on 12/18/05 2:09 PM, Ken Norris at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >> There's a seller of expensive keyboards that offer simmetrical units, >> with separate numeric keypads. > > Do you mean the Apple Adjustable Keyboard? Might check this out: > <http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? > ViewItem&item=8728942348&category=25444>
Because I'm a believer in Complete Information (or an Anal-Retentive Completist; you decide), I feel it should be mentioned that the AAK is not known for its reliability: > Worst, the Adjustable Keyboard is less reliable than any Apple keyboard before > or since. I work for a company with three of these keyboards. On average each > one has been replaced once a year under AppleCare. For comparison, out of > 60-70 conventional Apple keyboards, we have one or two replaced per year. In addition to the above non-endorsement, LEM goes so far as to list it as a Road Apple: http://lowendmac.com/roadapples/keyboard.shtml With that being said, I thought of the AAK myself when a "separate numeric keypad" was mentioned. Here are a couple of illustrations of the AAK and the keypad unit: An "in the box" view: http://myoldmac.net/SELL/AdjustableKeyboard-M1242.htm An "on the desk" view: http://homepage.mac.com/wtnb/images/005.jpg I've owned/used a couple of AAKs and have liked them a great deal. After an all-too-brief period, though, these keyboards seem to fail: individual keys either suffer from "repeating" or simply stop working altogether. From what I can tell, Apple used the same keyswitches in these 'boards that they used in their other keyboards from the same period, (Alps) which makes the failures all the more baffling. Admittedly, "split" keyboard design was in its infancy when this one hit the market and there's usually a learning curve associated with *any* new design. [shrugs] Needless to say, I first learned of these reliability problems a few minutes after I had purchased a couple of them. >:/ Luckily, the ones I bought seemed to be okay, though I spent so little money on them that I would not have been speed-dialing Suicide Prevention if they hadn't worked out. ¬_¬ Any roads, if all this talk has piqued your curiosity, you can get one to play with for a lot less than $70 (plus shipping...). An ePay search for "Apple Adjustable" yields more than one result; take a look for yourself. Standard Disclaimer: I am not now selling, nor have I ever sold, computers/peripherals on ePay. I just hate the thought of someone blowing $85 of their hard-earned holiday dough on a keyboard with a dubious reputation for longevity/reliability. Or worse, giving it to their _sweetie_ as a Christmas gift to pound on, only to get pounded on themselves by said sweetie when the wretched thing stops working shortly after they get it;_not funny_. Best, James Fraser -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:g-list@mail.maclaunch.com> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com
