Engadget has photos of a “‘super slim,’ brushed aluminum [MacBook-like] keyboard said to be accompanying Apple’s new iMac computer. It certainly appears to share the key design of the MacBook… A forum jockey over at the Rhapsody Apple forum in Hong Kong will sell you the keyboard (s/he has more than one) for 1,200 of the local stuff or about $153.40. Word to the wise, the consensus amongst rumor sites shows the new iMac coming as early as August 7th so you might want to hold onto that wad for a few more days to see what happens,” Thomas Ricker reports.
Ricker reports that the images look quite geniune, “but did they really remove the Apple logo from the command key?”
Full article with the photos here.
These look like the real thing to us, too. Removing the Apple from the Command key makes sense from Apple’s perspective, as it would only help further ease the minds of nervous potential switchers – “uhh, what’s that ‘weird” key?” You can bet they hear that in the Apple Retails Stores pretty often. Still, Apple ought to give us Mac users an optional key with the Apple on it! We like Open-Apple the way it is! (Yes, we do still miss good ol’ Closed-Apple. R.I.P., buddy, R.I.P.)!
Eh – big deal, we all got used to usb rather than fire wire iPods. If it is all to the greater success of Apple Inc. so be it.
This doesn’t look exactly ergonomic to me.
The location of the eject and volume buttons is inconsistent with the current keyboards…
If this is real, then the Command key is labeled well – it actually says ‘Command’.
What would helpful is if the Shift, Control and Option keys also showed their respective iconographical representation.
VTguy,
Neither did the MacBook, but it is.
Looks like the power button on F4, and can anybody figure what the icon is on F#3
Keyboard? I thought everything was going to multi-touch. What do we need with a keyboard? I’m confused.
its not the real keyboard,they to rethink it again,and the bluetooth model only fits on this prototype,there is too much mess on this image.
That will be Apple product #3 for me.
I’d really like to see light-up keys like the MBP.
Real.
I’d sure be happy if the apple is removed from the command key. I get tired of newcomers saying “oh, did you mean the apple key?”
looks like F3 is “spaces”
F3 is an expose’ icon
Check out:
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/rumor-forensics/imac-ultra+thin-metal-keyboard-images-may-show-dashboard-media-icons-283117.php
for nice view of the board.
I think it’s a prototype of one design they considered, but I’m not convinced it’s the final shipping product. I wouldn’t mind this overall design, but I don’t think they should bother changing the volumen and eject key location. I also think the brightness and iTunes buttons should be separate, instead of using the function keys. But I’ve used Mac for 16 years and I won’t stop because of some keyboard I’d have to adjust to. (Maybe I should just go back to using my LCIII with System 7.1!)
@tz,
What the hell are you blathering about?
I prefer dedicated buttons for the sounds and CD eject
Almost certainly one of many versions test manufactured and possibly rejected.
Even if it looks fantastic to us, it may not to the Apple team.
Why have an aluminum frame AND white plastic buttons?
I’m calling fake or prototype just because of the ugly factor.
Looks like an Apple product, form over function. It will probably hurt your wrists like the hockey-puck mouse did. Looks cool, but I have a feeling it won’t be fun to type on.
I actually think it looks ugly. However, I think it’s real. It surfaced in Asia where, if the rumours are all correct, iMacs should already be in production.
Wouldn’t you just love to sneak around Steve Job’s office for an hour & see what new products that they’ve got instore for us…
If it is a fake, then it’s a well done one. However, removing the apple logo from the command key is sacrilegious! What’s next? No more start-up gong?!?!?
Nigel,
Great idea! I’ve been saying it for years.
The logo on the USB connector is not an Apple Logo, that may explain why no Apple Logo on any of the keys.
So, the command button actually says “Command” on it, still has the infinite loop logo on it, but the Apple logo removed? Maybe, but not likely…