Customer Reviews

Adesso Intellimedia MediaPro Flat Ergonomic MAC USB White Keyboard with 2 USB Ports ( AKB-805MAC)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

On the whole this is a good keyboard, especially if you like quiet keys. I was using a microsoft elite ergo keyboard before, which was quite noisy and the keys were starting to stick so I decided to try out the adesso.

The pros:

1. There are two usb ports on the keyboard, similar to the standard mac keyboard, which is handy if you need to plug a mouse or other usb peripheral which does not need a powered usb port.

2. It is ergonomic. There aren't many keyboards that are usb/ergonomic and have a usb hub built in to them.

The cons:

1. The keyboard doesn't seem to sit flat on my desk - there are 3 rubber circles on the bottom of the keyboard, one on each side, and one in the middle. Only the one in the middle touches the desk when the keyboard is resting. As a result, when you try to move the keyboard, it rotates instead of moving.

2. The number keys are split between the 5 and 6. I am used to hitting the 6 with my left hand, so this is quite annoying (and I'm sure will be even more so in the year 2006). I'm not sure why they decided to split it this way - I always thought the "6" as supposed to be keyed by your left hand.

I got the Adesso (AKB-805MAC) for my Mac mini since the Mac mini has only 2 USB ports for USB Keyboard and USB mouse. This Adesso keyboard has 2 USB ports behind it so I can plug my mouse into the keyboard and free a USB port on the Mac mini. I did find that the keyboard did not have enough power to run a mouse and a thumb drive on the Keyboard at the same time, but at least now I have an extra USB on the Mac mini to use for a thumb drive. The keys on the keyboard are non-click and have a soft yet solid feel to them. The extra keys such as volume control are a nice addition.

Setup was easy. Key action is nice and fairly quiet. USB ports are nice.

I'm giving it three stars because I dislike the cd eject function being put onto the f12 key -- it's annoying to have my widgets pop up and I wish they would have given that function its own key as the Apple keyboard did. The power key _is_ fairly easy to hit accidentally if you try to pick the keyboard up. Another star-removing nit is that the "6" is on the wrong side of the keyboard split. I'm sure the designers did it for looks but it throws me when I'm typing my phone number. These are nits, though. Overall, it's a good enough ergo keyboard.

What I did not realize before picking this up is that unlike most ergonomic keyboards, this keyboard is completely flat, in fact it almost feels like it is bent in a tiny bit, and doesn't sit comfortably in my hands. And the keys seem strangely sized, especially the space bar and bottom row of keys.

Honestly I wish I hadn't gotten rid of the packingm because I went and picked up a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 and am much happier with it.

There is very little for this company to be proud of about this product. It is Mac friendly in that it has all the same buttons as my original keyboard, which is exactly why I chose it online. If I could have felt how light and cheaply it was made, I would never have purchased it, which is my guess as to why I didn't see it in any of the stores I shop in. Also, the power button doesn't work at all on the keyboard. The other functions seem to work well enough, but as far as life expectancy, I give this one 6 months to a year. My last PC ergonomic keyboard was built like a tank and lasted so long I wore the bumps of the f and j keys. I have recently found a Microsoft keyboard that is Mac compatible and as soon as i find a wireless one, I'll buy it - even if I do have to configure buttons. This just makes me wish Mac would develop an ergonomic keyboard! The one that came with my Mac was very sleek and well made, but I really need the ergonomic one. The Adesso has got to be the cheapest keyboard I've ever touched and I'm 43. So don't be suckered in by the cheap price, you will definitely get what you pay for or a little less.

I bought this keyboard because it is compatible with my new iMac. I had a MS "comfort" keyboard before, and while it worked with my Mac, it lacked certain functionality inherent in Mac keyboards.

Unfortunately, when I followed the instructions for installing the supplied software, as well as freshly-downloaded drivers, I ran into two problems:

1. The media function keys don't work.

2. I am unable to open the app to access the keyboard's functions.

I am beginning to think the drivers for this keyboard weren't set up with the new Intel Core Duo iMacs in mind. I've contacted Tech Support, but have yet to hear from them.

Nevertheless, the Mac keys still work (mostly), and it's the only ergonomic Mac keyboard I've found that doesn't cost a small fortune, so I will continue to use it. I just hope they come out with a driver that supports the Intel-based systems quickly.

I bought this keyboard because it was the only reasonable priced ergonomic keyboard out there made especially for the Mac. Since I was switching from a PC it seemed important to have the correct keys (and not just use a Microsoft keyboard that was "Mac compatible).

The first keyboard I got didn't work. Plugged it in, fired it up and nothing. Had to send it back. Second keyboard worked, sort of. None of the function keys at the top work (volume, CD controls, etc.) and after two years of use my wife complains that she has to press extremely hard to get the keys to work (I haven't noticed this--either I use it all day and just got used to it, or I type harder than my wife).

The only reason I haven't replaced it yet is because I can't find an ergonomic keyboard designed for the Mac that's under $100. I'm thinking about just going with a Mac compatible keyboard and dealing with the difference in Mac vs. PC keys.

This is the second keyboard of this type I had to order. The first one did not work well. I create marketing pieces for a large university. The "I" and "P" keys stuck and we had several print jobs that had to be reprinted or just weren't caught and had embarrassing mistakes go out. Unfortunately, this was the only ergonomic keyboard I could find for my system, so I had to get the same kind and hope for the best. This one (that I purchased from Amazon) does not have that sticking problem, so it has worked out well.

Just a word of advice - if you purchase this keyboard, be sure to keep the original carton...just in case you have to send it back. I didn't keep mine, so I had to take a loss and just pay for a new one, rather than return the defective product.

I installed software and downloaded the updated driver; the keyboard function keys won't work. My e-mail to tech support was answered in a day: "Hi there, to be honest, we are still working on a fix for the driver. We have found some bugs in it, and are working on it. I apologize for the delay in response . I will let you know when and if we come up with a fix." Refreshingly honest, eh?

This is the second ergonomic keyboard I've owned. My previous one had a similar shape and style, but it got too old, so I upgraded to a new one.

Pros:
--The angle difference between hands is very comfortable for me.

--I like the split space bar.

--The two USB ports is a plus.

--The shape and style in general is comfortable for my hands.

--Most of the extra buttons at the top are very useful (back, forward, stop, refresh, search, favorites, web/home, media controls, mute, volume, close, print, stickies, Sherlock2, Mail, calculator, sleep, power).

--Adesso customer service was very prompt, efficient, and friendly.

Cons:
--The keys are very stiff. When I bought this from Amazon, it arrived with a Delete key that was stiffer than the other keys. I contacted Adesso and they very promptly replaced the keyboard with a new one.

However, while the Delete key was now the same "stiffness" as the other keys, all the keys in general require more hand strength to press than my old keyboard, or even the generic keyboard that came with my other computer tower.

After eight months of using this keyboard, I've finally given up and bought another one. While I don't have wrist pain, my typing speed has slowed dramatically and my error rate is high because of the stiff keys.

The key stiffness might not affect someone else, but I've come to dislike it in the months I've owned this keyboard.

(For my new keyboard, I went to a local electronics store and tested out the keyboards they have on display. I decided on the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 because it felt very comfortable to my hands.)