Keyboard transitions

If you spend a lot of time working on a computer, you will eventually develop preferences when it comes to keyboards. It's all personal and highly subjective. It's not like I needed April 1^st to learn this, but it appears that my favorite keyboard maker has gone the way of the dodo. Micro Connectors seems to be no more. And as of yesterday (when the 'a' key finally up and really died), I'm on my last one here at home (I've got a couple more at work, so I can steal from the server if my primary keyboard goes south).

It would be ridiculous to describe this as tragic, but it sure seems that way. Although cheap (they were always sub $50), the feel of the keys and the audible feedback were perfect for me. Perhaps a bit distracting for others on a conference call while I was typing, but I try to mute myself where possible. Over the years, I did convert a few people, although most seem to prefer to a mushier, quieter key entry system.

Like Michael Tsai, I stumbled onto the Micro Connectors shortly after the Mac conversation to USB. We randomly ordered about a few keyboards for the Mac group I was running at the time and I hated them all, even when compared to the Extended Keyboard II except for the Micro Connectors (which someone else got and hated; we swapped and everyone was more or less happy). It's been six months since Michael wrote the review of the Tactile Pro and mentioned the demise of MC (not that I noticed) and the number of vendors still carrying them is dwindling. The question is: can I live with a grape or strawberry version? Ugh. Not sure about that. I guess I need to see if the grape version is the SMK-8112U (better USB compatibility with my bizarre USB daisy chain) or the SMK-8112JU (a later version with even better feel and a wee bit lighter action). It's interesting that this comment on a MacSlash story about the Tactile Pro also brings forward some lovers of the now departed MC. I guess there were just too few of us.

In the end, I guess I'll give the Tactile Pro a shot. If anyone is interested, the keyboard I loved the best was the original Apple Extended Keyboard (code name Saratoga because it was so darned big and heavy) and I would gladly pay $100 for a USB keyboard that felt that way. In comparison, the Extended Keyboard II was a light, cheesy knock off.