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

[MacRumors]

At CES on Tuesday, third-party accessory maker Matias announced an RGB-backlit wired aluminum keyboard for Mac. Inspired by Apple's own, now defunct wired keyboard, Matias' silver and space grey versions look almost identical, except for the addition of a "color dial" on the back and a dedicated key on the layout that allow users to incrementally shift the backlighting through the color spectrum.

Citing a Harvard sleep study, Matias notes that too much blue-light exposure at night is known to negatively impact melatonin levels, which can shift the body's natural time clock -- leading to poor sleep and various other health issues. However, the existence of the rotary color dial on its latest keyboard means users can dial back the blue component of white light when they're working late into the evening.

The RGB keyboard features Apple-style function keys to let users control screen brightness, volume, iTunes, and so on, and also includes a built-in USB 2.0 port underneath on the right hand side, for connecting a wired mouse or wireless dongle.

The keyboards cost $99 each and will be available in a wide range of international layouts (US, EU, and Asian). They can be pre-ordered now from the Matias website, with free shipping to the U.S. and Canada, for delivery in late February.

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

 

[Arkanok]

That’s great because I miss the wired Apple keyboard, but at $99, it’s not much cheaper than the official wireless keyboard.

 

[JesperA]

Great, now could we also get a silver or space grey tkl version with black keys, that would look really good.

Why on earth havnt Apple made a backlit keyboard yet...

 

[TrueBlou]

I like Matias products, I’ve always found them to be good quality. I’ve no doubt this will continue that tradition and be a welcome sight for fans of wired keyboards.

I’m not interested in it myself, I prefer wireless products — so that I can lounge back on my chair with my keyboard in my lap when the notion takes me.

But their full-sized backlit wireless aluminium keyboard is on my “next to buy after the wife forgets I’ve just spent damn near £300 on an iPad Pro keyboard and case..... again” list

 

[nathan_reilly]

i'm getting this. Apple should have built this long ago. Yay!

 

[mrzz]

It's really difficult to understand that apple hasn't been able to create their own external backlit keyboard - what a shame.

 

[Solomani]

I'd pay a premium for an official Apple (extended with numeric keypad) wireless backlit Magic Keyboard!
[doublepost=1515592043][/doublepost]

It's really difficult to understand that apple hasn't been able to create their own external backlit keyboard - what a shame.

do they know there is a demand?

 

[fhall1]

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.

 

[jake_westmorley]

Placed a preorder, order accepted, 5 minutes later, received an email that my order was canceled (no reason given).
I replied asking why it was canceled, but their Office365 SpamAsassin filter is blocking my emails to them.
Not quite ready for business, it seems...

 

[jakeowens]

The space grey keyboard that came with the iMac pro is really nice, but I actually find the prints on it really dark and it’s hard to see sometimes. I with they backlit it.

 

[satchmo]

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

 

[jamisonbaines]

no pictures of the space grey model?

 

[ThisBougieLife]

I’m glad to see this. I just wish Apple would come out with a backlit keyboard. It’s odd to me that they haven’t.

 

[theluggage]

I’m glad to see this. I just wish Apple would come out with a backlit keyboard. It’s odd to me that they haven’t.

It was clearly more important to reduce the key travel and decrease the typing angle - as demanded by absolutely nobody at all.

Not even clear why wireless is a must-have on a desktop keyboard, either... solve the problem with backlights sucking power, and it is jolly useful to have a couple of extra USB-A ports on the desk, esp. with an iMac where all the ports are tucked around the back.

Matias notes that too much blue-light exposure at night is known to negatively impact melatonin levels, which can shift the body's natural time clock

...quite possibly a "thing" in the case of that ultra-bright 27" rectangle that you're staring intently at, but methinks that if your keyboard backlight is disturbing your sleep then you're holding it wrong...

 

[justperry]

The keyboards cost $99 each and will be available in a wide range of international layouts (US, EU, and Asian)

Bold:
[Nitpicking]Redundant information, or do you think we get 2 or more for that price[/nitpicking]

Me no want wired keyboard, me want wireless.

