Just wanted to write a quick note to thank Esther for this recommendation. I bought one of these and I really like it. It's built like a tank and the keys remind me of the traditional PS2 keyboard that was introduced on the AT machines back in the 80s only it's built even better. It's quite a heavy keyboard in case that would affect anyone's decision to buy it. There is also a driver that can be downloaded from the matias site to remap the keys when using the keyboard on a Windows machine. I haven't tried that yet however. On Feb 19, 2012, at 12:00 AM, Esther wrote:
> Hi Reinhard and Tom, > > I was going to reply to Tom's directly, but I'll answer your questions, since > I wrote about the "Matias Tactile Pro 3 Keyboard" in response to his post > wanting to find "the best extended keyboard out there, either wireless or > usb, for the blind mac user." (As I pointed out, "best" is subjective, but I > tried to reply with what I thought Tom would consider to be "best" based on > his comments, and also find a product he could check first-hand from his > location in Vermont.) > > Here's the link to the product description at the web site: > <http://matias.ca/tactilepro3/index.php> > > My full post is at the Mail Archive for this list: > • Re: Recommendation for extended keyboard. > <http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries%40googlegroups.com/msg60768.html> > > This is a full sized keyboard that connects via USB 2, uses the ALPS key > switches of the best tactilely responsive keyboards, and has the larger key > travel of the older style Mac and PC keyboards in contrast to the flat, > chiclet style keyboards currently used by Apple. The keyboard also has > three, non-powered USB ports. The F-keys are arranged in separate groups of > four at the top of the keyboard, and are vertically separated with a gap from > the top row of number keys. You can put "Matias Tactile Pro 3" into a YouTube > search, and listen to samples of people typing on these devices. Younger > users will probably find the key click sound level very loud. > > I don't think this keyboard is being generally discounted as part of a > President's Day sale -- the price on the Small Dog Electronics web site is > still $139.95. The best price I've seen online is from OWC (Other World > Computing) for $117.99: > http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Matias/FK302/ > > Matias makes a folding Bluetooth keyboard, which is not really more portable > than the Apple Wireless Keyboard. (Closed to a size of 10.08 x 5 x 1.38 > inches, the folded keyboard is almost as long as the Apple Wireless > Keyboard's 11 inch length, and it is 18 inches long when opened.) > > There's a new Matias keyboard for Mac or PC and iPhone that was announced in > January just before MacWorld. It's called the Matias One Keyboard, and is a > USB keyboard that will be available in three models. Two of these will be > full sized keyboards: the Standard Matias One Keyboard for iPhone and PC or > iPhone and Mac ($99.95), and the the Tactile Matias One Keyboard for iPhone > and PC or iPhone and Mac ($199.95, all prices in US dollars). The Tactile > version uses the clicky ALPS keyboard keys similar to the Matias Tactile Pro > 3 keyboard. There will also be a Slim Matias One Keyboard for iPhone and PC > or iPhone and Mac, that drops the extended keyboard portion. > > What's common in the design of all three models of the Matias "One Keyboard" > is that the keyboards are powered by the USB2 connection, but will also > support BlueTooth pairing to an iPhone or other iOS device via a switch. So > the idea is that you can use the same keyboard for typing either on your > computer (through the USB connection) or on your iPhone (through BlueTooth), > and have access to the full keyboard with numeric keypad, depending on which > of the three One Keyboard models you get. > > Other World Computer is taking pre-orders on the Slim ($74.95) and Standard > ($94.95) versions of the Matias One Keyboard, to ship in 20 days. I haven't > found any references to current sales of this keyboard on the internet yet, > although you can place an order at the Matias web site. > > I'm glad that Tom was able to get the Matias Tactile Pro 3 keyboard. His > original post was about trying to get a current model Apple Extended Keyboard > working for a friend -- and that turned out to be easily solved by going into > the System Preferences settings for Keyboard. So I wasn't sure whether I'd > written a very long post about keyboards that would never be used by anyone. > > HTH. Cheers, > > Esther > > On Feb 18, 2012, at 4:33 PM, Reinhard Stebner wrote: > >> Hi tom, I was wondering is this a portable keyboard or is it a full sized >> keyboard? Also, when I looked for "Matais" Google changed the word to >> "Matias" what is the correct spelling. Finally, do you have the mottle >> number of the keyboard you are using? >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com >> [mailto:macvisionaries@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Frank Tom >> Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 8:04 PM >> To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com >> Subject: Matais keyboard on sale >> >> Hello Esther , et. al., >> I went to Small Dog in Burlington VT this morning to buy the Matais >> keyboard. When I went to pay for it, it was on sale from $139.95 down to >> $109.00 I don't know if this is a Presidents' day sale or not, but if anyone >> is thinking about buying this keyboard, it may be on sale at other venders >> as well. It is a bit noisy, but the keys are very tactile and I have no >> problems finding my way around. For us older folks who learned to type on >> a, what do you call those things; oh yes, a typewriter, the feel is like the >> old days. >> >> Tom >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
