CES 2018: Matias Announces Wired Aluminum Mac Keyboard With RGB Backlighting

[ignatius345]

I could almost understand that, but it's not the same part - its a sort of half-way house between the old-style (excellent) key switch and the (horrible) new MBP keyswitch. Its not bad - and I stuck with it for several weeks before deciding it was just less comfortable and somehow more error-prone that the old keyboard, and switching back. Some people seem to like it (but then I know people who liked the hockey puck mouse and Windows Vista ) but several others here have found the same as me: it feels OK at first but becomes uncomfortable after extended use (I think it is a combination of the angle and reduced "springy-ness"). However, I don't recall anybody complaining about the old keyboard unless they were die-hard full-travel people...

I had the first-gen Retina MacBook with the first butterfly keyboard and it was truly abominable. One of the worst keyboards I've ever used. I gave it a solid month because people were saying you "get used to it." I did sort of grow accustomed to how much it sucked? Got rid of that terrible laptop soon after.

Later on, I needed an external bluetooth keyboard and picked up the current "Magic Keyboard" -- it's a lot better than the rMB one, but still not as good as the older wireless keyboard. I'm not sure the Magic Keyboard has much more travel than the rMB one, but it definitely has more tactile feedback. It also makes a little more noise, which turns out to help a lot when your brain is processing the level of pressure you need to apply to the keys.

I was under the impression that the new MacBook Pro "second gen" butterfly keyboard was about the same as the Magic Keyboard I have. Is that not true?

On my iMac, I type on an obscenely expensive Topre keyboard and love it, but I'm also totally down for low-travel keyboards as long as there's some semblance of tactile feedback.

 

[fhall1]

Cool...but how about another one exactly like this...but wireless.

Matias already makes one of these in wireless format (except for the color adjustment) - search Amazon.

 

[MacSince1985]

I did not realize Apple discontinued the wired keyboard. I really like having the USB port right there to keep a bluetooth dongle a few inches away from the Magic Mouse. The signal from the Mac Pro under the desk is too weak for smooth mouse control.

If my keyboard ever dies, I may get this one next.

 

[Cougarcat]

I'll probably get one of these. The only thing I don't like is the backlight bleed, but I can live with that.

 

[VictorTango777]

I wonder what kind of keyboard and mouse Apple's own technicians use for connecting to Macs that they are working on. Do they collect the customer's wireless keyboard and mouse in addition to the iMac/Mini/Mac Pro at check-in? Do they pair a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to every desktop Mac that they work on?

 

[Morgenland]

"Matias notes that too much blue-light exposure at night is known to negatively impact melatonin levels"

Going to bed in the evening is probably the best way to maintain the melatonin level.
Keep it simple!

 

[fhall1]

I wonder what kind of keyboard and mouse Apple's own technicians use for connecting to Macs that they are working on. Do they collect the customer's wireless keyboard and mouse in addition to the iMac/Mini/Mac Pro at check-in? Do they pair a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to every desktop Mac that they work on?

They have their own (Apple) keyboards and pointing devices in the back - they don't use the customer's.

 

[theluggage]

I was under the impression that the new MacBook Pro "second gen" butterfly keyboard was about the same as the Magic Keyboard I have. Is that not true?

I've only tried the butterfly keyboards in a shop, but my brief impression was certainly that the 2nd gen in the MBP was better than the 1st gen in the rMB - similar travel but somehow better "feel", but it certainly isn't the same as the Magic - which is still a scissor mechanism.

The travel on the "magic" is somewhere between the "butterfly" and the "classic" key - but it ain't Goldilocks.

 

[Phil in ocala]

I'd really like to get one of these - but after reading the latest reviews of some of their other keyboards (wireless w/keypad and illuminated wireless w/keypad) on Amazon, I'm not going to risk a pre-order. Seems like they have a lot of quality issues lately.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Chinese Quality

 

[VictorTango777]

They have their own (Apple) keyboards and pointing devices in the back - they don't use the customer's.

Do they use USB or Bluetooth keyboards in the back? Do the techs go around pairing Bluetooth keyboards and mice with every Mac that they work on, even on Macs where Bluetooth was turned off? And when they need to use startup commands on a Mac that can't boot normally in order to pair a Bluetooth keyboard?

