"the principle use of the virtual keyboard".

Hmm what kind of writer did you say you were?

Not surprised that it takes 525 word to make the point!

Hear, Hear! I couldn't agree more. One of the most important facets of a laptop computer is the keyboard. Hopefully, this won't change.

Mike McCarthy
Author of "Phantom Reflections"

I agree with the writer of this article... keyboards are a critical feature of any machine, and its important to have the right feel to it, especially for writers. I cannot imagine that a writer would want to verbally dictate the entire novel. People work differently. Some like me prefer to put their thoughts down on paper or typed out before forming opinions.
Hopefully, since the MacBook Air so clearly focuses on trimming everything down EXCEPT the keyboard, screen and trackpad, Apple realises that typing ergonomics are still important.

The new chiclet keyboards that Apple uses suck ass. They are cheap and crappy. Apple should go back to the keyboard it uses on the MacBook Pro, or better yet, get the keyboard that goes into ThinkPads.

...and i couldn't agree more.

There is a reason that the keyboard has been the primary tool of most writers for around 100 years now (going back to the mechanical typewriter). The keyboard works very well.

Someday someone may come up with a way to enter text better than the keyboard. (I'm willing to bet it is NOT voice input.) For now though when I have to crank out 500-1000 words a night, or 32,000 words in four months, like I did last year with my PowerBook, I'll take a real keyboard over anything else.

I love to look at, hate to type on, the new fashioned keyboards. I guess Apple got a great deal on a whole continent's gross domestic production of short-throw keyswitches with the grave-marker key caps.

After typing on an Atari 400, almost every Apple keyboard seems wonderful. The aluminum keyboard grows on a person.

Quote

Guest wrote:
he aluminum keyboard grows on a person.

It took me about two days to get used to the new Apple keyboard and now I really like it. These days I don't like working on my G4 with the older keyboard.

The new ones are easier to pack when traveling, flatter than the older models.

Remember that big ADB keyboard, looked like the flight deck of an aircraft carrier?

Quote

Guest wrote:
the principle use of the virtual keyboard

Hmm what kind of writer did you say you were?

What are you geting at? There is nothing wrong with the spelling or grammar, so what is your real question?

Quote

geoduck wrote:
There is a reason that the keyboard has been the primary tool of most writers for around 100 years now (going back to the mechanical typewriter).

There is also a reason why the keyboard has progressed drastically over the past century. With the exception of (mostly) sticking with QWERTY, keyboard/typewriters have evolved not only with technology, but also modality. For example, I think Apple IIe keyboards (which really aren't that old) look positively primitive compared to the layout of modern Macs.

Be that as it may, they'll continue to change over time. Even if that means ditching the physical keyboard for something electronic, by way of the much-ballyhooed touch screen tablet/laptop. But I have no doubt you'll still have the option of lugging around a physical keyboard. Heck, I'm no different than anyone else w/ my particulars: I just bought a laptop, and at my home desk I'm sticking with my bluetooth keyboard. The older "deep dish" version... I refuse to switch to the chiclet layout until they put out a full-sized wireless version.

LOL! We had one of those... seemed like a good idea to have the keyboard completely flat but horrid to use.
I also am in love with the new Apple Wireless Keyboard. I no longer use a wrist rest anymore, as the entire desk surface IS the wrist rest now!
I also have the previous generation Wireless Keyboard, and its so cumbersome in comparison. Add a trackpad and it would be the ultimate media center keyboard.
On a side note, I have seen IBM/Lenovo's Thinkpad keyboards with trackpad (available with or without numberpad) as USB keyboard, and its tempting to get one - excellent robust keys - but after using the Apple Wireless Keyboard, I can't stand seeing another wire on the desk.

Quote

xmattingly wrote:

Quote

geoduck wrote:
There is a reason that the keyboard has been the primary tool of most writers for around 100 years now (going back to the mechanical typewriter).

