Do you miss an Apple wired keyboard option?

[Cox Orange]

Should Apple offer a wired Keyboard option again?

Some of you may remember that before the current Keyboard version there was a bluetooth Keyboard that had another generation preceding it, that was available as a wired option, too. There was a full lenght version, that is today available from several third manufacturers as similar clones (HP, Logitech, MS-Tech) with not so strict laylout or very close (by Matias) with apple layout.
There was also a short version (sort of TKL), for which there are no substitutes today. (You can find some with Windows Layout for the US and UK market, though, from China that kinda break when you touch it They are also missing the USB-hubs at the sides.)

Do you miss it?
Do you remember?
Would you buy one, if there was the option by Apple (or a good version from a third party manufacturer with Mac-layout)?
Would you find it useless, because you are all bluetooth anyway?

Here is a picture of the last original Apple wired keyboard, a short Version, for the German market. (Edit: Wikipedia says the wired short version A1242 was only available with the iMac)


USB hub on both sides:

Spoiler: My Opinion

I find Apple should offer a wired option, again (both versions, full and short).

Not only for those few old school people that are "too lazy" to go with the new technology, as some might say in a harsh way. (I actually think there are a lot who would buy one.). More important is the environmental aspect that Apple could advertise. You do not need batteries. For me a big plus over Blutooth stuff. You can guess by now, that I am using wired stuff

Also, you got 2 USB hubs, to plug the mouse into. I rarely used it for USB-flash thumb drives (sticks as we call them here), because I am so old, that I know the keyboards with USB hub from the iMac G3 era, that were unreliable with USB flash media. Of course today in a new version you would expect USB3 ports, which probably increases costs(?), but I would even be happy with USB2, so that I can connect a mouse to it at least. Well...

 

[elf69]

I personally prefer wired keyboards.

I have bought a few full width clear base models with a usb port either side of the wire on rear of keyboard.

I'd like a slim alloy wired one though.

 

[Cox Orange]

I have bought a few full width clear base models with a usb port either side of the wire on rear of keyboard.

Would you mind naming which make and models some of these clear ones were?

 

[elf69]

Apple A1048

 

[Fishrrman]

I haven't used an Apple-labeled keyboard since the ADB days, wired or not.
Having said that, I don't think we'll see a wired keyboard from Apple again.

If you "want wired" (as I do), 3rd-party is "the better way to go" in any case.

 

[elf69]

I like the apple keyboard layout which few 3rd parties adhere to.

I like my old clear base model with slight embankment on the keys.
I just got wipe it over now and then as white never stays white in continuous use.

 

[Juicy Box]

Do you remember?

It wasn't that long ago....

As for Apple keyboards, when I bought my Late 2012 iMac at the end of 2012, the standard was a wireless aluminum keyboard, I think the small one.

I chose an option for a full sized wired keyboard, which didn't cost any more or less.

When I started using it, I did not like the feel of it. The key presses didn't feel right. Also, my fingers would get lost in the keys, if there is such a thing, and I had to constantly look down at where I was pressing.

I ended up giving the keyboard to my children that was using my old Mac Pro 1,1. I used the older Apple keyboard with the white and clear plastic body and the white keys.

The older one is still my favorite.

 

[campyguy]

Other: I already own two, and just bought another (even though it cost me $4k to get the iMP to attach it to...). The two that I own are the older wired Extended Keyboard, attached to my 2012 Mini Server. Moving on, the "second one" and the "new one" (included with my iMP) are the Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad - yes, it's wireless but it works perfectly when attached via its USB>Lightning cable (it's not just a charging cable).

Both the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and Magic Trackpad 2 connect either wirelessly or wired. I have BT turned off on my iMP and am using both of them plus a Wacom Intuos Pro M via their wired connections. I use a white/aluminum Magic Trackpad 2 and Logitech K811 with my rMBP that travels with me, the trackpad works perfectly in wired mode.

 

[kschendel]

I'm still using the long version wired Apple keyboards that came with the iMac and Mac Pro (both 2009). The MP keyboard in particular has survived several hours per day of typing. I probably have a short version around somewhere but I don't prefer it.

I like wired keyboards; if I'm going to slouch with something it will be the laptop, not a keyboard. I've adapted to enough keyboards over the last 40+ years that I'm not worried about my next one.

 

[Dominat0r]

I would really like a moderately priced mechanical MAC layout keyboard. I know we can rebind the keys for whatever keyboard, but I want the Mac layout keys. for F1-F12 keys.

