This is a review of the Goldtouch Mac adjustable split keyboard. Presumably the PC compatible Goldtouch keyboards are of the same quality.
The Need:
I’ve used Microsoft ergonomic keyboards for years because they were durable, comfortable, and had clean keystroke action. The only fault with Microsoft’s ergonomic line is that they eat up too much desk space. This can be fatiguing since you have to reach pretty far to grab the mouse. Trevor Blackwell of Anybots found this to be so troubling that he painstakingly cut the number pad off his MS keyboard.
I’m not a robotics genius so when my most recent Microsoft keyboard’s [L] key started crapping out (after just a few months, grrrr…) I decided to try the Goldtouch Adjustable.
The Good:
- Totally adjustable curvature and arch.
- Has the crucial Apple keys: Command, Option, Power, Eject, Volume, and forward delete.
- Compatible with PCs, but of course the Apple Command key is the “Windows” key and Option is Alt.
- Small because it lacks a number pad. “Numlock” makes the right side function as a number pad, but if you need one you can buy a USB number keypad separately.
- Nice smooth key action
- Has plenty of rubber feet and enough weight for stability no matter how you adjust it.
The Bad:
- Took a couple of days to get used to the small size, but my muscle memory adjusted soon enough.
- It would have nice if it had a couple of USB ports since everyone has a mouse and many users might want to buy the number pad. Every keyboard should have two USB ports in my opinion.
- The CTRL key is way over to the left. This is okay on a Mac since I seldom need the CTRL key, and I can always reconfigure CAPS LOCK as CTRL. On the PC keyboards the CTRL is where it should be and the gamer-despised Windows key is off to the left.
- Pricey at most places, but I only paid $92 US (including shipping) at the Amazon Marketplace.
The Ugly:
- The Goldtouch logo, keyboard typeface, and eject/volume buttons are hideously designed.
The Verdict:
- Highly recommended for anyone who wants a fully adjustable ergonomic keyboard. In all the ways that matters, I love this keyboard.
5 Comments ↓
how do you reconfigure the caps lock key as the ctrl key - i am always hitting in on my imac, and it’s driving me nuts
thanks!
Gerald, in Mac OS 10.4 it’s under Preferences > Keyboard and Mouse > Keyboard > Modifier Keys.
thank you - worked perfectly
Did you find that there were any problems with sleep and this keyboard? I purchased the recent PC version to replace an older model, and the keyboard is unresponsive when my G5 is brought out of sleep. The older model did not have this problem. I am curious as to if the Mac version has this problem, as well. Thanks!
I’ve never had a problem with the Mac keyboard responding when waking from sleep. I have a MacbookPro running OS 10.4. Maybe you could try contacting Keyovation for support.
I have a newer Intellimouse and it sometimes does have trouble resuming from sleep. I often have to remove and reinsert it. My old Intellimouse never had this problem. Maybe some devices USB implementations are slightly off, or OS X doesn’t refresh the USB bus correctly. Hard to say.