Not taken with Apple's ultra-thin metal keyboard

This week we've all received new hardware and software at work. I'm more than happy with my new iMac but not so keen on the ultra-thin metal keyboard:



The feet at the back are tiny so the keyboard rests almost horizontally on the desk, forcing me to adopt a rather unnatural typing style – somewhat like a chimp with cramp in both hands. I've tried propping it up with a book but that just makes it wobbly.

The biggest problem, however, is that ultra-thin means ultra-light; as I type, the keyboard scoots away from my across my desk. After every sentence I have to pick it up and put it back in place.

Admittedly, none of my team-mates has this problem so it could just be my over-vigorous typing style. I do tend to bash the keys with some force (and volume).

My colleague suggested holding the keyboard in place with Blu-Tack, but what's the point of having all this high-tech equipment if you have to stick it down with low-tech stationery? Instead, I'm moving back to my old, thick, plastic keyboard...

London Lite, Apple, iTunes and headline-writing

The London Lite made an interesting headline choice today. Here's the headline in question and part of the story:

Apple slices 20p off iTunes songs

Apple is introducing a new pricing structure to iTunes, meaning the cost of some tracks will fall by 20p to 59p. From April, a three-tiered system will see songs priced at 59p, 79p and 99p. Currently, all tracks cost 79p.

The London Lite could easily have gone with a negative rather than positive headline - after all, some songs are increasing in price by 20p. It would have been just as accurate, and we all know that bad news sells.

So why didn't it? Perhaps because the headline writer liked the play on words of 'Apple slices', or perhaps because the original press release was also positive (as press releases invariably are). Perhaps, for some reason, the London Lite didn't want to upset Apple. Who knows?

How heavy is the Apple MacBook Air?

Gingerous has emailed in an amusing quote from a review of the MacBook Air laptop (pictured above) which he came across in the April edition of IT Manager magazine:

The MacBook Air is Apple's take on the ultraportable notebook. At a mere 1.4kg and 4mm at its thinnest point and 19mm at its thickest (the hinge at the back), and weighing in at just 1.36kg, it's definitely ultraportable.

Gingerous rightly comments: "Now I'm not sure on the grammar side of things (although it didn't read too well to me), but why does the weight of the laptop get mentioned twice and why are they different?"

Um, maybe it depends on how full the hard drive is. Or does anyone have any better suggestions?

The online version of the story sadly doesn't contain the offending copy...