New iMac keyboard

Oriel

Based on the Macbook keyboard, unfortunately.
The metallic finish strengthens reports that the iMac itself will be all metallic - an idea that I'm coming round to liking.





(Note photographed with a Nikon:)

440Hz

Oriel wrote:

(Note photographed with a Nikon:)

Proves it wasn't photoshopped then. If it was they would have pretended to have used a decent camera.

Sad Professor

Ugh, I don't like the look of this at all, but we'll see. The most important thing is that it works well.

440Hz

Wonder why they changed the layout/position of some many keys. Its very PC-like in its layout isn't it? Hmmmmm not sure at all.

I don't like typing on those new Macbook keyboards, keys feel very strange.

Creamy Goodness

the return key is horrible.

Oriel

More pics, by the way:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/07/27/purported_photos_of_new_imac_keyboard_stir_debate.html

440Hz

Is that a power button on F4? YUCK

The keys really are in stoopid places.

babypink

i say RUMOUR and an excellent photoshop job

Inspector Gadget

I'm really disappointed with the current generation of Apple keyboard (the Mitsumi thingies - for someone like me (who never learned to type "properly" yet manages just fine in my own, er, "unique" style ) they have very poor feel and if you don't hit the keys exactly dead-centre they can jam as the keys themselves tilt. Sadly I don't see this as an improvement - I've tinkered briefly with a Macbook keyboard and it feels like I'm tapping on a piece of foam - very weird.

/me wants to hook up his old Pro ADB keyboard to his mac...

Gadget

cornbb

Yuck, macbook keyboards feel cheap and horrible. If they are offering a USB keyboard they may as well offer one with full, chunky keys. Something like, say, this?

Oriel

babypink wrote:

i say RUMOUR and an excellent photoshop job

You think this is photoshopped?
I can spot my fakes, and I don't think this is one.

flogen

Maybe it's not a PS job, but it could be a fake all the same... just remember how fanatical some Apple fans are and how willing they are to make things to prove it!

If this is real I'm not so sure... it looks like the keypad of a calculator from the 1980s

Oriel

cornbb wrote:

Yuck, macbook keyboards feel cheap and horrible. If they are offering a USB keyboard they may as well offer one with full, chunky keys. Something like, say, this?

Because that is the worst keyboard Apple have ever made, for reasons that Inspector Gadget has already stated.

cornbb

Not as bad as the macbook keyboard.

Shane O' Malley

Saw this story in engadget.com and they say they saw photoshop tags in the file so were suspicious.

440Hz

Shane O' Malley wrote:

Saw this story in engadget.com and they say they saw photoshop tags in the file so were suspicious.

Thats what a quick EXIF view on the last posted image throws up. Having said that though, almost every image is opened in Photoshop for some reason these days. A simple crop on a real photograph would add photoshop information to the EXIF data. Creates suspicion, perhaps, however proves nothing. We will just have to keep speculating, as we always do in the world of Apple rumours.

Photoshop 7 though! What's that about

babypink

Oriel wrote:

You think this is photoshopped?
I can spot my fakes, and I don't think this is one.

maybe its me imagining things but given that the keys above the metal chassis are still just about in focus, it would stand to reason that the white area below the chassis would also be just in focus given that they appear, from previous pictures, to be recessed from the edge of the metal chassis by the same abount.

and looking at this pic there appears to be inconsistent shadowing below the edge of the metal chassis, approx .5cm around the chassis, at the bottom of the pic.



I've gotta admit that it is otherwise convincing, especially if you look at the very bottom of the photo - it appears to be photographed on top of some kind of fabric material, but i still stand to rumour.

440Hz

IF these are real, why such a strong DoF? Now this is more of an photography question, but... if these shots were intended to show the new design then I wouldnt really expect such strong DoF. The idea would be to show the product, not a stock photograph or photo demonstrating photographic skill. Just something else to think about. But its not really a major question

a5y

I think this might be a victory of form over function: it'd look gorgeous as a movie prop but I'd hate to have to use a keyboard with such a tiny return key and with (apparantly) a power button on the F4 key.

