Product Review: Kensington Slim Type Keyboard for Mac

Kensington's Slim Type Keyboard for Mac is a compact, stylish alternative to Apple's own keyboards that's particularly well-suited to laptop users and other space-conscious Mac owners. Kensington is currently offering the keyboard as part of a $39.99 Mac mini Keyboard/Mouse set, which represents a great value for the new mini owner. The keyboard sports a small footprint and keys built on Kensington's "low-travel, scissor-switch technology," which are reminiscent of a laptop keyboard's shallow depth.

The company says the keys allow for faster typing with a lighter action, and I've come to enjoy their feel in the weeks I've been using the keyboard. Kensington's keys provide a more distinctive "click" than those of my iBook (hence the "scissor-switch" moniker) but sport a much lower-travel profile than Apple's own keyboard. The result is a distinctive feel that is a bit harder than normal keyboards, but more responsive and comfortable than "chiclet" style keys. It's somewhat hard to describe in words, but imagine a PowerBook or iBook keyboard with a little extra snap and you'll get the idea. I should point out that this keyboard is somewhat noisier than average, especially when compared to my iBook's keys.

The Slim Type Keyboard's layout is fairly compact and took a little getting used to, as the keys feel a bit smaller and more closely bunched together than a standard keyboard. Bottom-row keys like Space and Apple are noticeably smaller than even those on my iBook -- if you have particularly large hands, you may well find this keyboard too small for comfort. The keys themselves are finished in a nicely textured plastic which is very nice to type on, as they seem to gently grip my fingertips while still being quick to the touch.

Featuring a full QWERTY keyboard with number pad, 15 programmable function keys, and seven multimedia hot keys preprogrammed to work with iTunes, the Slim Type Keyboard is truly designed with the Mac user in mind. My one complaint in terms of functionality is that the keyboard doesn't sport a USB port, which means that using this keyboard and an external mouse will take up both USB ports on your Mac laptop. The keyboard is finished in white with chrome trim and is especially complimentary to an all-white iBook or Mac mini. Kensington offers a five-year warranty on the keyboard, which is exceptional.

This keyboard isn't for everyone, as it's noticeably compact layout will be uncomfortable to users with large hands. However, if you like the light action of a laptop keyboard and/or want a full-featured keyboard that looks good and takes up as little space as possible on your desk, this might be what you're looking for. The Slim Type Keyboard for Mac is a little more expensive than Apple's own desktop keyboard, but it does effectively come with a free mouse as part of Kensington's Mac mini keyboard/mouse package. Furthermore, its solid construction and five-year warranty means it should last you a lifetime in computer terms.

Kensington's Slim Type Keyboard for Mac lists for $39.99 and is available direct from Kensington.com and other online retailers (compare prices at PCPrices).

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Noah Kravitz runs the Technology and Culture blog Threebase.com. He is an educator, musician, and writer who lives in Oakland, CA and is the author of Teaching and Learning with Technology.