I do not mind the chicklet keyboards really. I like the older version better than the newer version. The new version, I find myself pushing the right arrow key when pushing the right shift button.

 

[richardkim76287]

I love using wireless keyboard instead of wired one.

 

[Hater]

I would really like a moderately priced mechanical MAC layout keyboard. I know we can rebind the keys for whatever keyboard, but I want the Mac layout keys. for F1-F12 keys.

I do not mind the chicklet keyboards really. I like the older version better than the newer version. The new version, I find myself pushing the right arrow key when pushing the right shift button.

DAS do them, it's what I used to use.

No, I don't care for an Apple wired keyboard, as wired or not, every Apple keyboard that's come bundled with computers i've had in the past have ended up in the bin.

 

[Roman78]

I like wireless when I'm on the couch and do stuff on the TV. But apple does not have a Keyboard whit buildin touchpad, so.. i use another brand.

On the Desktop I prefer wired. Both keyboard and mouse. And i don't like the new Alu Apple keyboard whit the small laptop-like buttons. Well i have the wireless and the wired full version of that Alu keyboard. Don't use those much. Mostly i use the older white keyboard. Got 2 wired white and one wireless one.

Does a full version wireless ALU exist from Apple? Full is important for lots of people, including me.

 

[Cox Orange]

Apple A1048

Oh my mistake sorry. My brain wasn't that awake, I thought you were talking about basic generic clear models of third party manufacturers

Of course I know the "open top" clear and white keyboard. Interestingly I often came across recommendations to put it in the dish washer from time to time. I don't know of people who did this though and I know one person, who spilled stuff over theirs and it wouldn't work anymore, I wonder how it should survive a dish washer then...

One fun fact:
In German Mac forums for the open top white and clear keyboard (Apple A1048) the nickname "Krümelschublade" is widely used. "Krümel" is the debris of a cookie and "Schublade" is a drawer

 

[Cox Orange]

Other: I already own two, and just bought another (even though it cost me $4k to get the iMP to attach it to...). The two that I own are the older wired Extended Keyboard, attached to my 2012 Mini Server. Moving on, the "second one" and the "new one" (included with my iMP) are the Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad - yes, it's wireless but it works perfectly when attached via its USB>Lightning cable (it's not just a charging cable).

Both the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and Magic Trackpad 2 connect either wirelessly or wired. I have BT turned off on my iMP and am using both of them plus a Wacom Intuos Pro M via their wired connections. I use a white/aluminum Magic Trackpad 2 and Logitech K811 with my rMBP that travels with me, the trackpad works perfectly in wired mode.

Doesn't this hurt the battery inside, when you constantly have the charging wire attached?

 

[campyguy]

Doesn't this hurt the battery inside, when you constantly have the charging wire attached?

LI batteries aren't affected by leaving them on a charger, in my experience and what I've read over the years - so IOW, no, with a caveat. The caveat: some battery-powered devices aren't "smart", such as my ATTWS Netgear Nighthawk LTE MHS - when it's fully charged the device prompts to have the charger removed; it's also in the manual to not leave the device on a charger. Every Apple device with a battery that I've owned in the past 5-odd years is "smart" - either drawing power from a power source or the battery. I've had zero issues with any of my Apple devices over the years or my LI battery-powered tools. My VZW iPhone 6 was checked at an Apple Store recently, the Genius asked me if I'd had the battery replaced as the "battery health" was showing as 96% - it's on a charger 100% of the time when it's not being used, and I bought it new. My position is use it as you see fit, and RTFM (that's Read The Frickin' Manual...). One of my Festool drills is about 10 years old and it runs as well as my new Festool CSX - regular use, put the battery on a charger when you're done. Cheers!

 

[Cox Orange]

LI batteries aren't affected by leaving them on a charger, in my experience and what I've read over the years - so IOW, no, with a caveat. The caveat: some battery-powered devices aren't "smart", such as my ATTWS Netgear Nighthawk LTE MHS - when it's fully charged the device prompts to have the charger removed; it's also in the manual to not leave the device on a charger. Every Apple device with a battery that I've owned in the past 5-odd years is "smart" - either drawing power from a power source or the battery. I've had zero issues with any of my Apple devices over the years or my LI battery-powered tools. My VZW iPhone 6 was checked at an Apple Store recently, the Genius asked me if I'd had the battery replaced as the "battery health" was showing as 96% - it's on a charger 100% of the time when it's not being used, and I bought it new. My position is use it as you see fit, and RTFM (that's Read The Frickin' Manual...). One of my Festool drills is about 10 years old and it runs as well as my new Festool CSX - regular use, put the battery on a charger when you're done. Cheers!