<snip>With the exception of (mostly) sticking with QWERTY, keyboard/typewriters have evolved not only with technology, but also modality.<snip>

Very true. I was just responding to those that want to scrap the keyboard for something completely different such as voice input. I also want to rule out the flat touch keyboard such as is used on the iPhone. They are fine for a quick IM but I need a real keyboard for what I do.

Keyboards will be refined and improved, but IMO especially if you are typing a lot you still need something tactile; a key that moves when you depress it. When I'm typing on a real keyboard I know by feel if I hit two keys at once, or don't depress the key enough. I need that tactile feedback as I'm typing. I don?t get that from a glass touch keyboard.

Quote

iJack wrote:

Quote

Guest wrote:
the principle use of the virtual keyboard

Hmm what kind of writer did you say you were?

What are you geting at? There is nothing wrong with the spelling or grammar, so what is your real question?

It's supposed to be "principal."

iJack,

Use your Dictionary application

Look up principle...

Go to USAGE...

Read that "On the confusion of principle and principal, see usage at principal."

Double-click on "principal"...

Go to USAGE

Read that "Principal means 'most important' or 'person in charge':: my principal reason for coming tonight; | the high school principal. It also means 'a capital sum': | the principal would be repaid in five years. Principle means 'rule, basis for conduct': | her principles kept her from stealing despite her poverty."

I believe Mr. Martellaro was trying to refer to the most important use of the iPhone keyboard. You'll even note that he quietly changed the word in his piece without acknowledging the snarky guest remark.

I guess I don't have the will power of Mr. Martellaro.

Quote

Anonymous wrote:
The new chiclet keyboards that Apple uses suck ass. They are cheap and crappy. Apple should go back to the keyboard it uses on the MacBook Pro, or better yet, get the keyboard that goes into ThinkPads.

Each and every keyboard opinion regarding feel and usage is a personal one, and no one person is right. I personally love both the MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards and I use both (along with aluminum keyboards) almost exclusively to do a great deal of typing. I also really liked my ThinkPad keyboard when I had it, though I personally don't think it compares to the keyboards Apple are currently shipping.

The only other thing I can think anyone would make such a vague and disparaging remark about is the reliability and longevity if the part. Both the MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards last very well and are in no way unreliable. If anything though, I have seen more keys come off MacBook Pro keyboards than MacBooks, which is interesting because I see twice as many MacBooks come in for repair each week than their big brothers. Either way I find this statement quite obtuse.

The MacBook Air keyboard is pretty anti-writer itself. The keys have extra wide margins between them and feel bizarre to me as a MacBook Pro 17" owner. I even have big fingers and this keyboard feels HORRIBLE under them.

I was sorry to learn that the MacBook Air keyboard was the way of the future. For me, consistently writing in school and for articles and such, the feel of my keyboard is very important. Not sure the MacBook or MacBook Air wide-space-between-keys is the right way to go into the future.

Please bring back the metal keys of the beautiful MacBook Pro, with their keys whose edges touch eachother! Now that's a real keyboard!!

Substandard keyboards...that's the main reason my laptops mostly gather dust. For real work, I want a real keyboard...and since someone mentioned it earlier...yes, I would *love* to have something as great as the old ADB keyboard again...the one that reminds you of the deck of an aircraft carrier. That was a real keyboard.

Quote

SpyPlane wrote:
Substandard keyboards...that's the main reason my laptops mostly gather dust. For real work, I want a real keyboard...and since someone mentioned it earlier...yes, I would *love* to have something as great as the old ADB keyboard again...the one that reminds you of the deck of an aircraft carrier. That was a real keyboard.

Remember when keyboards were so expensive that you could buy clear plastic molded skins for them to keep debris and liquids out? That's right I purchased a $10 skin to protect the keyboard that came with my MacClassic.

Keyboards .... Yes, as I recall Homer, Shikibu, Shakespeare, Dickens, Greeley, and Faulkner also agonized over them ......



"Once you get used to it - just clears the sinuses"