Are wireless keyboards and mice a good idea for a computer lab or classroom where some jerks inevitably shuffle them around because they think it's funny?

Using a PC keyboard on a Mac just doesn't feel right because the keyboard layouts are different. Does any company make a basic USB keyboard that costs same or less than Apple's (discontinued) USB keyboard and has:
1. Standard Mac key layout
2. Special function keys for Mac labeled and in the correct positions (volume, brightness, eject, etc)
3. Built-in USB port for connecting a mouse

 

[fhall1]

For a computer lab or classroom, I'd recommend USB peripherals

 

[klatox]

I would love a magic keyboard with backlighting. I frequently use my machine in the dark and I can’t remember what any of the F keys do in the dark.

 

[VictorTango777]

There is a need for basic Mac USB keyboards that don't require purchasing from premium priced boutique manufacturers. In a computer lab or classroom, we don't want to deal with jerks who shuffle wireless keyboards and mice around. In an IT workshop, techs will want to just plug in a keyboard and mouse instead of taking time to pair wireless devices on each user's computer in order to work on it. And what if the computer is unable to boot normally so a wireless keyboard can't be paired?

Using a PC keyboard on a Mac is bound to cause confusion because of the different placement of the modifier keys. For example, switching between a Mac laptop keyboard and a PC keyboard. Mac applications do not display a Windows logo key in the menus - they display the Command key. Also, the PC keyboards don't have the special functions (brightness, volume, etc) labeled on the keys.

If Apple refuses to continue making a USB keyboard, then they should consider adopting the standard PC keyboard layout on all future Mac laptops, Apple wireless keyboards, and iPad keyboards. At least then, users on all platforms would have the same key layout and Mac users would not have to do anything different when using a PC keyboard.

 

[shab]

Unfortunately, the old Aluminium wired keyboard was a really, really good example of how to make an acceptable short-travel keyboard. Fortunately, I have a couple of spares...

Me and all my colleagues too.

There is a need for basic Mac USB keyboards that don't require purchasing from premium priced boutique manufacturers. In a computer lab or classroom, we don't want to deal with jerks who shuffle wireless keyboards and mice around. In an IT workshop, techs will want to just plug in a keyboard and mouse instead of taking time to pair wireless devices on each user's computer in order to work on it. And what if the computer is unable to boot normally so a wireless keyboard can't be paired?

That is why!!

 

[theluggage]

Using a PC keyboard on a Mac is bound to cause confusion because of the different placement of the modifier keys.

...and that's just in the US. Here in the UK the "Apple layout" has multiple differences in the layout of punctuation keys such as '"', '@' and '#' c.f. the standard PC layout. Its quite annoying shifting between PC and Apple. Also, modern Linux distros don't cope well with Apple-layout keyboards (yes, you can edit definitions, but it is complicated, and modern linux desktop environments have all sorts of hotkey/modifier key actions that really assume the PC layout).

In an IT workshop, techs will want to just plug in a keyboard and mouse instead of taking time to pair wireless devices on each user's computer in order to work on it. And what if the computer is unable to boot normally so a wireless keyboard can't be paired?

Actually - not a problem: use a non-Bluetooth wireless keyboard with a USB dongle. As far as the computer is concerned, it is a wired keyboard. Doesn't give you a desktop USB hub, though.

If Apple refuses to continue making a USB keyboard, then they should consider adopting the standard PC keyboard layout on all future Mac laptops, Apple wireless keyboards, and iPad keyboards.

I'd vote for that, but I think we'd be in a minority - the change would be a real headache for lots of Mac users who rarely encounter PCs. Of course, if you're using an external PC-layout keyboard you can find Mac OS keyboard layout files on the web. I've used Logitech wireless keyboards in the past that have dual markings and/or come with keyboard definitions to adjust the key layout. When I had a dalliance with a Surface Book earlier this year* I got a Logitech multi-device keyboard that can switch between 3 Bluetooth or dongle connections (and shares the same dongle as the MX master mouse that can also switch between multiple systems) and can also switch between Mac and PC layout - functionally that was great although I didn't care for the feel. Currently, though, I'm using Macs 99% of the time so I've gone back to the trusty Apple aluminium keyboard.