Dan Knight
- 1999.07.27
For those with older iMacs and Power Macs that didn't ship with
Apple's new Pro Keyboard, finding a good extended keyboard has often
been a priority. Apple's USB keyboard just didn't have the layout power
users needed, let alone all the keys needed when running a Windows
emulator.
We've been buying the Macally iKey at work for nearly a year. It was the
first USB keyboard we found with the same key layout as Apple's
extended keyboard - something crucial when supporting a mix of users,
some with ADB extended keyboards and others on USB Macs.
The Macally is a nice keyboard, but it had some problems with mouse
freezes (which apparently are being resolved). I never ran into that
problem, but reports were fairly widespread.
The iKey is also as big as Apple's old extended keyboard, making it
one of the larger keyboards on the market. The Macsense keyboard is
slightly narrower and about 0.7" less deep. Because of the way the
color is moulded around the keyboard, it looks even smaller.
This is purely subjective, but the Macsense keyboard feels more
robust, most solid, more substantial than the Macally. Having used
both, I prefer typing on the Macsense keyboard, although it is a bit
more "clacky" sounding. (Eric Prentice of Dr Bott LLC, a Macsense distributor, says
some users prefer a clackier keyboard.) As someone who types a lot, I
really enjoy this keyboard.
The UKB-600 has rounded off edges, a real contrast to the iKey and
most keyboards except for Apple's small USB keyboard. The frosted
plastic looks cleaner and less transparent than the Macally's, which
looks cheap in comparison.
Truth be told, I've had a Macsense keyboard for over a month, but
didn't want to write a bad review. My first sample had one glaring
defect: it would spontaneously put my mouse to sleep. Unplugging the
mouse and reconnecting it didn't solve the problem. (I can't plug the
mouse into the computer, because I use a MoniSwitch USB to share on
mouse, monitor, and keyboard between two Power Macs at work.) I usually
had to reboot. Dr Bott checked, found there had been a bad batch, and
sent me a replacement, which arrived while I was a Macweek Expo last
week.
I'm impressed with the customer support, not just the keyboard. I
haven't had a chance to sit down and work with Apple's new Pro Keyboard
yet, but of all the USB keyboards I've used to date, the Macsense is
the best. 
- The Macsense keyboard is avaiable in any of the old iMac flavors
from Dr Bott LLC,
Outpost.com, MacMall, and other
vendors for about US$50.
Manufacturers and distributors: Interested in having your product
reviewed? Please read our review
policy.
