Kensington Keyboard-in-a-Box USB a Good Low Cost Value
Low End Mac Reader Specials
Memory To Go Special: New 2008 iMac 2GB $42 / iMac Intel Core2 DUO & MacBook Pro 2GB $36 - 1GB $20. MacPro 8 Core Memory 8GB kit $286 / 4GB kit $143 / 2GB kit $93 -- Free shipping available. LIfetime warranty.
Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, iMac's, Apple Batteries and Apple A/C Adapters. Also Great prices on Used Apple Computers. Call 1-800-941-7654 Click Here.
OWC: NewerTech miniStack FireWire/USB 2.0 HD & Hub Up to 1.0TB of Performance Storage + FW/USB2 Powered Hubs - convenient & sleek 6.5" x 6.5" x 1.5" Featured: 500GB $169.99; 750GB $209.99; 1.0TB $339.99
Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
- 2006.04.10
When I needed to purchase a USB keyboard for my Mac mini, I settled on a used Macally iKey, knowing that the product had a history of problems. It's the luck of the draw when you get an iKey - some work fine, others may repeat key strokes or have problems with their USB ports.
My iKey worked fine for about a week, and then the "A" and "E" keys began to activate twice on some strokes.
Since my first typing experiences were on an old 1950s vintage Royal mechanical typewriter, I may pound harder on a keyboard than I need to. This could be forcing some of the iKey's switches to travel farther downward than they should, turning them off and then on again as they move upward, so my typing style (or lack of it) could have accelerated a defect that would have occurred eventually anyway. Of course, this is only an uneducated guess.
Since I didn't feel like I should have to adjust my typing habits to accommodate a flaky used keyboard, I decided it was time for a change.
The disappointing thing about the iKey was that it really worked for me. It had the same layout and spacing as the old Apple Extended and Apple Design ADB keyboards and felt comfortable to use. I wanted something very similar - but obviously without any defects. Price was also an important factor.
I
settled on Kensington's
Keyboard-in-a-Box USB and ordered one from Amazon.com at a
total cost of $25.64 with free "Super Saver" shipping.
Keyboard Out-of-the-Box
The first thing I noticed about the Kensington keyboard was its lightness. It's much lighter than the iKey and Apple's old ADB keyboards. It's also quite thin and more compact, due to the placement of the function keys right above the top row of keys with no space in between.
The case is transparent smoke gray, and the keys are absolutely black with stark white lettering. This makes them very visible.
A wrist rest is included and is very easy to attach if you want to use it. Two auxiliary USB ports are recessed into the upper ends.
Because of the location of the function keys, the Keyboard-in-a-Box (center) is only slightly deeper than the old Apple Keyboard II (top), which had no function keys. Its layout is nearly identical to the Apple Design Keyboard (bottom), but its length is slightly shorter due to the key spacing being imperceptibly tighter. This makes the total key area about 3/8" shorter overall.
This is not likely to be noticeable even by strict touch typists and makes for a compact but fully functional keyboard.
Do the Twist
When I set it down on my desk, a problem became apparent. The keyboard rocked diagonally on two of its corners. It was about 1/4" off the desk at the high corner.
After verifying that my desk was completely flat and considering the problem for a few seconds, I unceremoniously grabbed the board at both ends and gave it a firm flex in the opposite direction of its twist. It didn't break, and I got the crude adjustment right in the first try. The keyboard now sits flat on all of its feet.
When I asked Kensington's support representative about the problem, he indicated that this particular defect had not been reported before now.
I'm not certain if it's more disturbing that the product shipped with this irregularity or that I could easily fix it the way I did. At any rate, the Keyboard-in-a-Box doesn't win any points for sturdiness. This could make it a poor choice for travel.
Plug and Play
I plugged the keyboard into a vacant slot in my USB hub and booted the Mac mini. The OS requested two key strokes and then recognized the 'board.
The pressure required for a key stroke on this keyboard is less than on Apple's ADB 'boards and similar to the iKey. However, the keys don't bottom out quite as softly as the keys on the other boards. The board also flexes slightly with each stroke, but I'm fairly heavy handed. Nonetheless, I didn't find it unpleasant to type with.
After two weeks, I had used the Keyboard-in-a-Box for writing and updating several web pages, emailing, and writing two articles for Low End Mac. It performed flawlessly and continues to do so.
Recommendations
If it bothers you that you may have to risk adjusting the flatness of a new keyboard as described above, or if you need a rugged keyboard for travel, the Kensington Keyboard-in-a-Box is probably not for you.
However, if you're looking for a light duty, economical, compact
USB keyboard with all of the functions of Apple's ADB 'boards,
Kensington's Keyboard-in-a-Box should fit the bill nicely. It works
for me. 
- Link: Kensington Keyboard-in-a-Box USB
- Link: Kensington Keyboard-in-a-Box USB, $24.99 from Amazon.com
Recent Empowered articles
- One year with my 'free' Mac mini, 11.20. "For something the size of a fruitcake, the mini is a powerful little computer."
- Add desktop Trash and a classic Apple Menu to OS X for free, 11.13. Two favorite features from the classic Mac OS have never been part of OS X, but that doesn't mean you have to do without them.
