Being self-employed has really curtailed my tech-toy spending habits, but I decided to splurge on the new keyboard I was so excited about. I’ve been spending 10-16 hours a day on the computer so I figured it was reasonable to improve my working conditions. 
I ended up ordering the Kensington StudioBoard Mechanical Keyboard instead of the Tactile Pro since they were in stock with free shipping at buy.com. I now realize I should have bought it through my amazon affiliate program thingy and gotten the kick-back, oh well.
It was delivered yesterday, but not to me. Apparently the FedEx guy decided not to bring it up to my floor and left it with the leasing office a few buildings over. I was able to track it down and get my mitts on it this morning.
My impression so far: loud, but feels great.
The keyboard worked right away in Panther with no drivers, though the USB ports on the keyboard didn’t work. I’ll give them another shot next time I reboot. I don’t really need them right now anyway.
It really does feel like the old Apple Extended Keyboard, which it should since it uses the same switches. I’d forgotten how nice the mechanical switches are.
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Christian adds this Comment:
I’m not sure how it’s handled at amazon.com, but over here at amazon.de, buying over ones own link meant (and probably still means) loosing your affiliate account. (Afaik due to taxation.)
So, you might want to revise the ToS beforehand…
April 9th, 2004 at 4:59 am
echeng adds this Comment:
yeah — they do not like you purchasing stuff through your own account. i did that a couple of times when the program first opened, and was warned…
April 9th, 2004 at 7:46 am
Alex adds this Comment:
Ok, good to know.
April 9th, 2004 at 7:55 am
Evolution adds this Comment:
Interesting such a keyboard exists. However, I wish more details on the “loud” part.
I can’t stand keyboard that make too much noise, and prefer laptop keyboard just for this reason.
So far, the MacAlly “Icekey” keyboard is the best overall desktop keyboard I know. Such a pleasure to type quietly! This low-noise keyboard technology should be used by Apple.
April 10th, 2004 at 2:15 am
Alex adds this Comment:
It sounds about the same as the old Apple Extended Keyboards did. It’s noisy.
April 10th, 2004 at 10:13 am
derek adds this Comment:
hi, does this keyboard work on PC?
i am looking for a mechanical keyboard too, but no luck.
January 8th, 2005 at 11:02 pm
Alex adds this Comment:
I don’t know - the site says Mac only.
January 8th, 2005 at 11:13 pm
n1nj4³ adds this Comment:
its a mechanical keyboard, so it’s designed to feel lound. its purpose is for performance not luck. alsco, if anyone finds a pc mechanical keyboard please let me know, email me hereif it’s not too much of an issue, my friend got one from korea and it’s incredible.
February 8th, 2005 at 6:32 pm
n1nj4³ adds this Comment:
edit: i have no f’ing clue why i put luck, i meant noise. sorry, i’m a little out of it.
February 8th, 2005 at 6:32 pm
Geoff adds this Comment:
n1nj4 — check out IBM M models on ebay, which are supposedly the best for PCs, or there are some old Dell and Sun mechanical keyboards that work with PCs (watch out for the UNIX ones.)
August 1st, 2006 at 11:36 am
Steve adds this Comment:
The Studioboard does indeed work on Windows. I am typing on a Studioboard on a Windows computer right now (I bought it for my Mac, but am using the keyboard at work for now.)
The control, alt, and windows (command) keys seem to work fine too.
The keyboard is loud but feels great. I can definitely type faster on this keyboard. Too bad Kensington doesn’t make it anymore.
January 17th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
MacAlly IceKey | alexking.org adds this Pingback:
[…] After using the IceKey for about a week, I’ve decided to ditch it as well and go back to my Kensington StudioBoard - despite the couple of minor issues I have with […]
April 18th, 2007 at 11:26 am