it for the nostalgia alone (I used an Apple Extended II for about 5 years, until, like an idiot, I tried to spray-paint it), but the keyboard itself seems very high-quality.
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6 comments:
Sweet, I loved those keyboards too. I'm happy with my lame Logitech wireless. I hate the feel and travel, but it works well enough for work stuff.
I may have to get one of these. Thanks.
Which keyboards did you love, the Model M or the Apple Extended II? (RET: BANG.)
I can actually easily out-type most IR wireless keyboards, including the older logitech "cordless navigator" series. My "coffee enhanced" typing speed on a keyboard I'm familiar with is 120 WPM+, and faster if I'm typing my password. It was endlessly annoying to have to log in four times in a row, unable to see typing errors in my password, and the keyboard dropping half the keys because I typed them all in one burst. (RET: BANG.)
I haven't tried a bluetooth one yet. I understand that BT is a much higher bandwidth bus than any IR protocol. Crazy as I am, though, I'm not going to pay four gajillion dollars for a keyboard that doesn't even work. (RET: BLAM.)
As far as whether you should get the Matias keyboard: let me reiterate that it is loud. In this age of quiet, squishy membrane keyboards, that word "loud" doesn't do it justice. It is like typing with a gun. After mere hours, this is already an issue of contention with my significant other, but the combination of the high-quality feel and nostalgia make it worth the fight. (RET: sound of door slamming)
If you aren't going to gradually alienate everyone you love and die miserable and alone for a slightly better key-switch mechanism, I really do recommend the IceKEY. If you abuse it heavily (as I have) it will probably wear out to the point where the feel is totally diffrent and the keys are starting to stick in about 20 months, but it's also a lot cheaper than the Tactile Pro. (TAB RET: HTTP POST)
The Apple Extended II. I spent alot of time in the local college computer labs on those keyboards.
Wow. I barely break 80 most of the time, but I have a pretty high accuracy. Password and other wrote items are quite fast as well. So far, I've yet to actually max out the speed, but who knows :)
Hah. Well, I like BlueTooth, and I've heard good things about it being used for low bandwidth (well, relative to IR/RF, it's high I guess) tools (syncing palms, non-gaming mice, or in your case, non-caffine induced typing).
Hehe, well, I keep my headphones on constantly, so I'd only have to worry about coworkers/girlfriend telling me to keep it down. Which as you point out, may be a problem.
I'll keep that recommendation in mind. As I spend most of my time at a keyboard, it is probably worth the investment, seeing as it's my primary tool in my job.
It sounds like I'm sitting next to a popcorn popper, not at the beginning when only one or two kernels pop, nor at the end when most of the kernels have popped, but at the peak of kernel poppage. Actually, it sounds like there's a popcorn popper IN MY EAR. That's when I'm sleeping, with the door closed. I dream of movie theaters, popcorn, and that annoying MIDI song "Popcorn".
A few months ago I wanted to improve the ergonomics of my workstation. I wanted to put my PowerBook up on a monitor riser I have, and have the keyboard remain at sane typing level. So I ended up getting an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard. So far, I have been really happy with it. It tends to lag for a few seconds after you turn it on, but once communication has been established I haven't noticed it drop keys at all. I probably type around 60 wpm, always have, always will.
It certainly does not have the insane tactile feel of the Extended II (of which I still own 3, along with two ADB-USB converters, but they are back in california out of reach) but it is snappy enough that I am quite happy with it. I really like the keyboard layout, which has some quirky things like an F16 key, huge 'esc' key, and huge F13 key which I use for exposé. It also has volume up/down/mute and an eject key. No power key though. Oh well...
It does look like a nice keyboard, but it begs a question I often wonder about: why don't companies that make wireless keyboards make wired versions of the same design? The normal apple keyboard is okay, but clearly made from cheaper materials than its bluetooth cousin. Much as I'd like a wireless keyboard, I have a KVM connected to a mac, a windows box, and a linux box, and will probably soon be adding a fourth. The KVM itself needs to understand the keyboard, which precludes a Bluetooth adapter that doesn't speak the USB HID protocol.
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