>> I'd argue that Apple's latest keyboards draw right
>> from Cassie:
>>
>> http://www.apple.com/keyboard/
>>
>> Same minimalist philosophy, executed even better.
I'd argue that the old white ones (previous ones) draw more from the
Cassie, being almost rimless, except for the small clear rim, white,
and with about the same curvature. I still think those are their best
keyboards ever. They're reliable, durable, but also very pleasing to
the eye :) I agree with James, I would never get those new flimsy
looking ones. Looks like you could break it accidentally by stepping
on it, since it's so paper thin :P (Plus I USE my keypad on my
wireless one--Wish Apple knew that...)
-Cyrus
On Mar 12, 2009, at 9:46 PM, James Fraser wrote:
>
>
> Hello,
>
> --- On Thu, 3/12/09, Nate Raymond <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>> It really is too bad that the prototype never made it
>>> to mass production. One of the attractions of using the IIGS
>>> keyboard
>>> with a vintage machine is its small footprint. And the Cassie
>>> would >>have made the footprint even smaller. Alas, the consumers
>>> of the time >>apparently said "no" to a keyboard that was so thin
>>> and lightweight.
>
>> I'd argue that Apple's latest keyboards draw right
>> from Cassie:
>>
>> http://www.apple.com/keyboard/
>>
>> Same minimalist philosophy, executed even better.
>
> I think that all depends on your definition of "better."
>
> The keyboards for the first few models of Macintosh were fairly
> boring, staid-looking peripheral devices. But they were absolutely
> rock-solid in terms of build quality and reliability. I worked in a
> computer lab at a school in the 80's and in the two-plus years I was
> there, we never had an Apple keyboard fail, despite students
> pounding away on them all day, every day. The Alps keyswitches that
> were used in the Cassie prototype will likely still work for years
> to come.
>
> Compare 'n Contrast the keyboards of that era with the fashion
> statements that Apple currently builds. Are they appealing to the
> eye? Certainly: few companies have design cosmetics down the way
> that Apple does. But the build quality? That I'm not so sure
> about. Granted, there's little point in overengineering a keyboard
> that's likely to get tossed when the system it's attached to is
> deemed destined for the dumpster. But which do you prefer: reliable
> devices that look boring, or cool-looking ones that are disposable,
> and built like it, too? There's no right or wrong answer to that
> one: it's all a matter of which philosophy you adhere to. But I
> bring this up because, to the best of my knowledge, those cool-
> looking aluminum keyboards aren't screwed together, they're glued
> together:
>
> http://preview.tinyurl.com/brj2h6
>
> http://preview.tinyurl.com/crov2z
>
> There's a Grand Canyon of difference in terms of quality between
> what Apple built two decades ago and what they're building now.
> Admittedly, for some people, their purchasing decisions are based
> largely on looks and styling. For others, it's all about
> reliability and long service life. And I don't think it's risking
> anything to say that Apple is banking on consumers falling into the
> former camp rather than the latter.
>
> Fair enough, but those of us who imprinted on vintage Macs and the
> bomb-proof keyboards that came with them might have a hard time
> feeling anything but disappointment when it comes to Apple's latest
> offerings.
> Promoting aesthetics at the expense of durability and reliability
> isn't necessarily a winning formula for everyone.
>
>
> Best,
>
> James Fraser
>
>
> >
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