Go to Windows 7 Insider GuideApple Wireless Keyboard
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: M9270LL/A
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Apple's Wireless Keyboard is the perfect choice for anyone with a Bluetooth-enabled Mac. Just make sure you have the right OS first.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | See Site | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 11/15/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Apple Wireless Keyboard price range: $139.99
- Reviewed by: Wendy Sheehan
- Reviewed on: 11/24/2003
- Released on: 09/16/2003
The good: Easy setup and Bluetooth configuration; attractive design.
The bad: Slight lag in keystrokes; requires OS X version 10.2.6 or later; pricey.
The bottom line: Apple's Wireless Keyboard is the perfect choice for anyone with a Bluetooth-enabled Mac. Just make sure you have the right OS first.
Apple's sleek-looking Wireless Keyboard aims to dress up your desktop while eliminating pesky cord clutter. But, as is the way with almost all Apple products, high style and cable liberation don't come cheap: this keyboard will set you back $70. And it works with only Bluetooth-enabled Macs running OS X 10.2.6 or later, so Mac users with older versions of the operating system (and all PC users) or those whose systems lack Bluetooth, will have to look elsewhere.
Based on Bluetooth technology, the keyboard is a snap to set up. The included instructions are comprehensive and easy to understand, and it took us less than five minutes to install the software and successfully pair the keyboard with our Bluetooth-enabled, 15-inch PowerBook G4. Unlike other Bluetooth input devices we tested, this keyboard does not act as a Bluetooth hub. Instead, it uses Bluetooth technology to connect with a Mac that has Bluetooth already.
The shiny, white Wireless Keyboard stands out against its black and silver competitors. It is surrounded by an elegant, clear-plastic enclosure, and it rivals the Apple Wireless Mouse in good looks. Apple fails to make any of the ergonomic tweaks that we've seen in some of its competitors' keyboards, but as a result, its keyboard features 16 function keys and a full numeric keypad and is still compact enough (4.75 by 17.5 by 1.3 inches) for a comfortable on-the-lap typing experience. In our tests, key tension was adequate, providing satisfying but quiet keystrokes. We did, however, experience a minor lag from stroke to action, though it wasn't as noticeable as with the Wireless Mouse.
The Wireless Keyboard employs Adoptive Frequency Hopping technology to eliminate interference between other Bluetooth peripherals and wireless networks and devices. And a power-management system on the device automatically switches to low-power mode when it's not in use, and it can be turned off to reserve battery power. Apple claims that you'll get up to nine months of life out of the four standard AA batteries that power the Wireless Keyboard. With other keyboards we tested, the battery life varied between three to six months, but those peripherals ran off of only two AA batteries.
User reviews
-
-
Must-Have Accessory
by 1940 on May 26, 2006
Pros: Convenient Tidy
Cons: Switch Underneath
Summary: This is the only way to go now that Macs have built-in Bluethooth 2.0. Working w/o wires is simply better. Bluetooth desktop allows me mobility in the office. ...
Summary: This is the only way to go now that Macs have built-in Bluethooth 2.0. Working w/o wires is simply better. Bluetooth desktop allows me mobility in the office. I have as much of an Apple wireless network as one can have and it all works - better than my hardwire Windows system ever was. The keyboard is just the right size and it's thoughtfully designed. I wish only that the switch were on the side on up top by the direction keys and that there was an on/off indicator light topsode.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Fantastic keyboard - Truly wireless.
by sergioquiros on April 15, 2006
Pros: Very sturdy and compact for a full keyboard, great feeling when typing, no useless-media-keys clutter, great battery life.
Cons: Not as easy to clean as Microsoft's keyboards.
Summary: I've had the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse for about two years and a half now and I couldn't be happier. The keyboard is very sturdy and solid, ...
