dallas moore

Several Weeks with the Apple Wireless Keyboard

Well, it’s been awhile since I got the new Apple Wireless Keyboard. My initial reaction of the coolness of such a light yet sturdy device has faded. I’ve now completely accepted it as a tool to do a job.

One of the first things that I did was install the widget “MightyMonitor” to track the batteries in the keyboard. It can show the battery level of both the Wireless Keyboard and Wireless Mightymouse via an analog meter that uses color indicators. It also allows meters be turned off if you don’t own a particular device. I don’t own a Wireless Mighty Mouse and was glad I could turn that off.

Once this was all squared away, I just tried to use the keyboard as much as possible to get used to it. There is a difference between the wireless keyboard’s keys and a keyboard that most of us are used to. The number one reason I purchased it was for recreational writing. I needed a keyboard that would let me get away from the in front of desk typing mentality. I needed a way to kick back and relax, almost like I was at the stereotypical shrink’s office talking about feelings. It does this perfectly. It lets me detach from reality and get to work. The downside popped up in play … in gaming.

I play World of Warcraft off and on and the keyboard just doesn’t cut it for gaming. When moving it wouldn’t easily register an extra tap of a number key or two … kinda critical if you want to quickly throw out multiple spells, etc. I am an awful player of World of Warcraft and am easily defeated by the college kid set mashing keys. In fact, anyone could just randomly hit numbers on the keyboard while running around. I’m firmly convinced there are toddlers playing and they are burying my little character so deep in levels of pain. Well, the wireless keyboard pulls me further into the “you suck” hole.

So, my summary? Great for saving space, I can touch type well with it, but gaming just doesn’t feel like a good idea. I can imagine it would be great for someone with a Mac Mini or other compatible device hooked into an entertainment system. It would also help someone with some other need to type away from a desk environment (like me).