EXCLUSIVES

Matias Tactile Pro Keyboard: It's Got the Touch!
By Ric Getter
December 2003

If you're a hunt-and-peck typist who's content with any keyboard as long as the keys are clearly labeled, you can probably move along to the next article. But if you're someone who takes to a keyboard like Mario Andretti takes to a steering wheel, I urge you to keep reading.

Over the years, Apple has been making better and better computers, displays and software. Unfortunately, their efforts with keyboards have gone in pretty much the opposite direction. The Mac SE-era Extended Keyboard was probably the best Apple ever made. And, it's the one that this writer has been using on his G4 (thanks to the Griffin iMate ADB adapter). It is difficult to describe why it's so conducive to fast, accurate typing except that up is definitely up, down is definitely down and the travel between the two is very even.

As pretty as it is, the current Apple Pro keyboard still feels about as spongy as the one that came with the original iMac. I tried and practiced with them all, but my typing speed was always about a third faster and error rate infinitely lower with my old Apple Extended. Unfortunately, this was leading to a growing number of drawbacks. The iMate ADB/USB adapter doesn't support all of the pre-boot startup keystrokes, it will cause some G4s to open the drive bay during startup, and ours seems to have a growing number of glitches with recent updates to OS X.

Sound and Power

Thanks to Matias, Corp., keyboard freaks can now experience the best of both worlds. The Tactile Pro keyboard has, if you can believe it, an even better feel than the original ADB keyboards. It is just as pretty and has all the features of the Apple Pro. In fact, from a distance, with the exception of the power button (yes, it's back!), the keyboard is virtually indistinguishable from the Apple Pro. It sports two side-looking USB ports and a heavy-duty USB cable, easily long enough to reach a CPU sitting under your desk. The construction of the keyboard housing is extremely solid and compares favorably with the Apple Pro.

Above the numeric keypad, you'll find four full-size keys for sound up, sound down, mute and disk eject, just like the Apple Pro. However, to activate these functions, you'll need to install an included driver file for OS X. A pair of spring-loaded, fold out legs on the bottom of the keyboard let it either lay flat or at an angle virtually identical to the original Extended Keyboard.

With the Tactile Pro, all of Apple's startup keyboard combinations work as they're supposed to. As you would expect, the pressing the Power key brings up the shutdown/restart dialog. The Command, Control, Power key sequence does force a shut down, but the spinning spokes appear for a while before the computer powers off, leading one to believe that it is bringing things to a halt in a more orderly way than using the CPU reset button.

The CD simply contained the installer, and un-installer, but no documentation. Of course, there's not much you need to say about a keyboard, but for folks using the Tactile Pro as a replacement for older keyboards may need some information on how the new keys work. (In all fairness, MacDirectory received one of the first keyboards shipped to reviewers, so there may be a more sophisticated retail package on the way.)

Simply Feels Good

Unfortunately, there are very few objective standards that one can use to evaluate a keyboard. However, it will be sure to satisfy any fast and finicky typist who's been unhappy with Apple's recent offerings. The performance and feel of the Tactile Pro ranks with the best, including the original Apple Extended and my personal favorite, a 1980's-era Adds terminal with a Cherry keyboard mechanism. Between the solid response of the keys and the fact that we're no longer going through an ADB adapter, I found my typing speed up and my error rate noticeably lower.

The quality, comfort, and speed do come at a price. At $99 (plus shipping), it is targeted at a market that really takes their keyboarding very seriously. Matias backs the keyboard with a 5-year warranty, demonstrating their confidence in the peripheral's quality. But if you are one of us who have never gotten used to Apple's current crop of keyboards, it's a must-have device. Besides, as Mac users, we're used to buying the best, not necessarily the cheapest.

It may be a while before the Tactile Pro finds its way into bricks-and-mortar retail outlets. For now, it's available through the Matias web site along with some of the other goodies the company produces, including a classy brushed-aluminum armored shell for your iPod and its unique, single-handed keyboard. Reading a review is one thing, but hammer away on the Tactile Pro for a few minutes and you'll realize that it's a keyboarder's dream come true. It's got the touch!

(From Matias, Corp., $99 suggested price; www.halfkeyboard.com; for all USB Macs - volume and CD eject key driver requires OS 10.2)