Summary: I've had the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse for about two years and a half now and I couldn't be happier. The keyboard is very sturdy and solid, offers a very nice feeling when typing, the battery lasts for a couple of months, and it offers volume and eject keys. Here you also notice Apple's "less is more" mentality: no media buttons, which the truth is that very few people actually use at all. This allows for a full-sized keyboard which is pretty portable. I use mine with my 15" PowerBook (don't want to wear off the laptop's keyboard) and actually carry it in my laptop bag everywhere I go. Now try that with any wireless
keyboard with two dozen media keys, lights and all sorts of redundant trinkets.
On top of this, having a truly wireless peripheral like this is not only freaking elegant, but also SO convenient. I said "truly" wireless because there are many wireless keyboards and mice out there which still require you to plug a wired receiver to your computer's USB port. This is obviously made for computers with no built-in Bluetooth. If this is your case then you won't be able to use Apple's Bluetooth peripherals.
Another fantastic feature from Apple's Bluetooth peripherals is how easy it is to pair them with your computer. As most things Apple, you turn it on, answer a few simple and intuitive questions, and voila!, they're working as they should. I tried helping a friend who wanted to get Bluetooth for his HP laptop after he saw how much and why I love my PowerBook's Bluetooth. He bought the tiny USB Bluetooth receiver and up to this date it hasn't worked at all. I guess XP just doesn't know what to do with it.
And speaking of XP and Microsoft, my only complaint regarding this keyboard is that it's not nearly as easy to clean as Microsoft's keyboards. Eventually you'll see quite a collection of dirt, fuzz, and crumbs grow under your keys, reminding you to get some can of compressed air and cotton swabs ready.
Anyway, Apple Bluetooth keyboard: I strongly recommend it.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
A product that you will be very happy with
by Big-Mike.net on October 24, 2005
Pros: Very long battery life, great bluetooth distance, easy setup
Cons: sometimes it lags, problem if you have to reinstall OS
Summary: Out of the box this product is ready to setup. Simply put in batteries, and setup new bluetooth device. No software is needed.
The first and most important thing is ...Summary: Out of the box this product is ready to setup. Simply put in batteries, and setup new bluetooth device. No software is needed.
The first and most important thing is that the battery like is great. I've been using this thing for 4+ months and the batteries are still about 75% full. Keep in mind I due a very large amount of typing / coding.
You can get great distance away from the computer (probably 33ft plus) so you can use the keyboard as a remote from accross the room.
Performance is great. Operates at same level as corded keyboard. Only complaint is the key input sometimes lags. example:"I'm tying 'review.' Sometimes it will show on screen as 'erview,' or worse due to lag. Other then that you will have a problem if you need to reinstall your OS as bluetooth keyboard won't be recognized so make sure you have a backup corded keyboard available.
Overall I believe you will be very happy with this keyboard. It is well worth the price.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Simply elegant!
by JoeMadnesS on June 5, 2005
Pros: The device loaded in seconds without any software
Cons: None at this time
Summary: I would recommend this product to anyone. My 17" G4 Powerbook established a bluetooth connection in seconds and I did not need to load the software.
Summary: I would recommend this product to anyone. My 17" G4 Powerbook established a bluetooth connection in seconds and I did not need to load the software.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
so far... so great
Pros: I got the keyboard today and when i first took it out of the box i knew it was going to be sturdy... it has a nice weight to it and i really like it. It's naturally eleveated and slanted so it helps with my wrist postion. I've only had it for about 4 ho
Cons: the only problem that i have experience is that when i firsted got it, the computer didn't recognize it... but i put my powerbook to sleep and then went to dinner... when i came back and started up my powerbook... it worked like a charm.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Best keyboard I've ever owned.
Pros: Apple makes great products. I wish I owned a mac actually. Despite what Apple and Cnet tell you though, it works perfectly with Windows XP. I will say that Bluetooth inital setup in Windows is a pain, but once you have it working its wonderful. I just p
Cons: The apple key is mapped to the windows key and the Clear key is mapped to the Num Lock, but everything else mapped out perfectly.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Minimalist Keyboard
Pros: A really nice keyboard to type on. I didn't notice any lag time. Very Quite. Uses 128-bit over-the-air encryption to prevent key-logging. Realitivly small and a work of art.