- Deodorizing a stinky old iBook that smells like sweat, 10.19. Different ways to mask and otherwise attack the problem if your G3 iBook suffers from Stinky Keyboard Syndrome.
- A stinky old iBook that smells like sweat, 10.13. You just don't expect an iBook to smell like strong perspiration, but this problem seems to afflict a number of G3 iBooks.
- More in the Empowered index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: SuperMac S900, Aug. 1996 - This 6-slot tower supported dual CPUs and still has a following.
- List of the Day: Macintel List for discussion and support of Intel-based Macs.
- October 7 in LEM history: 98: Love that PowerBook G3 - 99: Troubleshooting 101 - Love at first sight - 02: Hot rodding a Power Mac for OS X - Beefing up Windows networking - 05: Choose FireWire 800 over USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 - Faster Mac minis shipping - Speedy 100 GB 7200 rpm notebook drives
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- New Apple Notebooks at Zero Minus One Week, Charles W. Moore, 'Book Value, 10.07. It's widely anticipated that Apple will overhaul the MacBook Pro and MacBook lines next Tuesday. What should we expect?
- How to Clone Mac OS X to a New Hard Drive, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 10.07. Whether you want to put a bigger, faster drive in your Mac or clone OS X for use in another Mac, here's the simple process.
- Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.07. Used 867 MHz Combo, no APX, $490; 1.33 GHz, $496; 1.5 GHz SuperDrive, $542.
- Best Mac mini Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.07. Used 1.25 GHz G4 Combo, $399; 1.42 SuperDrive, $559; 1.66 Core Duo, $499; new 1.83 Core 2 Combo, $570 after rebate; 2.0 SD, $770 a/r.
- Best Power Mac G3 and PCI Video Card Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.07. Used beige 300 MHz, $25; 333, $198; blue & white 300, $49; 350, $55; 400, $90; 450, $105; PCI video cards from $15.
- $19,800 Bentley Ego Laptop Remarkably Similar to 1999 Clamshell iBook, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 10.06. Granted, Apple's iBook didn't have white gold trim, a padded leather exterior, or come in colors to match your Bentley automobile.
- The Cost of Moving to Small Business Server vs. Moving to Leopard Server., Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 10.06. Upgrading the existing SBS 2003 Server would cost less, the the server will run up against hardware limitations long before a Mac Pro does.
- Use Your FileMaker Pro Databases on Your iPhone, Adam Rosen, Adam's Apple, 10.06. Although there's no version of FileMaker Pro for the iPhone, FMTouch will let you use your data and layouts on it.
- Best eMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06. Used 700 MHz CD, $110; CD-RW, $130; Combo, $170; 800 CD, $170; 1 GHz Combo, $250; SuperDrive, $280; 1.25 Combo, $290; SD, $360; 1.42 Combo, $359.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06. Used 1.6 HD, $1,299; refurb, $1,499; new, $1,669 after rebate; 1.8, $1,919 a/r; 1.6 SSD, $2,294 a/r; used 1.8 SSD, $1,997; refurb, $2,299; new, $2,349 a/r.
- Best iPod shuffle Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06. Refurb 3G/1 GB, $39; 2 GB, $59; new 1 GB (3G or 4G), $47; 2 GB (3G or 4G), $67. Prices include ground shipping.
- Mac Netbook Coming?, $179 64 GB SSD, Apple Owns 20% of US Notebook Market, and More, The 'Book Review, 10.03. Also head of Norton AntiVirus team uses a Mac, Toshiba demos new battery technology, 1 TB notebook drives due in 2010, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
- Getting the Most from Your G3 Mac, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 10.03. Most G3 Macs can be upgraded so they can run Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' quite nicely. Here's how.
- Apple Drops iPhone NDA, Defecting to Android, Auto Performance Apps for the iPhone, and More, iNews Review, 10.03. Also more research needed on cellphone cancer link, file sharing app for the iPhone, three new power accessories from Macally, several new iPhone apps, and more.
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03. Used 450 MHz, $75; 500, $99; 733, $150; 800, $199; 1.25 GHz, C$349; 867 MHz dual, $225; 1 GHz, $349; 1.25, $499; 1.42, $600.
- OS X and Safari Shares Grow in September, Toxic Mac Pro?, Green Hard Drives, and More, Mac News Review, 10.03. Also Vista terrible as Mac market grows, CrossOver Mac Pro reviewed, SimpleTech Pro Drives, and a new toolkit for working on computers.
- Best iBook G3 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03. Used 300 MHz clamshell, $150; 366, $199; 500 CD, $149; 800, $190; 600 CD-RW, $240; 800 Combo, $300; 900, $399; 14" 600, $360; 900, $469.
- Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03. Mac OS X 10.0.3, $30; 10.1, $20; 10.2, $60; 10.3 CD, DVD, $100; CD, $119; 10.1 Server, unlimited users, $65; 10.3 Server, unlimited, $150.
- More links in our archive.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts
Have a question?
Ask an expert!
Navigation
Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Best Used Macs
Video Cards
Email Lists
InfoMac's Low
End Mac Forum
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System
6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Affiliates
The Apple
Store
Mac
Connection
MacMall
TechRestore
MacResQ
ExperCom
Crucial
Memory
batteries.com
Advertise