Regardless of whether these are photoshopped images, photorealistic mockups or a real and leaked apple prototype it doesn't matter a whit to me; after spending so much on a computer I'm willing to cough up more for a comfortable mouse and keyboard, or simply use an old familiar one.

But then again I'm a student, making me more mini Mac than iMac / Mac Pro anyways, so its not like it'll be affecting me anyway.

6th

That is just ugly .... Buck Rogers prop ugly!

Oriel

440Hz wrote:

IF these are real, why such a strong DoF? Now this is more of an photography question, but... if these shots were intended to show the new design then I wouldnt really expect such strong DoF. The idea would be to show the product, not a stock photograph or photo demonstrating photographic skill. Just something else to think about. But its not really a major question

Because they're marco?! You've never shot macro?

440Hz

Oriel wrote:

Because they're marco?! You've never shot macro?

Of course I have. You missed the point I was making. I wasnt questioning the cause of the DoF but the choice of technique. I wouldnt have shot such a strong focus if I wanted to demo the whole item. Well that is how it is done for marketing products, you never use a selective focus unless you are being arty or have a specific image in mind. Those are the suggested guidelines for product images anyway. But it wasnt very important anyway. Just a thought I had

Fajitas!

I'd say not even macro, more along the lines of tilt/shift, which would be more effectively used for shots like this.

Reason for such shallow depth of field is most likely to show how wide the keyboard is, without the keys behind becoming quite distracting.

/dashes back to Photography.

Oriel

babypink wrote:

maybe its me imagining things but given that the keys above the metal chassis are still just about in focus, it would stand to reason that the white area below the chassis would also be just in focus given that they appear, from previous pictures, to be recessed from the edge of the metal chassis by the same abount.

In macro photography, millimeters make the difference in focus and out of focus. Trust me, as a (an amateur) photographer, that that means nothing in these photos.
...as 440Hz should know.

440Hz

Oriel wrote:

...as 440Hz should know.

No need for comments like that Steve. Read what I posted. And as I said in the first post, Im not trying to make it a photography discussion, it was just something I was curious about.

Oriel wrote:

Trust me, as a (an amateur) photographer, that that means nothing in these photos.

In your opinion. Others might not agree.

Anyway, back to the actual product, and not the shots....

Oriel

440Hz wrote:

if these shots were intended to show the new design then I wouldnt really expect such strong DoF.

...

Oriel wrote:

In macro photography, millimeters make the difference in focus and out of focus. Trust me, as a (an amateur) photographer, that that means nothing in these photos.

/*edit - In macro photography, millimeters make the difference in focus.
Fact.
The rest, take as you wish.

Personally, I'm looking forward to the keyboard, thought I wish they'd based it upon the MBP keyboard.

babypink

Oriel wrote:

/*edit - In macro photography, millimeters make the difference in focus.
Fact.
The rest, take as you wish.

not wishing to drag this out..... taking another look at the pix...especially the side on full view shot and the overhead and bottom shots it appears that the keys are recessed further from the edge of the chassis than the plastic on the underside.

ok so in the DoF shot - the chassis is in focus, the keys are just in focus but the underneath plastic is out of focus. So the close is in focus, the far is in focus but the in-between is out of focus. In the game of millimeters, I would expect the underneath plastic to also be in focus. Unless they have suddenly come up with cheap multifocal cameras, i think there might be something amiss - photoshop maybe?? Any takers on this..???

I know this arguing over millimeters but as was pointed out - they make the difference, only here I believe its a few millimeters in the wrong direction.

Anyway, back to the product....... meh, yeah.....meh

440Hz

Steve, as I already posted - I am not questioning HOW macro works with regard to focus. If you are going to question my post at least read what I have actually said. If you remember when you posted a shot of your MBP keyboard in the photog forum the same comments were made about the DoF. Shooting in macro with a strong DoF effect is a great photographic demonstration but WHAT I AM SAYING is it doesn't do showing/demoing the product much good, and that guideline for market shots suggests that the entire product you are demoing should be in focus.

Now, can you stop slagging me over your opinion on my knowledge of Macro. I think if you were to look at my work you wouldn't need to do that. Thanks

End of. But, thanks for going back back on topic anyway. Just asking to quit the slagging now too!

