Customer Reviews

Apple Wireless Keyboard Kit MB167LL/A

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The wafer-thin Apple Wireless Keyboard is aesthetically perfect and eminently usable, though it has a few minor flaws.

Visually, it exhibits a poetic, tasteful minimalism. It is surprisingly thin, and its unitary construction and brushed metallic finish project an air of solidity. Unlike other keyboards, the Apple Wireless Keyboard does not try to impress with garish, shameless decoration. Rather, its unadorned, utilitarian exterior suggests that this is a serious keyboard, for serious-minded people.

The feel and sound of the Apple Wireless Keyboard match its visual perfection. When pressed, the keys hit bottom with a satisfying finality (I have always detested those keyboards whose keys gently ease into the 'pressed' position without any tactile feedback). Typing on this keyboard produces a gentle clicking sound. It is not a grating, full-blown clatter, but more of a muted staccato.

The Apple keyboard is excellent from a functional standpoint as well. It does not exhibit the lag that can be so aggravating when typing on RF keyboards. It maintains a strong, persistent Bluetooth connection, and has a long battery life.

One of its most convenient features is the lack of inaccessible gaps between the keys. Not only is this aesthetically appealing, but it also prevents hairs, skin flakes, dust, and other types of nauseating detritus from accumulating inside the keyboard. This feature is indispensable for those of you who eat at your computers; no longer will your keyboard serve as a receptacle for the remnants of long-forgotten meals.

The Apple Wireless Keyboard does suffer from a few trifling imperfections, however. First, it does not have a dedicated 'delete' key. To trigger 'delete', one must hold down 'fn' and press 'backspace'. For those who use 'delete' often, this may be a problem. I have gotten used to it, but not so used to it that I don't occasionally lie awake at night wishing that my keyboard had a 'delete' key.

Second, the arrow keys are very narrow. This is not a huge problem for 'left' and 'right', but 'up' and 'down' are so close to each other that it is easy to accidentally hit the wrong one when in a hurry. People with ungainly sausage-fingers and people who drink too much coffee may be particularly susceptible.

Finally, the 'Caps Lock' key does not engage right away. Apple has incorporated a feature called "Caps Lock Protection" that is intended to minimize the inconvenience caused by accidentally hitting the 'Caps Lock' key. As a result, 'Caps Lock' will engage only if pressed slowly and deliberately.

For most people, Caps Lock Protection will probably be helpful (although it still seems vaguely paternalistic in its assumption that your keyboard knows what keys you want to press better than you do). However, for those who prefer to use 'Caps Lock' as an alternative 'Command' or 'Control' key, it may be somewhat inconvenient. It irks me that Apple chose to hard-wire this feature directly into the keyboard. It could just as easily have been implemented at the software level with an option to disable Caps Lock Protection and restore the once-proud 'Caps Lock' key to its former glory.

In conclusion, I recommend this keyboard to all people of good character and sober judgment. Use it wisely, for with a great keyboard comes great responsibility.

I'm a Windows user that likes Apple's design aesthetic.

This keyboard works fine out of box with Windows Vista on my Lenovo laptop. It pairs successfully with the built in Bluetooth device - and requires no special drivers.

I've since learnt that I do miss key buttons they've left out. Home, End, PgUp, PgDn and Delete are what I miss! I've used an advanced program - AutoHotKey to program Win+Key alternates for these missing buttons.

I now, like this keyboard :) but it's not for everyone who runs Windows.

After a four week wait, I received my Apple wireless bluetooth keyboard (shipped direct from China) a couple of days ago. Without a doubt, it has already become one of my all-time favorite Mac accessories in 20 years of Apple use.

Even if you've seen photos and read stats about its dimensions, that won't prepare you for how compact the keyboard is in person. It is spectacularly thin and minimalistic: if a keyboard could be called "beautiful," then this one is without a doubt a beauty.

Not only does it save an enormous amount of desk real estate, it manages to make the previous Apple keyboards (once upon a time fairly sleek-looking in comparison to other keyboards on the market) look dowdy, bulky and hopelessly outdated.

Much has been made of the lack of a numerical keypad: I see this is as a plus, allowing the keyboard to be highly portable and super small. If you truly need a numerical keypad, the wired version of this keyboard has one.

The tactile quality of the keyboard is great. It takes a while to get used to the different feel the keys -- they are flat rather than slightly concave -- but the overall feel and usability are an improvement.

