Sharp Height

[Avery Todd]

List,

   A question came up the other day on the piano list about the Steinway
not being as "user friendly" (as it was called) in their white to black
note ratio, as compared to pianos like Baldwin, Mason & Hamlin, Chickering,
Kawai and several others.
   Another comment said that maybe it's the height of the black note and
that it seems more accessible and easier to hit.  Mason and Baldwins fit in
the hand; but some new Steinways use very narrow black keys and are higher
to hit.
   The only thing I can come up with is that he's referring to the height
of the black keys (and the width?) on S & S. Aren't all pianos pretty much
standard at 1/2" above the sharps?
   Any comments would be welcome.

Avery