Oh and Steve, thanks for kick starting the week with this one things were getting quiet here!! (seriously)

big_moe

Cremo wrote:

the return key is horrible.

thats the way the return is on all the american versions of mac keyboards. the european one will have a "normal" return key.



American version of macbook



european macbook keyboard



moe

440Hz

Interesting point Moe. I have only used a few Macbooks (all in Europe) and they have all had the 'small' return key. What you say makes sense and is spot on, you just have me wondering where these Macbooks I have used have come from now!!

big_moe

loads of people import them from america.. i was tempted to bring one back with me but when i looked into the matter and saw this keyboard thang it put me off and i laid out tha big bucks over here for one with a normal return key!

moe

440Hz

Yeah very true. The machines I thinking of came from Apple retailers (UK and Ireland) though, that's what's intriguing me

Yet more to add to the mystery of Apple hehe

Oriel

And they've removed the Apple logo...

440Hz

Oriel wrote:

And they've removed the Apple logo...

Well spotted!!

Thats AWFUL! They can't do that. Now I really hate it. Cant be real hehe (I hope)

Dr_Teeth

When I get a new Mac I'll keep using

Happy Hacking Lite 2 USB:


and

Logitech G5 Laser:


- I've never liked Apple's peripherals at all.

Oriel

Dr Teeth, I'd rather use a real dead mouse.
Each to their own I guess.

Dr_Teeth

It is an excellent device, far superior to the Mighty Mouse at any rate (though the weights are a gimick - I don't use them).

cornbb

I have a love-hate relationship with the mighty mouse. Love the scroll ball. HATE the cludge they used to make one physical button act as two functional buttons. A user's index finger must be lifted from the surface of the mouse in order for a right-click to be recognised. Took me ages to get used to that. Also don't like the shape of it. Ergonomics have taken a hit in favour of aesthetics, IMO. I'd rather be using a logitech mouse.

/awaits lashback

440Hz

I can ban people for individual thinking can't I? Can't I?

I'm with Steve on the dead mouse! Plugging non-Apple peripherals into Apple's is sacrilegious btw! hehe

Dr_Teeth

Until Steve puts the Ctrl key were god (and Sun Microsystems) intended, and gets rid of the extraneous crap on the right side of the keyboard that gets in the way of my mousemat, I'll be sticking with my Happy Hacking Keyboard.

cornbb

Ctrl is where Capslock should be?

Now any PC/Mac debate aside, thats just wrong

Dr_Teeth

Well I learnt my trade on sparcs, decstations and VTs. Having Control there makes sense to me anyway, I find it easier to ctrl-c, ctrl-v etc with the key in that position.. less stretching of the pinky finger. For PC games where I'm doing ctrl-1 / ctrl-2 / ctrl-3 over and over it's a lifesaver. I use Capslock.. eh never. It's a waste of a prime position on have it there on the keyboard!

cornbb

Fair point i spose. I *hated* the positioning of the Cmd key when I started using Macs, now I kinda miss it when using the Ctrl key on my PC. Thumb for the Mac, pinky for the PC. Its oh so confusing!

440Hz

Easiest answer... stop using PCs then you will be grand hehe

K.O.Kiki

Microsoft mice are really quite nice.
I'll probably be getting one of their ergonomic keyboards when I can afford that iMac, too...

spidermonkey

the aple logo on the ptxxxx barcode sticker on the bottom right is wrong, its too pudgy.
apple are pretty strict about their image/logos etc.

and wouldnt the apple lawers already have shut this down asap if it was a leak??

a5y

spidermonkey wrote:

the aple logo on the ptxxxx barcode sticker on the bottom right is wrong, its too pudgy.

Does look a bit boss eyed now that you mention it. It's like the bite taken out of it is too small.

apple are pretty strict about their image/logos etc.

and wouldnt the apple lawers already have shut this down asap if it was a leak??

Perhaps Apple's lawyers are too busy showing off their new iPhones to Prada's lawyers?

cornbb

Maybe thats a *special* logo used by the apple developement team? One with just a little bite taken out of it, to represent a work-in-progress?

Just a random, stray thought.