The unit pairs up with your Mac seamlessly and there is no delay or lagtime in typing; the keyboars also wakes seamlessly from sleep at the touch of any key.

In short, I see no downside: it looks great, is stunningly thin and sleek, eliminates wire clutter, works wonderfully, and saves a lot of desk space. I can recommend it without reservation to anyone looking for a wireless keyboard.

Kudos, Apple, on an incredible job updating an everyday appliance most of us took for granted in such an elegant way that it doubles as a functional object of industrial art.

I bought this keyboard less than 8 months ago. It's a nice keyboard--small desktop footprint, decent battery life, keys are fine if you like this style of key.

But there's a common problem with these keyboards. If you search Google or Apple's support forums you'll find hundreds or thousands of people with a problem that causes the keyboard to cease operation. Folks have reported getting a "no questions asked replacement" from Apple Stores. I haven't tried this yet but plan to shortly.

Apparently there's some kind of problem with the battery compartment. Mine no longer turns on. I've tried about 20 brand new batteries of various manufacturers (all ones you'd recognize). Some folks have suggested something about the compartment causes electrical contact to wear out over time.

So until I get around to going to the Apple store and paying for parking at the mall, I have a keyboard that doesn't work--I've owned plenty of cheaper wireless keyboards from Logitech and Microsoft; never had this kind of problem. Why can't Apple use a regular battery compartment?

But as long as it works, it _is_ a nice piece of hardware. It just sucks when it ceases operation.

Update - I finally got around to taking my dead keyboard in to the Apple store and they replaced it after verifying that the old keyboard would no longer power up. Great service. I personally wouldn't spend the $80 on replacing the keyboard, since I got so little use out of the first one, but since Apple did replace the keyboard, I am happily using it again.

I've been waiting for a while for apple to make a wireless keyboard WITHOUT the numerical keypad. This allows you too keep either your mouse or drawing tablet close to the keyboard, and allows me to use minimal space while working with lots of papers or books.

However, I didn't expect it to be this awesome. Like all apple devices, its wrapped like godiva chocolates and opeing it gets rid of any sense of buyers remorse, along with the shere brilliance of its design and quality. It is so thin and slightly raised so that it feels like your typing on the desk. Its so small, compact thin and light, but feels tight and industructable. My hands never get tired, and i can finally use photoshop and illustrator more effectly by using the keyboard and tablet at the same time.

Also, I often hook my 17 macbook pro to my projector with the computer in the office next door and a dvi cable leading to the projector. The keyboard maintains its full signal from a distance around a doorway and has no delay from 15 feet. I now can have a 120" monitor at home with the computer far away. The keys have a perfect feel and are nicer than the laptop keys in clickyness and feel.

I have only one complaint that for 80 bucks, they could have lit the keyboard like on the macbook pros. But then they might have had to make it thicker, which would have been a bad tradeoff. The keyboard also comes with expensive top end energizer batteries, a nice touch.

If your thinking about getting this keyboard, stop thinking and get it. Seriously!

P.S. Like all apple wireless devices, make sure to set the device as a favorite under bluetooth settings, it gives them priority and makes them work their fastest. Also, if you turn your mouse or keyboard off for a while and then on, just click a key or mouse button untill the secure signal re-establishes itself. Some people think you have to repair the devices, that is untrue.

Length:: 1:33 Mins

Since I was very surprised on getting this, figured it would make good fodder for trying out the new video review feature here.

My prior Apple keyboard was great until it got gunked up with junk and became spongey. This one also appears to have yielded a speed benefit as well. I happened to have tested my speed a week before getting this. On my old keyboard it was 63WPM, on this one, I took the test 3 or 4 times and it was 70WPM (10% better), and my accuracy was higher for whatever reason.

Also, I have been buying wireless since the bloody beginning and even my recent Logitech starts dropping characters when I put it in my lap and the bloody receiver is on the desk directly above it. No such problems with this, since it is bluetooth.

This keyboard is pretty great. It takes a while to get used to... I have an iMac at home and a IBM Thinkpad at work. I prefer Thinkpad keys, but are getting used to the new Apple keyboard without any problem. No difference really with the extended wired keyboard that comes with the new imac in terms of feel.

The size makes it great to use instead of the wired keyboard. Of course, with the wired keyboard, you also would have 2 extra USB ports...

