A few days ago I was looking at the Macbook Air and noticed the
keyboard highly resembles what we would refer to as a "chiclet"
keyboard from the 1970's or early 80's.  I have to admit I was kind of
horrified when I saw it, especially on such a prestigious laptop.
Then I noticed a mac desktop right next to it with the same keyboard
style on an external USB keyboard.  So, I decided to be open minded
and I tried typing on it.  Amazingly, it is a very pleasent keyboard
to type on.  I like it.  Then yesterday evening I was in Best Buy and
noticed several Sony laptops are now using the same style of
keyboard.  Amazing.  I bet the vast majority of people buying these
things probably see it as an innovation, not a retro look.

"David Murray" wrote ...

>A few days ago I was looking at the Macbook Air and noticed the
> keyboard highly resembles what we would refer to as a "chiclet"
> keyboard from the 1970's or early 80's.  I have to admit I was kind of
> horrified when I saw it, especially on such a prestigious laptop.
> Then I noticed a mac desktop right next to it with the same keyboard
> style on an external USB keyboard.  So, I decided to be open minded
> and I tried typing on it.  Amazingly, it is a very pleasent keyboard
> to type on.  I like it.  Then yesterday evening I was in Best Buy and
> noticed several Sony laptops are now using the same style of
> keyboard.  Amazing.  I bet the vast majority of people buying these
> things probably see it as an innovation, not a retro look.

My wife has an Acer laptop with a chicklet style keyboard.  My opinion is 
different from yours.  In my opinion it is a pain to type on.  However, I 
guess it is excusable, as there is not enough room for a full travel keyboard 
in a slim-line, or notebook style computer.
-- 
Best regards,

Sam Gillett

Change is inevitable,
except from vending machines! 

David Murray wrote:

> A few days ago I was looking at the Macbook Air and noticed the
> keyboard highly resembles what we would refer to as a "chiclet"
> keyboard from the 1970's or early 80's.

This is my favorite; there's nothing I'd rather type on:

http://kinesis-ergo.com/images/kb_classic-blk720x455.jpg

Think about it: your fingers are different lengths, after all.

-- 
Glenn Holmer (Q-Link: ShadowM)
http://www.lyonlabs.org/commodore/c64.html

"Glenn Holmer" wrote ...

> David Murray wrote:
>
>> A few days ago I was looking at the Macbook Air and noticed the
>> keyboard highly resembles what we would refer to as a "chiclet"
>> keyboard from the 1970's or early 80's.
>
> This is my favorite; there's nothing I'd rather type on:
>
> http://kinesis-ergo.com/images/kb_classic-blk720x455.jpg

An alien keyboard?  What planet is that from?

> Think about it: your fingers are different lengths, after all.

And aliens can type with two tentacles rather than hunt and peck with one. 
;-)
-- 
Best regards,

Sam Gillett

Out of my mind.  Back in 5 minutes!

I've tried at the new Mac flat keyboards (we have a couple MacBooks at
work with them) and they are nothing at all like the PET calculator
keyboard (shudder).  spacing between keys is nice, typing is
comfortable - they are very good.

On Feb 26, 10:15=A0pm, la...@portcommodore.com wrote:
> I've tried at the new Mac flat keyboards (we have a couple MacBooks at
> work with them) and they are nothing at all like the PET calculator
> keyboard (shudder). =A0spacing between keys is nice, typing is
> comfortable - they are very good.

Exactly.. the resemblance seems to be cosmetic only.  I'm sure the
mechanisms underneath the keys are nothing like the keyboards of the
Sinclair or Mattell Aquarius.   And the biggest problem with the old
PET keyboard was always the fact that the keys were lined up square,
rather than offset and had a tiny little space-bar barely the size of
a regular key.

Glenn... If I had to type on that keyboard you just posted everyday, I
think I'd spend a whole lot less time in front of the computer.

Sam Gillett wrote:

>> This is my favorite; there's nothing I'd rather type on:
>> 
>> http://kinesis-ergo.com/images/kb_classic-blk720x455.jpg

> An alien keyboard?  What planet is that from?

That's nothing. _This_ is what the real men use:

 <http://www.maltron.com/maltron-advantage-single.html>

-- 
znark

"Jukka Aho" wrote ...

> Sam Gillett wrote:
>
>>> This is my favorite; there's nothing I'd rather type on:
>>>
>>> http://kinesis-ergo.com/images/kb_classic-blk720x455.jpg
>
>> An alien keyboard?  What planet is that from?
>
> That's nothing. _This_ is what the real men use:
>
> <http://www.maltron.com/maltron-advantage-single.html>

It's back to hunt and peck with one tentacle.  Pity the poor aliens.    ;-)
-- 
Best regards,

Sam Gillett

Change is inevitable,
except from vending machines! 

On Feb 27, 9:01 am, David Murray <adri...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Glenn... If I had to type on that keyboard you just posted everyday, I
> think I'd spend a whole lot less time in front of the computer.

Heck, at $299, I'd be in the dog house! My wife would make sure of
that...

David Murray wrote:

> Glenn... If I had to type on that keyboard you just posted everyday, I
> think I'd spend a whole lot less time in front of the computer.

It's much easier on the hands because the fingers stay in a natural
position.  I can code up a storm all day long at work and my hands
never feel tired.  And of course you can buy the foot switch for caps
lock / num lock :)

-- 
Glenn Holmer (Q-Link: ShadowM)
http://www.lyonlabs.org/commodore/c64.html

> It's much easier on the hands because the fingers stay in a natural
> position. =A0I can code up a storm all day long at work and my hands
> never feel tired. =A0And of course you can buy the foot switch for caps
> lock / num lock :)

Maybe so..  But I imagine it would take me quite some time to learn to
type on it.  Honestly, I think I'd rather learn to type on an original
PET calculator-style keyboard.

>>>>> "DM" == David Murray <adric22@yahoo.com> writes:

DM> Exactly.. the resemblance seems to be cosmetic only. I'm sure the
DM> mechanisms underneath the keys are nothing like the keyboards of
DM> the Sinclair or Mattell Aquarius.

I have yet to find a laptop keyboard that doesn't feel mushy, the
MacBook included. It's one of the better ones I've used though, and it
doesn't make any marks on the LCD when the laptop is closed.

-- 
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