So on September 4th, my keyboard went wonky. It persistently showed audio controls on the screen. It wasn’t usable, and I disconnected it before it shorted out something else.
I thought I had three keyboards, but I really had none: the wonky keyboard, a wireless keyboard I couldn’t get working (user error), and the old Kensington keyboard which turned out to have a stuck key.
I immediately ordered keyboards from two different places. I liked my keyboard, a Macally ACEKEY, and I was happy that it was still made.
Note however that when I bought this ACEKEY in 2020, I let it sit for a year while still using the Kensington, before I could get used to it. Now of course I had to have the identical keyboard, and the same color too.
I ordered one from Macally for $59.99, then became frustrated that there was no delivery date. So then I ordered another one from Amazon for $35.99 plus two-day shipping or something like that, and eventually worked out that the seller “Jukegear” on Amazon was Macally. I couldn’t decide what to do so just left both orders.
Meanwhile I got the Logitech wireless keyboard working and used that for a couple days. I tried to find a way around not having mousekeys but was unsuccessful.
Amazon delivered its ACEKEY on September 6th. The box smelled somewhat and I had to let the keyboard air out for a couple days, but it did air out. From the odor of the box and the way plastic wrap stuck out of the box just a little, I had to wonder if it was a return. I’m using it now however and am happy with it. I was glad to get mousekeys back.
The keyboard from Macally shipped on September 8th with USPS. It went from California to Kansas to Wisconsin to South Jersey to Philadelphia and then back to Kansas on September 17th, where it went silent. I thought maybe it was damaged and was going to make its way back to California. However it appeared in the correct city on September 22nd and was delivered.
The good news is that it was completely undamaged and no odors. I tested it out and it seems fine. That’s my backup keyboard now.
I always thought that if I had a serious keyboard issue that I could just go and buy one, but it seems that I am too particular about keyboards and there isn’t a good selection in stores anymore.
Hopefully I really do have three keyboards now.