Jack Campbell of MacMice (not pictured: that’s Chuck Leonard) has announced a new 37-key USB MIDI keyboard called ‘GarageKey,’ designed specifically for use with Apple iLife ’04’s GarageBand software. For $130, there are probably more full-featured Casios or Yahamas with MIDI output — and really, MIDI output is pretty much MIDI output on something like this, although MIDI-over-USB is potentially more convenient for many — but the GarageKey does have the benefit of being a decent size to fit on your desk.
I wonder, though, did MacMice really build the GarageKey as they say, or did they license it from another manufacturer? Because some people have been taking them to task lately for claiming to be the sole inventors of products that turn out to be rebrands. Nothing wrong with rebranding, mind you, but saying you built it might be stretching a bit.
Update: Jack Campbell (President of MacMice) wrote to say that the GarageKey is a ground-up development with a “all new key-switch mechanism” that is “100% from-scratch design and tooling.” So whatever the case may be regarding their other products, I apologize for implying the GarageKey is an OEM rebrand. I could have just asked.
Also his mother actually may not be so fat she wears a VCR as a pager.
Read – Pre-Order Page [MacMice]
