Hell is gonna freeze over. I’m using a Microsoft keyboard at my office

Hi everyone,

The subject says it all. Hell is gonna freeze over. I’m using a Microsoft keyboard. Yups I said it. I’m using a Microsoft keyboard.

I’d been using a Matias Tactile Pro at my office for quite a while. Love old school mechanical keyboards and the Tactile Pro is one of the better ones on the market. Unfortunately, even a keyboard as touch as aMatias Tactile Pro can only withstand so much abuse, I mean typing. A few of the key switches showed signs of failing and I’d been shopping for a replacement keyboard. Then, last week, in my infinite clutziness, I knocked the keyboard off my desk as I was moving my iMac around to connect an external SSD.

The Tactile Pro is sturdy but apparently, the keyboard hit hard enough that many of the keys stopped responding properly to my machine gun hunt and pecking. Between the original problems and the new issues, it was time to send say goodbye to it. I added keyboard to my pile of old tech destined for recycling and broke out a spare Apple USB keyboard. I always keep an extra keyboard or two on hand. I didn’t like the feel but it was readily available.

It took me less than a week to skew the TAB key of the Apple keyboard. Between that and its horrid feel, I swapped it out for one of Apple’s bluetooth keyboards. I really didn’t want to use one since I don’t like wireless keyboards and I prefer a model with a numeric keypad. And, it was horrible! Positively horrible! Even worse than the Apple USB keyboard. I typed a few sentences and immediately packed it up. Then, in a moment of utter despair, I pulled out an old Microsoft keyboard I’d salvaged from an old Windows box - so old, that it has both USB and PS/2 cables on it - and connected it to my iMac.

I pounded out a few sentences and, to my horror, I realized it’s a zillion times better than any keyboards Apple has produced since the days of the Extended Keyboard I and Extended Keyboard II.

First Covid-19. Now a I’m using Microsoft keyboard (until a new Tactile Pro finds its way to my desk). Strange times indeed.

Robert

Hey, not all Microsoft products suck- only Windows, IE, Zune, their phones, surface....

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The only M$ product I own is a Microsoft Natural Elite 4000 KB.
Been using it for a year and a half thanks to info from Paul F. [forums.macresource.com]

As it was only $12 on a BB deal, I bought two!

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MrNo,

Just looked it up. Mine is an Internet Keyboard Pro circa 2001.

[www.amazon.com]

No drivers necessary. Just used keyboard prefs to swap the option and command keys and I was in business.

Nothing like a 19 year old keyboard to get me back to work again. And, a Microsoft keyboard at at that. Go figure.

Robert

Are you getting any bad vibes?

Samintx,

Just a sense of unease. Then again, I really shouldn't be surprised that it's a capable keyboard. I've known fora long time that many of Microsoft's older keyboards were actually very good. Just never every expected to actually use one. Like I said... Strange times.

Robert

I've been a proponent of the Microsoft Intellimouse for two decades now. It is my preferred mousing device.

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It is what it is.

Bah. It's 2020 - Hell has been serving popsicles since February.

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rj
AKA
Vreemac, Moth of the Future

M$ seems to pay more attention to mice and keyboards more than Apple. I know many Mac users who love the ergonomic keyboard (something I simply cannot use, however).

But I use almost no Apple desktop keyboards that are not locked to a laptop case (Apple has been far more sensitive to good laptop keyboards and trackpads, though the butterfly kbs are a notable exception). Almost every Logitech keyboard is better than Apple IMHO.

I loved the trackballs Microsoft used to make. Still unsure as to why they went cold-turkey as to selling them. They were fetching many hundreds on eBay for the longest time.

And until I started using the Kinesis Freestyle 2 for Mac, the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard was my go-to board. Solid build, good key action; used it for years -- but hated the number keys on the right side spoiling my setup, so I switched.

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Like The Zoid, M$ trackballs, specifically the M$ TBE, are da bomb! Will continue to use them as long as they'll last. Still have four in reserve, after wearing two of 'em out. I keep meaning to send those two in for refurbing, but the need isn't urgent. I'm not planning on living long enough to outlast our existing supply, but maybe they'll add to Baby Buzz's inheritance. I liked the feel of some of the M$ kb's I've tried in years' past, but never adopted any for personal use. Several clients over the years have had them, and like them, so while lots (OK, most) of M$'s offerings are well below AAPL's standards, they have shown over time, that they actually can offer the occasional decent product.
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Quote
sekker
But I use almost no Apple desktop keyboards that are not locked to a laptop case (Apple has been far more sensitive to good laptop keyboards and trackpads, though the butterfly kbs are a notable exception). Almost every Logitech keyboard is better than Apple IMHO.

My Apple Extended II keyboard still rules them all.

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It is what it is.

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N-OS X-tasy!

Quote
sekker
But I use almost no Apple desktop keyboards that are not locked to a laptop case (Apple has been far more sensitive to good laptop keyboards and trackpads, though the butterfly kbs are a notable exception). Almost every Logitech keyboard is better than Apple IMHO.

My Apple Extended II keyboard still rules them all.