Cons: The batteries will eventually need to be replaced (not for months though thanks to the power saving system), and it is a little heavy.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Works wonderfully
by downifer on June 21, 2006
Pros: nice having a full sized keyboard to go with my laptop, works from across the room
Cons: haven't found any yet
Summary: a very nice light weight wireless keyboard with a good range
Summary: a very nice light weight wireless keyboard with a good range
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Never worked right
by jprusins on January 30, 2006
Pros: Portable, easy to type on
Cons: Characters get stuck, typing lag, bad tech support.
Summary: A problem that surfaced early on was "stuck key" syndrome... not physically stuck, but apparently the transmitter would keep sending the same keystroke an infinite number of times to the ...
Summary: A problem that surfaced early on was "stuck key" syndrome... not physically stuck, but apparently the transmitter would keep sending the same keystroke an infinite number of times to the computer. The only way to stop it is to turn the keyboard off and wait for it to lose the connection.
When this occurred, it simply involved whatever the last random keystroke was... sometimes just very annoying, other times nearly disastrous, as when the "delete" key got stuck while I was looking at my email inbox and I suddenly was watching hundreds of messages being sent to the trash in sequence!
Appple tech support was hard to get through to, and when I did, they suggested downloading the firmware update. I did, and it seemed to fix the problem... until a little while after the keyboard was out of warranty, when it started recurring even more frequently.
Needless to say, I'm looking for a new keyboard, and unfortunately this one is the only Mac-specific one on the market at this time. Needless to say, I'm not about to get another one of these.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Excellent Bettery Life
by Josephacote on August 11, 2005
Pros: easy set up, extended keyboard, extra F keys have hidden attributes, volume keys, eject key
Cons: it's white, so it gets dirty easily
Summary: Great, easy to set up and use keyboard. Quiet, reliable, and the batteries last a very long time, (approx. 6 months) This keyboard looks great on any desk. When using ...
Summary: Great, easy to set up and use keyboard. Quiet, reliable, and the batteries last a very long time, (approx. 6 months) This keyboard looks great on any desk. When using this keyboard with my PowerBook G4 17'' the F keys 14 and 15 are designated to brightness (not marked) and the volume keys and eject are a definite plus.
Cons, well it gets dirty more often than a regular keyboard because it's white. Uhhh, yeah that's my only con.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: M9270LL/A
- Description: The first time you use this wireless keyboard, you'll realize to what an extent wires tether you to a fixed position at your computer. Because now you can sit upright holding the keyboard away from your body, or you can slouch in your chair and put the keyboard on your lap. You can, in other words, work whichever way it suits you. Bluetooth wireless freedom means that you work that feels most comfortable - without feeling like you're tied to your computer. The Apple Wireless keyboard uses the same Bluetooth wireless technology that syncs addresses, calendars and contacts with your PDA or mobile phone. Only now you can also use it to provide a highly secure link to your keyboard and mouse. The Apple Wireless Keyboard features the new Apple Keyboard design with 16-full size function keys, a full numeric pad, document navigation keys, a full-size inverted T and multimedia keys that let you adjust audio on your Mac or eject optical media. It uses 4 AA batteries (included) and features an on/off switch that enables you to conserve battery power when the keyboard is not in use.
General
- Device Type Keyboard
- Form Factor External
- Localization English - US
- Localization English:United States
Input Device
- Interface Bluetooth
- Max Operating Distance 33 ft
- Connectivity Technology Wireless
- Hot Keys/Functional Buttons Qty 16
- Key/Button Function Multimedia, Optical media eject
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Slot(s) None
- Interfaces None
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included None
Battery
- Type AA type
- Type AA type
- Installed Qty 4
Software / System Requirements
- Software Included Driver
- OS Required Apple MacOS X 10.2.6 or later
Cable(s) / Peripheral(s)
- Cable(s) Included None
Interface Provided
- Port(s) Total (Free) None
Expansion Slot(s)
- Slot(s) Provided None
Power
- Power device type None
Manufacturer info
- Apple
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.apple.com
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
