This particular keyboard has one particular feature that I really like: The alternate characters (such as ®, ©, ‡, ¶, and others that aren’t accessed via regular keys) are printed right on the face of the keys, so it’s easy to find the particular one I’m looking for, and I can type them by simply hitting option-key or option-shift-key.

There were two keys that were problematic on this keyboard, though. The caps-lock key has been moved from its normal home on the far left of the keyboard, above the shift key, over to the right side of the bottom row, between the option and control keys. I found that I was frequently hitting caps-lock instead of option. The Mac’s System Preferences -> keyboard modification allowed me to change that mapping, and now my caps-lock key acts liks the option key. I virtually never use caps-lock, so this is a perfectly acceptable solution.

The other problem was, the help and delete keys are lower than I’m used to, and so I was frequently hitting help when I was reaching for delete. Which opens the help viewer, which I then have to close, and then I can delete whatever I trying to delete. The built-in keymapping options didn’t allow me to change that, but a little freeware program called Ukulele solved that problem handily. Now my help key acts like a second delete key, and it doesn’t matter which of those two keys I hit. I rarely use the help files, and when I do I usually access them from the menu using the mouse, so that also is a perfectly fine solution.

The Matias USB 2.0 Keyboard for Mac

Now that I’ve found a keyboard I like, I’m thinking I should order a lifetime supply. I’m quite sure they’ll stop making it.

For years, I’ve used the iMediaKey from Macally. I liked that keyboard. It was almost as comfortable to use as the original Apple extended keyboard. For a long time, whenever I spilled coffee on it or needed a new one for any other reason, I ordered another identical keyboard. I wish now I had bought up a lifetime supply, because Macally has stopped making them.

I’ve tried Apple’s fancy new brushed-metal keyboard. I kept reading reviews by people who said it took them a while to get used to it, but once they did, they wouldn’t want to use anything else. Well, I tried for several months to get used to it, and I just couldn’t. There’s not enough tactile feel to the keys or sufficient tactile feedback on keypress. Too many typos, too slow, not comfortable to use. I’ve decided that any of the new “slim” style keyboards are just not for me. Which makes it difficult to find a good keyboard, because that’s what all the keyboard makers seem to be moving toward.

I also tried the white keyboard that Apple was shipping with its Macs for a while. It’s not a “slim” style, and it has better tactile feedback, but still too many typos and not very comfortable. The biggest problem is that the keyboard has virtually no bezel or frame around the outside. Whenever I rest my elbow on the desk while reading over something, my arm presses against the space bar and I end up entering hundreds of space characters in whatever document I’m working on, until I notice it.

I had been wanting to try the Matias Tactile Pro keyboard. Everyone says it’s the closest thing ever to the original Apple extended keyboard. But they apparently don’t make it anymore. I’ve read up on the keyboards from DiNovo & Logitech — none of them appeal to me. I’ve rejected out of hand any PC keyboards. My husband uses a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard with his laptop, and he loves it. But the labeling of the alt, control and “windows” keys always throws me off — I want to use the Command key, goshdernit, not the control key!

Yesterday I ordered the USB 2.0 keyboard from Matias. It looks promising. I’ll post an update after it arrives and I’ve had a chance to try it out.