Can I get some opinions on a good MIDI keyboard for the Mac (Leopard on a MacBook Pro using Garageband or Logic Express)? I'm not looking for a hardware synthesizer or digital piano, just a pure MIDI keyboard with some knobs and sliders for software control.

I would like a semi-weighted keyboard as I am normally a real pianist and don't like the feel of synth keyboards. I also don't need more than 49 keys as this is for some specialized projects where I will be multi-tracking a lot of layers rather than playing full keyboard arrangements. I also don't need the keyboard to include audio inputs as some models do (I have an Apogee Duet for audio recording).

M-Audio and Novation seem most often mentioned in this regard, and both seem to be generally reliable with Mac OS X. Does anyone have opinions about these two lines (I'm generally suspicious of M-Audio's build quality with other products but I'm trying to be open-minded here). Korg? CME? Others?

packa,
I bought a M-Audio Keystudio 49i, because I wanted the built-in piano sample, and decided to put up with the synth action keys. The Keyboard that would seem closest to what you want is the CME M-Key USB midi controller. 49 Keys, semi-weighted, all of $99 thru Guitar Center. (It looks very much like the one that Suzuki advertises as "weighted" and packages with their learning software) The only other non-synth 49-key boards I saw were the weighted action ones from StudioLogic, as in TMK 49 or VMK 149. Send a PM if you want more info on my online "shopping".