How do I like the Zippy EL-620 Aluminum Electron-Luminescent Keyboard? Well, it actually feels funny because I've never used anything other than Apple keyboards. The keys feel very slick and with long fingernails, my fingers sometimes glide off the keyboard. It is 18 mm thick and it weighs less than 500 grams, making it quite portable. It has a brushed silver metal upper case; quiet keystrokes; and is stylish and slim. It has media hot keys but some do not work on a Mac such as the built-in Internet Hot Key and the Start E-Mail program. Other Hot Keys that do work, such as the EL ON/OFF, Power, and Sleep.

Installation was extremely easy; I merely connected it to the USB port on my computer. The instructions recommend a Restart if the keyboard is not recognized but this was not needed. There were no drivers to install and my PowerPC G5 recognized it without any difficulty. There are no USB ports on the keyboard, so you can't connect a mouse to it. Fortunately I use an infrared cordless mouse.

The blue glow is quite good and uniform throughout the keyboard, which is better than my MacBook Pro's backlit keyboard, which is never bright enough for me and the light is not evenly distributed throughout the keyboard. Underneath the Zippy's keys resides a flat sheet of electro-luminescent material, the same material that makes watch faces glow. There is a button to turn the EL panel On/Off. You may want to turn it off in the daytime to preserve the luminescence.

Expos� keyboard shortcuts were available on the function keys: F11 clears all the windows, F12 tiles all the windows, and F10 highlights the predominant window. I could not get the acute accent by holding down the option key and typing the 'e.'

The Apple keyboard has an Apple Logo on the Command key. The Zippy keyboard has a Windows Logo Key that functions like the Apple (Command) Key. This takes some getting used to since it is to the left of the normally positioned Apple (Command) Key. Anytime you want to Cut and Paste, you have to remember to hold down the Windows Logo Key. This takes some getting used to.

*The Mac compatibility: Any Mac with USB Support. This Keyboard works with the Mac, with some slight differences in keys. See Below:

• The Windows Logo Key functions the same as the Apple (Command) Key.
• The Windows, Alt, Esc Keys pressed together is the same as force quit.
• The "F" keys function all the same.
• Power and sleep buttons bring up the Restart, Sleep, Cancel, Shut Down menus.
• Control Key still brings up contextual menus.
• Arrow Keys work the same
• Pause Break Key turns brightness up, ScrLK key turns brightness down

The Zippy EL-620 Aluminum Electron-Luminescent Keyboard worked extremely well with Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 installed on my MacBook Pro. The Hot Buttons for Email and for Internet Explorer worked under Windows.

This keyboard is excellent for night work. It is slim, small, and of good workmanship. It is excellent for Windows users, but it takes getting used to for Mac users, and it's a bit pricey for a small keyboard.