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.)!
Maybe I’m off topic but I HAVE to vent about all these “multi-touch” iMac fanatics. What’s the deal?! I have no idea why people want the next iMac to be multitouch. Do you *really* want to bring your hand up the the screen all day long pinching and expanding things? Try it right now–move your hand up to your screen and pretend you’re flicking or scrolling things. Is it comfortable? How quick will you get tired of that? Would you like to have smudges all over the screen you look at all day long?
These people have to get out of their “Minority Report” fantasies and think about it for a nanosecond. After you do you will agree with me that it’s ridiculous. And that’s exactly why you will NOT see a multi-touch screen on the next iMac. Quote me and throw it in my face if I’m wrong if you want. But I won’t be.
I think this is a rejected prototype. Reason?
The sound keys and Eject keys are moved from the number keypad over the function keys on 9-13 function keys. Doubling the keys function? This only makes sense if your trying to save space vis-a-vis a laptop or portable device. Can anyone think of any compelling reason to have function keys out to F-19? I means I’m force to use Windows stuff at work all day, and I can’t think of any program that used the function keys in the windows world much less out to F-19.
Also little things like the dark and brightness control location? I could see it on the keyboard, but wouldn’t that be more appropriate over to where the new function keys would be.
I don’t know… This keyboard doesn’t make a lot of sense even thought it looks good. If it isn’t a fake, its a brass board proof of concept/proposal.
I despise the silver look. When is Apple going to develop something more ergonomic? I believe the photo is a fake. Not at all inspiring.
@multitouch advocates:
MM’s Right. Remember Gorilla Arm!
Looks like a very sensitive keyboard…
Dedicated function keys? You’ve got to be kidding! Does anyone really think that Apple would force its users to not be able to remap their function keys to suit their own purposes? Get real!
@ Danno Bonano
the most insightful comedy yet!
@ Danno Bonano
this is perhaps the most insightful commentary yet. the BKOD
But will it work with the iPhone?
C’mon folks. Every article has to have at least ONE iPhone tie-in.
long live OPEN APPLE!!
I forgot all about closed Apple key…. 🙁 thanks for opening that old wound MDN!!!
(rip buddy rip….lol cute)
At most it’s a test keyboard from mid-June (6|20|2007). I like the idea though of having “Command” written on the Command key, but as others have mentioned, Apple really should put the iconographic symbols of the Option, Control, Shift, and Escape keys on the key caps also. I’ve sent them feedback asking for this umpteen times in the past.
Judging by the sticker on the back, I believe that it is indeed an Apple prototype. It does not follow though, that this design has been chosen for production. Apple tries a lot of things out in the lab that never go to manufacturing.
-jcr
It could be a prototype or a fake, but definitely not a production model:
1. The font on the key tops is wrong. Apple has been using the same font since the ADB keyboards.
2. A Fn key for a desktop keyboard is characteristically un-Apple.
3. Apple wouldn’t add more F keys (to F19) unless they were assigned a specific purpose. It costs too much money and violates the minimalist design.
4. The movement of the media keys and Exposé keys makes no sense.
5. It is missing the Num Lock key and its LED. However, the Caps Lock LED is in the Caps Lock key, which is very Apple-like.
My guess is that it is a genuine prototype (see the sticker on the back) to test this form factor of keyboard switch, but not something that has been vetted by the marketing department.
The Apple logo on the Apple Developer sticker on the bottom looks like crap.
WTF does F13 do on my Apple keyboard? Nothing it seems to me…
@ishufflemyfeet
Well, shuffle on over to your System Prefs and make it do something, then.
Let your fingers do the walking, and keep your mouth from too much talking.
MDN: “wife”
>>”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.”
Agreed 100%
>>”When I saw the demise of the Original White and Graphite Apple Pro keyboards (Considered by keyboard snobs to be the greatest keyboard of all time) coming, I snapped up a bunch of them to ride out the current disaster of a keyboard.”
Thank god I did the same…
What would helpful is if the Shift, Control and Option keys also showed their respective iconographical representation.
European keyboards do. Only american ones seem to have the text-only key labeling.
While we all agree that the instant image is all wrong for a production model, it is an indicator where Apple is going with a keyboard design.
I use a cheap Dell keyboard all day (conditions of employment I’m afraid) , and I much prefer the Apple keyboard to it. The quality and ergonomics are much better.
Having said that, I do hope that Apple learned from the hockey puck mouse error on the original Imac (I still have mine). And not let form come in the way of function. They havent’ done that for a while so I think the lesson has been learned.
MO – A research candidate that Apple Insider discovered after it was rejected. The photos were available because of rejection by Apple and “The Insider” claimed to have intimate knowledge of the next thing. Release of the photos is supposed to convince you they know what they’re talking about. They don’t. They, et al, are trying to get you to buy into this because they know you will.
Doubt the “Daily News” will allow this into print – ’cause they’re up to the same thing.
@Dave
This is something worse (:
I unconciously made a mental note that the key is called “win key” (because the command key sits right where the win key supposed to on PC keyboards). Being a windows veteran I just couldn’t help it.
So when calling a new finder window instead of Apple-spacebar or command-spacebar, my mind would says “hmm… let’s press Win+N, shall we?”
sorry, i just learned how to call spotlight. so it got mixed up with calling finder
Some intriguing post