Do you know compatibility with older Macs? It says 10.12 minimum and I don't want to Upgrade. Probably only few keys won't work, but there is the price anyway, that would hold me back 85,-EUR without shipping, this 100,-USD. 119,-EUR directly from Apple. This and I am suspicious if I will like the even shorter travel of the keys.

 

[campyguy]

Do you know compatibility with older Macs? It says 10.12 minimum and I don't want to Upgrade. Probably only few keys won't work, but there is the price anyway, that would hold me back 85,-EUR without shipping, this 100,-USD. 119,-EUR directly from Apple. This and I am suspicious if I will like the even shorter travel of the keys.

I don't own any Macs with older than HS installed except for a few work Macs that have El Cap installed (the 4 iMPs in my offices are loaded with HS, obviously ). What I can offer, however, is that I have El Cap and Sierra VMs on my iMP and can offer feedback on the Keyboard's interaction with the El Cap VM...

Under the Keyboard Pref Pane's Keyboard section:

• In BT mode, the second check option "Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" is not present, and the top row of keys do not function - all other keys work as expected.
• In wired mode, the second check option "Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" is present, and the top row of keys do function - all other keys work as expected.

As far as I can tell, the macOS "requirement" seems to be IMO related to BT compatibility. What I haven't tried or tested is how the Magic Keyboard works with a BT 4 dongle attached, I use a few different models from StarTech depending on the needs that I have at the time. StarTech's dongles have several functions built in that all newer Macs don't have, including EDR (which all of my peripherals include, including my Apple peripherals - go figure?). Keep in mind that Apple's "BT 4" on their Macs is not a full-featured - I looked up the Broadcom chipsets in the laptops we use, and there are several features missing (including EDR). I also do not know whether enabling BT hybrid compatibility mode (which is off in both WinOS and macOS by default and has to be enabled) would address/fix the missing BT features on OSes older than Sierra.

Also, one of my techs - she has her own office (with a door!) and she uses a wired Das Keyboard with Cherry Red switches (not the knockoff Reds pretty much everywhere since the patents expired) with the iMac in her office - the feel reminds me of the IBM and Apple keyboards I used back in the 90s, but it's a bit noisy IMO (hence, the door to her office...). Cheers.

 

[Cox Orange]

Thank you for all the info, @campyguy !

----------------
Looking at the survey results... I am surprised so many miss the wired full version A1243, since there are multiple quality copies of it, most notably the matias.ca that has all keys working like the original Mac keyboard. http://matias.ca/products/ (they even have the A1048 as a user in another thread pointed out to me)

 

[virtualking]

For me wireless is a better option but for someone who like wired only you should go for third party options

 

[flyinmac]

As I am always scrambling to find replacement batteries at the most inopportune times, I prefer devices that don’t require batter or charging unless mobility is its primary purpose.

Keyboards don’t fall into a category where I am frequently going somewhere with it.

 

[DCBassman]

I don't use Apple keyboards of any sort because of the imposed US layout. Makes it hard to switch between Mac and PC when there are inconsistencies like this. (UK user). The @ symbol is the big headache.

 

[xraydoc]

Holy five year old thread, Batman!

 

[Juicy Box]

Holy five year old thread, Batman!

The original post is still relevant, the same for the recent post from @DCBassman, so why not?

As for my post from 5 years go, my opinion hasn't changed, and I still like the older, full-sized Apple Keyboards with the clear, plastic body and white, keys. I really dislike how Apple's modern keyboard feel.

I just bought another old, plastic one on eBay a few days ago:

It wasn't that long ago....

As for Apple keyboards, when I bought my Late 2012 iMac at the end of 2012, the standard was a wireless aluminum keyboard, I think the small one.

I chose an option for a full sized wired keyboard, which didn't cost any more or less.

When I started using it, I did not like the feel of it. The key presses didn't feel right. Also, my fingers would get lost in the keys, if there is such a thing, and I had to constantly look down at where I was pressing.

I ended up giving the keyboard to my children that was using my old Mac Pro 1,1. I used the older Apple keyboard with the white and clear plastic body and the white keys.
View attachment 762730



The older one is still my favorite.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Yes, this was absolutely my most favorite keyboard of all time... I have several stashed away, and only use the newer wireless one for TouchID.

My wife even uses one on her Dell laptop... perfect feel, key travel is perfect...