19050 Ever since I first got my hands on the scissors-action keyboard of the then new and revolutionary WallStreet PowerBook back in 1998, it has been the gold standard by which I judge computer keyboard action, feel, and comfort. I still have my WallStreet, so it has remained the comparison benchmark, and unfortunately few keyboards have measured up. The keyboards in the current aluminum PowerBooks are very good, and may be even better than the WallStreet unit. I haven't had the opportunity of using one for long enough on a production basis to make a conclusive evaluation. Other good units are the bronze 'boards in the PowerBook G3 Lombard and Pismo. I should also note here that the PowerBook 1400, released in 1996, also has a nice keyboard.

However, I've found that most freestanding keyboards for use with desktop computers, or with laptops operated in desktop substitute mode, the lot less satisfactory. I've sampled quite a few, and in most cases I find the key travel too long, the key resistance too heavy, the keystroke landing too hard, and the key action not smooth enough. The WallStreet keyboard remains a high water mark for me in all of these categories.

I should mention here, for those who are not regular readers, that I am afflicted with peripheral neuropathy, which, while not Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) per se, since it is not originally caused by typing and mousing stress (other parts of my body are affected as well), it is certainly aggravated by computer use. Consequently, I am heavily dependent on dictation software and have to be very particular about keyboards that I use for typing more than a few sentences.

As noted, the PowerBook keyboards cited are the most comfortable I've found. Certain membrane-type keyboards, such as Apple's own USB keyboards, and an old MacAlly New Wave ADB unit I have, and the Matias OS X and USB 2 keyboards, are among those I can use on a sustained basis, but I still find the key travel too long, and the "over-center" feel of the key action less than ideally comfortable. Another keyboard I find reasonably tolerable is the MacAlly iceKey, which utilizes PowerBook keyboard style scissors-action key technology, but sadly, the key resistance is a lot stiffer than with my benchmark WallStreet keyboard.

So the quest for the perfect desktop keyboard has continued, and I'm happy to report that I've found a keyboard that comes closer to the mark than any other I've tried yet. It's not quite perfect, for reasons I will elaborate on in a moment, it's the best terms of key action, feel, and comfort, it comes closer than any other flat desktop keyboard I've encountered. I'm referring to Kensington SlimType Keyboard for Mac, the subject of this review, which also uses PowerBook-style, short-travel, scissor-switch key technology.

The SlimType is, as its name implies, a slim and compact desktop USB keyboard, just 3/4" thick by 16 1/2" wide by 6 5/16" deep (just a bit wider and deeper than the old original Apple USB keyboard that shipped with the original iMacs).

It features a full complement of standard keys, including a numerical keypad, plus eight programmable multimedia hotkeys arrayed across the top of the 'board behind the function key row.

Here's a closeup of the Slimtype keys:

Compared with more conventional desktop keyboard keys:

The hotkeys allow you to launch and navigate iTunes, adjust sound volume, mute the sound, eject optical disks, or put the computer to sleep right from the keyboard. While the main keyboard functions are supported by drivers built into the Mac OS, the multimedia hotkey features require Kensington proprietary drivers which can be installed from the CD bundled with the unit, or upgrades downloaded from Kensington Website. I found that the version 1.3 Kensington Keyboard Driver on the CD was the latest version currently available, and installation took only a few seconds, although it required a restart in order to take effect.

The default hotkey functions are:

Play: pressing Play will launch iTunes and begin playing the first available track in the Library. If there is no Library selected or no track available, iTunes will launch but not play.

Forward: move to the beginning of the next track

Back: move to the beginning of the current track. "Double - pressing" will move to the beginning of the previous track.

Volume Down: decreases the sound volume.

Volume Up: increases the sound volume

Mute: Stop/Start the sound volume.

Eject: ejects the optical disk.

Sleep: displays the Sleep/Shutdown dialog.

Kensington is a highly-respected name in Mac computer peripherals since way back in the 68k era, especially well-known for its mice and trackballs, but if this product is any indication, the company has lots of engineering prowess in keyboard technology as well.

As noted, the Kensington SlimType represents a a good job of of engineering PowerBook-like keyboard feel into a freestanding keyboard. The the key action is still just a bit stiffer than I would prefer, although it's lighter than the Mac Ally iceKey in that department. If you're familiar with PowerBook keyboards, in feel and response, the SlimType is most like the aluminum PowerBook 'boards, which some consider the best keyboard Apple ever shipped in a PowerBook.

Styling-wise, the SlimType is uniquely interesting and distinctly different from any other computer keyboard. It is in Macintosh white that harmonizes perfectly with my iBook, but also has a chrome-plated ridge circumscribing the key panel, with the multimedia hotkeys and the Kensington logo also finished in chrome, creating, at least to my eyes, a 1950s - '60s retro look. That's perfectly fine with me. I lived through those decades and remember the industrial design of the era with nostalgic fondness. Whoever designed the Slim Type gets a thumbs-up from me.

The Slim Type keyboard layout is fairly conventional, with a few distinctive elements. The function key row has a very welcome Forward Delete key to the right of the F-15 key, and at the top of a vertical row of navigation keys (Home, Page Up, Page Down, End). There is a pad of inverted-T arrow keys where you would expect them. On the bottom row, left to right, there are two side by side left Control keys, a left Alt/Option key, a left Command key, the Space Bar, a right Command key, a right Alt/Option key, a right Control key, and finally an Insert/Help key.

This is all quite functional, although the command keys are a bit small (the same size as the letter keys), and the Return key is labeled "Enter." There are also a pair of fold-down feet at the back of the 'board which facilitates the ergonomically incorrect angled orientation that some people prefer. There are three lights above the numerical keypad to indicate when Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock are activated.

As for criticisms, I already noted that ideally I would like the key action to be lighter, although I hasten to stress again that this is the best that I've encountered in a desktop keyboard in that department. I'm delighted that there are a full 15 function keys, although on a 'board of this size they are necessarily quite small. It's also very easy to hit the "Home" key when you're going for "Delete" due to the unorthodox placement of the key.

However, my main gripe with this 'board is that it has no USB repeater port or ports, which is more than a little inconvenient, and a seemingly odd omission for a company that specializes in pointing devices, requiring you to plug the mouse or other pointing device into the computer itself or a USB hub. I expect USB ports were left out in order to help keep dimensions compact, but I really miss them.

Aside from that, I really love this keyboard, and the longer I use it the more I'm smitten with it.

The Kensington SlimType (which is made in China) has a very high standard of finish and appears to be well-constructed. The keys have a precision-positive action and operate with a muted but satisfying "click." Despite its svelte dimensions, this 'board is surprisingly heavy - much heavier than several other larger keyboards I have, which probably augers well for it's ruggedness, and it's backed by Kensington's impressive 5-year warranty and free technical support. A class piece of equipment.

SlimType Keyboard - Mac System Requirements
Desktop computer, USB port

Price: $39.99

For more information, visit:
http://us.kensington.com/html/5463.html



Charles W. Moore

Tags: Hot Topics ï News ï Reviews ï Hardware Reviews ï MooresViews ï

Login † or † Register † †