Still have a well-worn AEK I in part time use, and another lesser worn I, plus three AEK II's being held for Baby Buzz's inheritance. KB-wise, I like scoop top keys that are adequately spaced, and give some sort of positive feedback w/ a properly executed keystroke. Evidently a lot of the kb using public agrees. Logitech makes good kit, but Apple's best kb's are hard to beat.... problem is, Apple has also tossed out too many klunker kb's that put form over function that take away from the successful offerings. Logitech has definitely out-moused, and out webcam'ed AAPL.
==

The only M$ product I own is a Microsoft Natural Elite 4000 KB.


I've got two of them that I used quite a bit.

They've always made a pretty decent keyboard.

For me, they're daytime use only.

I'm not a touch typist except for the QWERTY part of the keyboard.

I greatly prefer illumination, so there's the new Matais or Logitech.

But that ergo MS was always a pleasure to type on.

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I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Microsoft made great mice, I have owned 4 MS Intellimouses and unfortunately I'm down to my last one. It's fine as there are lots of decent gaming mice with good button placement.

I've been using 81% mechanical gaming KBs for a few years now to replace my rare Apple wired 80% KBs though the Apple KBs are nice and quiet unlike all mechanical KBs.

Quote
Buzz

Quote
N-OS X-tasy!
My Apple Extended II keyboard still rules them all.

Still have a well-worn AEK I in part time use, and another lesser worn I, plus three AEK II's being held for Baby Buzz's inheritance. KB-wise, I like scoop top keys that are adequately spaced, and give some sort of positive feedback w/ a properly executed keystroke. Evidently a lot of the kb using public agrees. Logitech makes good kit, but Apple's best kb's are hard to beat.... problem is, Apple has also tossed out too many klunker kb's that put form over function that take away from the successful offerings. Logitech has definitely out-moused, and out webcam'ed AAPL.
==

Right there with you. I have one used AEK, two used AEK IIs and one new(!) AEK II in stock, waiting for the day my current unit gives up the ghost.

I've come to the realization that I will expire before my current stock of Apple keyboards does -- a strange reality to be faced with, but at least I will never need to buy another Mac KB.

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It is what it is.

The only M$ hardware in our house is an Xbox 360. And we only got that because we got an awesome deal on it with about 30 "kid friendly" games. Every post I was seeing on CL had them with games that were definitely not meant for my then 10-year-old son. The funny thing is, the guy selling it said he wasn't getting many bites because he didn't have games like Halo or GTA.

Quote
N-OS X-tasy!

Quote
Buzz

Quote
N-OS X-tasy!
My Apple Extended II keyboard still rules them all.

Still have a well-worn AEK I in part time use, and another lesser worn I, plus three AEK II's being held for Baby Buzz's inheritance. KB-wise, I like scoop top keys that are adequately spaced, and give some sort of positive feedback w/ a properly executed keystroke. Evidently a lot of the kb using public agrees. Logitech makes good kit, but Apple's best kb's are hard to beat.... problem is, Apple has also tossed out too many klunker kb's that put form over function that take away from the successful offerings. Logitech has definitely out-moused, and out webcam'ed AAPL.
==

Right there with you. I have one used AEK, two used AEK IIs and one new(!) AEK II in stock, waiting for the day my current unit gives up the ghost.

I've come to the realization that I will expire before my current stock of Apple keyboards does -- a strange reality to be faced with, but at least I will never need to buy another Mac KB.

Still have a number of the AEK I & II keyboards in storage at home. Can't use them, need a new iMate or other converter to USB for them.

The AEK II (and original) was a really nice keyboard in its day but my preference changed away from clickity-clackity-long-key-travel keyboards decades ago after I started using laptops (going all the way back to the Wallstreet).

Quote
JoeH

Quote
N-OS X-tasy!

Quote
Buzz

Quote
N-OS X-tasy!
My Apple Extended II keyboard still rules them all.

Still have a well-worn AEK I in part time use, and another lesser worn I, plus three AEK II's being held for Baby Buzz's inheritance. KB-wise, I like scoop top keys that are adequately spaced, and give some sort of positive feedback w/ a properly executed keystroke. Evidently a lot of the kb using public agrees. Logitech makes good kit, but Apple's best kb's are hard to beat.... problem is, Apple has also tossed out too many klunker kb's that put form over function that take away from the successful offerings. Logitech has definitely out-moused, and out webcam'ed AAPL.
==

Right there with you. I have one used AEK, two used AEK IIs and one new(!) AEK II in stock, waiting for the day my current unit gives up the ghost.

I've come to the realization that I will expire before my current stock of Apple keyboards does -- a strange reality to be faced with, but at least I will never need to buy another Mac KB.

Still have a number of the AEK I & II keyboards in storage at home. Can't use them, need a new iMate or other converter to USB for them.

I'm still using the first iMate I purchased 20 or so years ago. I had the foresight to purchase a spare while they were still readily available, so I should be good there.

eBay may have iMates available for purchase, should you decide you want one.

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It is what it is.

I currently have a Microsoft keyboard. I got tired of replacing the really crappy no name brands every year or so so I "splurged" on the M$. It's a solid keyboard, basic extended keyboard with volume controls. Just as good as Logictech I would say. I've also used their mice several times in the past. I doubt they even make them, probably just put their name on them and raise the price...

Microsoft corded mouse in the office.

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