I don't know whose raise people are paying for when they buy this, but I certainly don't want to be a part of it!
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$250 why??? |
No function keys makes it just about as useful as this little wonder:
But seriously, Microsoft does lots of things right with software, but I've been completely unimpressed with any keyboard they've released in the past six years. Along the path of innovation we've seen them mess with the proper layout of the 6-key block of “Ins”, “Home”, “PgUp”, “Del”, “End”, “PgDn”:
also they've made keyboards that default to having the function keys completely disabled, and you have to use some crazy F-lock key to turn them back on every time:
and finally they've toyed with the placement of function keys, taking them out of the 4-key chunks they belong in and putting them into 3-key or 5-key chunks:
For me all of this is downright annoying.
Please, just give us a quality no-frills keyboard with the right layout and nothing missing. Also no extra keys that bring up random applications like the calculator, email, and Internet! Call me a purist, but I still prefer the original clickety-clackety IBM Model M that shipped with the AT:
5 pounds, but worth it. I've got one on every computer in the house except for my laptop and the iMac!
Maybe the high-end keyboard for me is this hard-wood wonder, although it sports a Japanese layout. Since it costs around $2500 perhaps they wouldn't mind custom-making one for me without the extra keys:
