Keyboards and mouses from Apple ever since the iMac in 1998 are usually the worst keyboards with respect to ergonomics.

Genuine Apple OEM Keyboard Wired Model# A1048 Mechanical W/2 USB Ports. $32.03 + $15.21 shipping. Apple Mac A1048 White Wired Full Size Keyboard English with 2 USB port. Picture Information. Image not available. Mouse over to Zoom- Click to enlarge. Move over photo to zoom. Keyboards and mouses from Apple ever since the iMac in 1998 are usually the worst keyboards with respect to ergonomics. Hard-to-reach Right Command Key Apple pro keyboard (A1048), year 2003. Note the distance of the right side's modifier keys. It is not possible, to use the right thumb to press the ⌥ option key while the index finger remains on the J. Description This is a 109 Key White Apple Keyboard (USB) (A1048). The Apple Keyboard with its clean, white keys is the perfect complement to your USB-equipped Mac. The 109-key Apple Keyboard features full-size cursor keys perfect for zipping up, down and sideways in a game or on a spreadsheet. Apple Pro Keyboard (A1048), 2003. Apple's full Keyboard (A1243). 3873×1105 image source Apple keyboard (A1242), year 2009. In this model, the left and right ⌘ command keys are symmetrically placed with respect to F and J keys. image source Apple Wireless Keyboard. Apple Keyboard A1048. A major redesign of the Apple Pro Keyboard, released in May 2003. Updated in 2005 with USB 2.0.

Hard-to-reach Right Command Key

Note the distance of the right side's modifier keys. It is not possible, to use the right thumb to press the ⌥ option key while the index finger remains on the J. It makes these keys essentially decorative in nature. (Apple did this to make the keys flush at the lower right corner; sacrificing function for esthetics.)

Functions Keys in One Continuous Row with no Gaps

Another bad design is that the function keys are all squished together into one beatific contiguous row. The contiguous-row design makes it difficult to press the right key by touch.

Human perception is not optimized to deal with uniform geometric arrays. A array of neat rectangles may be esthetically pleasing, but it is not a form that occurs much in nature, and makes it more difficult to recognize or hit the right key.

By making the keys of uniform shape of rectangular array, you take away the ability to distinguish keys by tactile sensation. User must look at the keys.

Function keys are important for programers and gamers. They are very useful as single-press shortcuts that are customizable.[see Why Function Keys Are Useful]

Multimedia Keys Combined with Function Keys

Apple combined multimedia keys (such as sound loudness control) into the functional keys. This means, when you want to use functional keys, you have to hold down the fn modifier first. This is a dysfunctional design.

Apple do this because Steve Jobs wants visual elegance, and consider separate multimedia keys too complex or esthetically unwieldy. Steve Jobs wanted to even eliminate the function keys.

See: NeXT Keyboard.

Apple computer, software and hardware, areusually of high quality in terms of design with respect tofunction. However, in some department, such as keyboarding and mouse,they sacrifice function for esthetics.

Certainly, for most people, the function keys are rarely used. Getting rid of them is a great innovation “FOR THE REST OF US”. However, for professionals (programers, gamers), the function keys are critical. This is a sharp contrast between ugly-looking industrial machines vs pretty-looking consumer devices.[see Keyboard Shortcut vs Launch Buttons]

Shape of Multimedia Keys

On most PC keyboards, the multimedia keys such as sound-level control,next/previous song, mute, usually have different shaped buttons. This isa good design. Because, different shapes for special keys increases tactilerecognition as well as visual recognition.

Some keyboards, even use a rotary knob for sound-level control. which is even better, because rotary knob fits well with the control requirementsof sound-level change. When the sound-level control is a button, you needto press it multiple times. With a rotary knob, you can change loudnessto desired level fast, or reverse direction.

[see Keyboards with Volume Wheel]

Position of LED for Caps Lock

Also note the LED indicator for the Caps Lock key. It is right on thekey. You might think that is good design because this way it's clear whatthe light is for. But, there is a practical flaw. When you are typing,you can't see the light there. It's actually better, to have the lightindicator elsewhere on the keyboard that's easier to see. For most genericPC keyboards, it's on the upper right side on top of the numerical pads.On some Microsoft ergonomic keyboards, they actually moved it to the middleof the keyboard.

[see Microsoft Ergonomic 4000]

The issue here is intuitiveness vs long-term practicality.Having LED on capslock key is intuitive. But having LED at somewhere visible is more practical.

Apple Aluminium Keyboard (A1243) review (scissor switches)

Difference with PC Keyboard

Note that Apple's keyboard and PC keyboard have minor differences in their set of keys. For example:

• ⌘ command vs ❖ Window (labeling difference)
• ⌥ option vs Alt (labeling difference)
• {PrintScreen, ScrollLock, Break} vs {F13, F14, F15} (real different keys)

For detail, see: Difference Between Apple and PC keyboards.

Using Symbols as Key Labels

One interesting thing about Apple keyboard is that, for their international versions, the key label use symbols instead of English words, for keys such as{Return, Tab, Shift, PageUp, PageDown, Home, End, …}.For US and English-speaking countries, it uses English words only.[see Keyboard Enter/Return Key Symbol]

Apple Keyboard History

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