Matias Mini Quiet Pro Keyboard

My keyboard arrived the day before Christmas.  It is pretty much the size I expected it to be, a little larger than both my old [broken] HHKB2 Pro and my KB Pure mechanical keyboards, but certainly smaller than a full-size keyboard.  My biggest issue with the size is that if I want to properly position my hands for typing I need to shift over or lose space for my mouse.   This is not an indictment against the keyboard, it's a problem with my own space.

So far I love this keyboard.  It is as quiet as advertised... very quiet for a mechanical keyboard!  Sounds just like the recording on the Matias website.  I've owned Cherry, Topre and Alps keyswitch keyboards and I can safely say that the Topre and Alps are by far preferred (by me) over the Cherry mechanics.  They just feel more natural and the stroke seems smoother.

This particular keyboard DOES have a shorter stroke than the TactilePro and the HHKB2.  I notice it but it isn't terrible or anything like that.  The feedback / pressure is firm but not tiring.  The keys themselves are well arranged and nicely shaped to prevent slippage.  The fact that it is not a compact keyboard means that there are a few more unique keys (that do not require the FN button, and have a typical placement as in a 103-104 key arrangement).  I have used the compact keyboards for years now and it is taking me some time to get used to the location of the ESC, and ~ keys.  I also like having actual arrow keys and the PG UP and PG DN keys... they are more useful than I realized.  But over time I'll get it down.

One thing I miss from my KB Pure is the backlighting... but again it shouldn't be necessary if I allow my hands to remember key positions ... I just have to be sure to start at the F-J keys.

The keyboard construction is SOLID.  It has a heavy feel to it and the shiny black case is strong and probably DOES attract fingerprints... but I work out of a dark closet so it really doesn't weigh heavily on my mind.

It is a wired USB keyboard.  That might bother some people but I believe Matias has other keyboards that are wireless, I like having them wired, it is fine for me.

There isn't much more to say.  If you have tried a TactilePro at an Apple store, or have owned one of the previous incarnations of Matias keyboards I think you will be pleased.  While there is a slight difference in stroke length for the "quiet" aspect of the keyboard, it isn't a painful reduction in stroke, and the fact that the keyboard is virtually silent (compared to other mechanical keyboards).  If you are a bottom-out typer (as I really am myself) the shorter stroke WILL be noticeable, so take that into consideration.  Also, and this really may be all in my head because I don't have any tools to measure it but, they keys seem a little firmer than my TactilePro 2.0.   Again, that is probably just a perception, perhaps because of the shorter stroke?  But it feels like you need to apply an ever so slightly firmer strike.

Well anyway, there you have it.  I am please with my purchase.  They Alps-like switches are smoother and feel more natural to me (whatever that means) and the bonus is this board is quiet.  The laser etched keys won't wear.  Also, if it is still made with the same quality as my (still working) TactilePro 2.0, it will last for many years.

Kittens and Bunnies

Our kitten, a little female about the same age, maybe a week or so older than the bunny, has been trying to get to know the bunny.  Today they had a supervised meeting... kitten was fascinated but the bunny was a little upset that the kitten was sitting in her favorite spots and several times chased the kitten away.

Kitten, however, had other plans and kept coming back.  After awhile Bun Bun got tired of chasing Nilla away and finally drank some water, nibbled some hay and lay down for a nap.  Nilla lay down right outside of her cage and went to sleep as well.  Kind if a silly scene.

As I said I am not sure of Nilla's intentions but she seems to think that maybe the bunny is another dog or cat or something...  someone more her size.  I'll have to keep a close eye on those two... Bun Bun thinks she is tough and can tackle anyone and so far Nilla has simply run away from her...  but Nilla's little kitten claws are sharp should she choose to stand her ground.  So far tho' it has been mostly peaceful... nose to nose sniffing and such, just a little territorial behavior by Bun.  Can't blame her... kitten has the run of the house but Bun only has a small room or two.

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On a completely different topic, my Matias Mini Pro Quiet keyboard should arrive tomorrow.  And even more different, Arizona stifled the Seahawks IN Seattle!  Quite a game.  Seahawk fans mention the questionable interception at the end of the game that sealed it for the Cardinals, but to that point the Cardinals had been consistently squelching every drive by the Seahawks...

...anyway, tomorrow!

Saw the official trailer for Godzilla and...

...I am officially, insanely pumped for this movie!  Even the description is great:  An epic rebirth to Toho's iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, pits the world's most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

YEA BABY!

Quick, General Update

Christmas is coming... my least favorite holiday.  It should be a wonderful time but it has become so commercialized that it is almost ... disgusting.  On the other hand it's in my own hands as to how I approach it... so I need to correct that as well.

About a month ago something terrible happened that really affected me...  most people who know us know that we live in a bit of a "zoo" with multiple pets of varying ancestry (dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and arachnids).  We spend more time with animals than other humans, really...  but anyway...  my daughter and her friends like to train our dogs in the grass patch across the street.  One day they were over there and they got away from them and attacked a rabbit.  Turned out this rabbit didn't really run away because it was an escaped / released domesticated rabbit.

The girls got the dogs but it was too late and the bunny was paralyzed from the waist down.  We took the bunny in, gave him a warm spot, water, food pretty sure he would die very soon.  He didn't.  In fact it was almost like he did not know he was crippled.  So we began to call bunny rescues for advice and after no one responded for 2 days we called the vet... the rabbit vet was on vacation and wouldn't be back for a week.

In that time we learned a little about bunnies from "George" as we called him.  Despite his problems, what happened to him he was so sweet.  My wife took decent care of him while he was here (regular wipe downs / cleanings, etc.) and the time came to go to the vets.  Brought him in and the doctor did an exam, x-rays, etc. and concluded that the paralysis was permanent and George would never recover at all.  I made the decision to have him put down and stayed with him for the entire time (which took a long time, btw... I had an hour to spend holding, talking, feeding him treats as he slowly fell asleep then passed).  I was a wreck that night because of the loss of such a sweet creature who was still young and could have lived a long life.

Over a few weeks it gnawed at me and I began researching rabbit which, until George, I never really gave much thought to...  I finally settled on a breeder in Mesa and brought home Bun Bun, my baby lionhead rabbit.

Rabbits are far more complex and amusing than I ever thought they could be.  I'll probably blog about her from time to time but for now I just wanted to share our new addition to the family.