How does the "ultra thin" keyboard provided with the "Aluminum" iMac Core 2 Duo models compare to a more traditional desktop keyboard? How does it feel?

Apple promotes the keyboard that ships standard with all "Aluminum" iMac Core 2 Duo models with:

Its ultrathin anodized aluminum enclosure features low-profile keys that provide a crisp, responsive feel. The keyboard includes special function keys for one-touch control of Mac features, and two USB 2.0 ports for high-speed connectivity to your iPod, Mighty Mouse, digital camera, and other devices.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.

The keyboard is a mere 0.33 inches at the front edge, which is truly "ultra thin" by just about anyone's definition. It is the first Apple keyboard to feature USB 2.0 ports -- rather than the earlier and slower USB 1.1 standard -- and also is the first Apple keyboard to feature the word "command" on the command keys.

The command keys lack the Apple logo, which no doubt drew some gasps from the Apple faithful, but the original Macintosh keyboard also lacks the Apple logo. More oddly, however, the Aluminum keyboard has white keys -- and is bundled with a white Apple MightyMouse -- which is a strange design decision given the black accents for the "Aluminum" iMac Core 2 Duo models.

For photos comparing the "ultra thin" Aluminum Apple keyboard to earlier Apple keyboards as well as a handful of third-party options -- as first spotted by the DaringFireball blog -- you may wish to review a collection posted by Blake Patterson.

On basic terms, the "new ultra thin" keyboard provided with the "Aluminum" iMac Core 2 Duo effectively is a desktop version of the keyboard first introduced with the MacBook line. Just as with the MacBook keyboard, opinions regarding the feel and usability of the keyboard are decidedly mixed.

A PC World reviewer did not particularly care for the keyboard:

Unfortunately, the ports are inset, one on each side at the rear of the keyboard; and the keyboard itself is so low-slung that only one out of six flash memory drives I tried -- each in a different case -- actually fit the USB port without affecting the keyboard's balance. The keyboard's low profile hindered my typing, too.

Although he was worried initially, ArsTechnica's Eric Bangeman found:

I felt like my typing accuracy suffered a bit at first. The keys are flat -- or nearly so -- instead of convex, so it just felt... different at the outset. Like the glossy monitor, however, I was able to forget about the keyboard after a good five minutes of use. I also had Mrs. Bangeman spend some time using it, and her experience matched mine: it initially felt weird, but that feeling vanished after a short time.

MacWorld, on the other hand, went as far as to say that:

In some ways, I think the keyboard design is more of a triumph than the iMac itself (and for $49, you can add it to an existing Mac as well), and I highly suggest giving it a chance before writing it off as being too different.

Ultimately, you are the only one who can decide whether or not you like the keyboard provided by all "Aluminum" iMac Core 2 Duo models. If you have doubts, you may wish to try one out in person. If you do not care for the standard keyboard, MacWorld has numerous reviews of alternate keyboard choices in a variety of price ranges that should make it easy to locate the perfect keyboard for you.

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