Apple NetBook and iPhone Keyboards

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Yesterday during the financial call, a question was asked about Apple getting into the growing netbook space. In case you didn’t know, netbooks are the very cheap, very small laptops that are cropping up. According to AppleInsider, Steve responded explaining:
We’re not tremendously worried. As we look at the netbook category, that’s a nascent category. As best as we can tell, there’s not a lot of them being sold. You know, one of our entrants into that category if you will is the iPhone, for browsing the Internet, and doing email and all the other things that a netbook lets you do. And being connected via the cellular network wherever you are, an iPhone is a pretty good solution for that, and it fits in your pocket.
I would have to generally agree with Steve there. I don’t feel a tremendous need for a netbook so long as I have my iPhone in my pocket. If he really wants to sway me however, he simply needs to make the call and tell the iPhone software team to turn on the switch to allow use of a bluetooth keyboard. I’ve asked for it and even written haiku about it. This wold be a game changer when combined with a good AppStore word processor.
We know the iPhone has a bluetooth radio. We know just about every other smart phone has an external keyboard solution. So what is taking so long?

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The Ultimate Old School Apple Keyboard Hack

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I recently upgraded my MacBook Pro and I love it completely (almost). There is one problem. There is no Apple key. Now I know there was a lot of hubbub about Apple removing the Apple key from its keyboards last year. There were online petitions and a general nerd uproar. I have to admit the whole thing seemed silly to me until I got a Mac without the Apple key. Then I found I really missed it. I’m old enough to remember when the Apple key was everywhere in the Mac OS. It was not only on the keyboard but plastered all over the menus. Heck, I even remember when there were two different kinds of Apple keys. For me, the Apple key is an old friend down there on my keyboard and “part” of my computing experience.
So as I was using my shiny new Mac I found myself pining away for that Apple key. A good friend (who also happens to work for a certain fruit company) showed mercy and got me two slightly used Apple keys from an old MacBook Pro that just happen to be exactly the same size and design as the current “Command” key. It was sort of like receiving an organ donation, but for computers. With a little wiggling and a lot of help from said fruit-empoyed friend the command keys came off and the Apple keys found a new home. All is right in the universe once again.

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The now discarded “Command” keys sit in a drawer sadly like a discarded kidney, with full knowledge they will never get the geek affection bestowed upon my Apple keys.

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