Review: NewerTech NuGuard Keyboard Cover

Apple makes some great hardware, well designed and most times works of art. But occasionally there are some more functional changes we wish they’d take into consideration. For some, the keyboard on the Macbook Pro is good but not perfect. After the newer aluminum unibody Macbook Pros get some use, the keys tend to get very slippery as hours upon hours of use causes oil from your fingers to stockpile on the keys, making them slick. To some, it makes for an even better typing experience. For others, they’re looking for more precise, “grabby” keys that don’t cause their fingers to slide all over the place. That’s where a keyboard cover can help.

OWC sells a ton of Mac specific hardware and accessories in an effort to take your Mac experience to the next level. With that said, OWC was kind enough to send us one of NewerTech’s NuGuard keyboard cover for review.

Design and Use

While in some instances we could spend paragraphs upon paragraphs talking about design, utility and features, a keyboard cover is basic in the purest sense of the word. It’s a rubbery cover that slips over your keyboard. No more, no less.

As far as design goes, the key caps are black like the stock keyboard and the spaces in between are clear. If you’re looking for something a bit more unique or colorful, this probably isn’t the cover for you. If, however you’re just looking for something to blend in but give you that grippier experience, you’re in luck.

If we had to find one thing to nitpick about it would be that despite staying in place mostly well, the NuGuard does have tendencies to slide a bit with even slight horizontal pressure. Depending on your typing style, this could be a deal breaker.

Conclusion

In the many weeks since originally receiving the NuGuard there have been countless hours logged with it installed. Some people want those slick, quick keys while others want something more precise. There’s no denying that typing with the NuGuard is different and to us, enjoyable. At the end of the day, is it really “better”? We spent several hours here and there trying to justify a yes or no answer. Honestly, though it’s a purely subjective question with no definite answer. But for $12, it really doesn’t hurt to take a leap of faith. You might just discover a whole new typing experience on the cheap.

More: OWC