The only problem I have is when you use VMWare to run Vista, I tend to lose connections with both the wireless keyboard and mouse (both bluetooth). This problem doesn't go away when you quite VMWare. I have to plug in the wired keyboard and mouse to continue. A bit of annoyance, but won't be a problem if you don't use VMWare to run Windows.

Hope this helps.

I've been using the Logitech S530 pair for several years. I bought one right after getting my first MacBook Pro. I use my notebook as a desktop replacement at the office (working in a Winder$ environment) and don't like the MBP's keyboard -- the touch isn't right my my typing.

I bought one of these wireless keyboards after seeing a colleague use one. It was small, sleek, and provided a better touch than the built-in keyboard on my MacBook Pro. The clincher for me was that the keyboard is small enough to stow in my backpack to take with me to the office or when traveling. As I said, I really don't care for the touch of the MBP's keyboard, so that is a boon.

The keyboard is what I expect from a keyboard. The keystroke is long enough to provide positive feedback but not so long as to slow me down. The tactile response is good. The keyboard stays in place and is angled about right for me. While not heavy, it is substantial and feels solid -- like it will last a long time. The keys feel pretty good and the home row is easy to find thanks to the raised bars on the "F" and "J" keys. (My fingers naturally look for those touch points.)

When first connected to my MBP, the system-updater downloaded and installed a firmware upgrade to the keyboard. I like how that works.

The function keys take a little getting used to. By default, they operate the various functions of the computer -- screen brightness, dashboard, iTunes playback, and so forth. Access the the function keys requires pressing the "Fn" key. (Don't tempt me to pun on that!) This behavior (use of the Fn key) is changeable in system preferences.

We'll have to see about reliability, but I expect this keyboard to last quite awhile. I use a keyboard almost constantly, both at work and play, so my equipment gets a lot of use.

If you're looking for what appears to be a high-quality keyboard that is Bluetooth wireless, small enough to carry in your backpack, and has a good touch, then you should try the Apple Wireless Aluminum keyboard. I'm very pleased with mine, especially when working with the MBP remotely.

This is, by a wide margin, the best bluetooth keyboard I've ever used. I used to work for the business division of a major electronics chain where I've used and sold many wireless keyboards. I can honestly say that this keyboard outshines many of its competitors.

First, the small design is a definite plus, not a flaw. I have big hands and I was a bit worried that it would feel small and cramped, but my worries were proven false. It's a lot more durable than it looks, too. The keys feel strong, crisp, and responsive, and they don't get all loose and noisy over time like most keyboards do. For some reason other brands (like MS) seem to think that their keyboard isn't worthwhile unless it takes up as much desk real estate as possible, which just isn't practical. Just make sure you know what you're getting - take a good look at what keys are and aren't present. If you're trying to write code or do lots of calculations, this probably isn't your keyboard.

Secondly, the battery life is amazing. I bought this back in May 08. Today is September 22 and I only just replaced (today) the first set of batteries. I do regular internet stuff, plus a casual amount of gaming. I also never actually turn the thing off.

Lastly, the bluetooth connectivity is very strong and resilient. I have never lost a connection after 5 months of use - it's never even missed a single keystroke. Plus, Software Update actually updates the firmware ON THE KEYBOARD ITSELF, ensuring maximum product performance and use. This alone is a major plus!

Something to note - this keyboard does indeed work with Windows via bootcamp and Parallels (I use both). I paired the keyboard securely with Mac OS, but if you plan to use bootcamp you might have to pair it without a security key in Windows. Since I use Mac OS for anything critical, this is a non-issue for me. The keyboard automatically just connects and starts working with either OS. You could just as easily make Windows the secure connection. I haven't tried this, but I'd imagine that if you securely pair the keyboard in both OS's, you'd have to re-pair it each time you switch. In Parallels, however, it works right away without any additional setup.

This is a strong, practical, durable product. Now if only they could redesign that darn mouse...

Incredibly compact, easy to setup and solidly built.

I use this keyboard with my MacBook and it's great. It has the most "solid" feel of any keyboard I've ever used and the very short stroke (keypress depth) makes typing fast easier. Just a great product.

Only two minor issues: the white keys are obviously going to get dirty faster than my laptop's black keyboard (I wish there was a black version of this keyboard) and they changed the order of the special function keys from the Macbook (plus eliminated a few like being able to use the F8 key for the Spaces utility.)