 

[anthorumor]

Apple has a 'magic' keyboard that doesnt have backlit?
Shame.

What I want from them is a solar powered backlit wireless keyboard with OLED screen - now that's magical.

Where was I again.. oh yeah, this keyboard is what Apple should have released years ago.

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

Great, so my keyboard causes insomnia. What next!

 

[ThisBougieLife]

It was clearly more important to reduce the key travel and decrease the typing angle - as demanded by absolutely nobody at all.

Yeah that's part of the paradox of Apple, I guess. They made the iMac keyboard more like the laptop keyboard, but why? I get that they want to reduce the size and weight of a laptop to make it as portable as possible (even though I may not prefer the newer keyboard), but why do this with the iMac? And if you really want to make the iMac keyboard like the laptop keyboard, why not make it backlit? Why not add TouchID?

 

[MhzDoesMatter]

Yeah that's part of the paradox of Apple, I guess. They made the iMac keyboard more like the laptop keyboard, but why? I get that they want to reduce the size and weight of a laptop to make it as portable as possible (even though I may not prefer the newer keyboard), but why do this with the iMac? And if you really want to make the iMac keyboard like the laptop keyboard, why not make it backlit? Why not add TouchID?

Likely to capitalize on scale by sharing parts and processes between desktop and mobile versions. Touch ID for keyboards is still new and is already being replaced by Face ID. Not sure we were gonna get it anyway. (Secure Enclave separated from the secured device seems less.... secure.)

 

[ignatius345]

Yeah that's part of the paradox of Apple, I guess. They made the iMac keyboard more like the laptop keyboard, but why? I get that they want to reduce the size and weight of a laptop to make it as portable as possible (even though I may not prefer the newer keyboard), but why do this with the iMac? And if you really want to make the iMac keyboard like the laptop keyboard, why not make it backlit? Why not add TouchID?

Because they want a uniform typing experience across all their products. Apple is huge on consistency whenever possible. That's a good thing when it works because Apple hardware and UI conforms to certain design conventions and is more familiar as soon as you start using it.

In this case, though, it's just a "lowest common denominator". If the iMac had a wonderful keyboard with tactile response and decent key travel, people would start wondering why they put a trash keyboard in the MacBook just to save a millimeter on the thickness of the device. So everybody gets the same ****y butterfly-switch keyboard that feels like you're hammering your fingers on a piece of hard metal.

Fortunately, it's a very easy problem to solve on the iMac -- just plug in [nice keyboard of your choice] and never look back. On the laptop side... well, let's just say I'm still rocking a MacBook Air because it has somewhat real-er of a keyboard.

 

[Felix01]

How about some personal observations about the keys...feel, weight, travel distance, etc.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Yeah, the wired iMac keyboard feels amazing to me. I'd hope this were able to match the quality as closely as possible.

 

[theluggage]

Likely to capitalize on scale by sharing parts and processes between desktop and mobile versions

Because they want a uniform typing experience across all their products.

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...

A classic case of "It ain't broke: don't fix it!"

Fortunately, it's a very easy problem to solve on the iMac

True.

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...

 

[Marx55]

Wired whatever, whenever possible is GREAT. But in this case, bring hub with two USB 3.1 ports type C (reversible) Generation 2 (10 Gbps). And also wired mouse. Even better would be a Thunderbolt 3 keyboard with built-in hub with two Thunderbolt 3 ports (40 Gbps).

Wireless whatever is a waste of energy (environmentally obnoxious), inconvenient (recharge headache) and unresponsive sometimes.

 

[44267547]

It's really difficult to understand that apple hasn't been able to create their own external backlit keyboard - what a shame.

Agreed. And being that it's nicer to have in a darker environment, it's much easier than having to look closer at the keyboard to see specifically what function you're pressing. A backlit keyboard makes a huge difference.