This is exactly how I type - and the only way I can type now that I've ruined my wrists with carpel tunnel. Keyboard at edge of desk and wrists floating. It was the only way I could type really fast back in the day too.
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I feel like a clown for buying the Touch ID magic keyboard
- Thread starter srgz
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It took me 3-4 months to adjust to my 14" MBP's keyboard (same switches as the Magic Keyboard IIRC) from my ThinkPad X220. For a long time I thought the MBP's keyboard was too stiff and made my fingers sore, but it was just the muscle memory from 4-5 years on a keyboard with slightly deeper travel (i.e. I was typing too hard). It's much better now that I've had time to adapt: now my X220 feels a little weird to type on!
Also, as happy as I've been with my Filco mechanical keyboard (MX Browns) for the past 9 years, I've also always really enjoyed typing on Apple's desktop scissor-switch keyboards. There's something really satisfying about the travel and feedback.
The X220 had an exceptionally good keyboard though. It was near perfect at the time.
That's interesting and seems true in my case as well - however I achieved the same posture with a different setup. I don't place my keyboard at the edge of the desk, but I have my (standing) desk level set very low (650mm) and with my chair pull 'as much into the desk' as possible. That way I can lean my back on the chair, let my shoulders be completely relaxed, with no stress points on the wrist and palm. Alternatively, I place the keyboard on my lap, lean back with my back fully supported, and my head level and looking straight ahead.
100%. Muscle memory aside I still think the X220 has the better keyboard, and is probably my favourite of all time. That's one of the reasons I held on to it for so long! Since there's no modern option for a light and portable laptop with a good non-chiclet keyboard though*, I'm at least happy that the 14" MBP's keyboard has firm, relatively tactile, and non-wiggly keys.
*The closest I've found is the T480 retrofitted with the keyboard from the 25th anniversary ThinkPad, which is totally unsupported by Lenovo. Even the highest spec T480 offered worse single-core and multi-core than my 2013 iMac's i7, though, and the 14" MBP out-benches it by nearly a factor of two (not to mention having much less fiddly macOS compatibility). For my scientific and data processing workloads, that's easily worth a worse keyboard.
Keychron Q1 (Gateron Pro Brown) + Apple Watch.
A double tap of the Apple Watch’s side button will do same thing as the TouchID when paired properly in macOS.
A double tap of the Apple Watch’s side button will do same thing as the TouchID when paired properly in macOS.
I haven’t tried that in a while but before I got the external TouchId keyboard I tried using my AW. It wasn’t very reliable. And I would get annoying notifications whenever I walked by my computer. I turned off that feature and replaced it with a completely reliable TouchId.
Nope. The 2015- Magic Keyboard and 2017 Magic Keyboard with numeric keypad are not the same as the 2007-2015 keyboard designs. Apple (fortunately) didn't go with the "butterfly" mechanism for these but they did change the scissor mechanism design to one with significantly less travel and slightly larger keys (and reduced the angle of the keyboard, even c.f. the wired one with no batteries) - as well as a more glossy, sharper-edged material for the keys.
I've got a couple of the old style (a wired keyboard with numeric pad and the smaller wireless one with AA batteries, not to mention old MacBooks that used the same keys) and a 2017 Magic Keyboard with number pad and there really is no mistaking them. The Magic Keyboard is OK but I find the old style ones far nicer to use.
Some people never liked the chiclet keyboards because they were die-hard full travel fans - which is fine - but the O/G chiclet keyboards were the nicest keyboards I've ever used and I really don't remember anybody saying "please, Apple, make the travel even less and change the size of the keys". The best thing you can say about the new keyboards is that they're better than the dreaded butterfly keyboard...
Except there is no solution if the problem is that you want to use touch ID (...know what would be one possible solution? FaceID on the Studio Display...)
I agree that the older battery based Apple Wireless keyboards had a better feel but I don’t find the new one to be bad at all. I type very fast and accurately on it.
Edit: And I’ll add that I could use the smaller 10-keyless style because it had the inverted-T cursor keys. The new TouchId compact 10-keyless keyboards have the awful half-size cursor keys requiring me to buy the version with the keypad and inverted-T cursor keys.
Keyboards, mice, trackpads will always be subjective. Part of the problem comes when Apple integrates them too tightly - like incorporating TouchID in the keyboard - so people can't choose alternatives. Plus, of course, you have to "tightly integrate" the keyboard in a laptop. What makes this worse is when Apple chooses extreme "love/hate" designs for their keyboards and mice - of which both the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard are possibly examples (...the Butterfly keyboard was even worse). The O/G chiclet keyboard design was a winner, and it's huge shame that they "improved" it.
Did you saw the new Client? Logitech Options+ ?
Logitech’s Option+ software adds native M1 support
Logitech's Options+ software adds full native M1 Mac support
In what will surely be welcome news for folks who like to use the company's peripherals with their Macs, Logitech said it's rolling out full native M1
www.cultofmac.com
Excellent, just installed it for my Master Keys and MX Master 3. I like the interface a lot.Did you saw the new Client? Logitech Options+ ?
Logitech’s Option+ software adds native M1 support
Logitech's Options+ software adds full native M1 Mac support
In what will surely be welcome news for folks who like to use the company's peripherals with their Macs, Logitech said it's rolling out full native M1www.cultofmac.com
Same here. The keyboard is as good as, if not better than, my old Magic Keyboard, and the mouse is amazing. I thought it was going to be too big and clunky for me at first, but that's because I was used to having to do too much physically with the mouse. As a heavy user of Spaces, I LOVE having those little bonus side buttons mapped to those.
I've always felt like I type fastest on Apple keyboards (other than those awful butterfly ones that caused me endless typos). They just feel faster and smoother. Logitech is probably the closest I've ever come to their same quality.
I have a M1 MAX that I use in clamshell mode with two external monitors most of the time. I have the Touch ID magic keyboard and I am very happy with it. The Touch ID has been a time saver. Granted - I don't have to do much typing.
Though it has mac function keys, it still doesn't reflect the mac layout: The main issue with any non-apple keyboard is that they place the right edge of the left-cmd key to the left of the "x" (assuming QWERTY layout), whereas if you look at an apple keyboard the right edge of left-cmd is aligned with right edge of "x". This is important for any keyshortcuts that involve cmd or option, as it allows you to use it with your thumb curled and without straining. The closest I've gotten is the MS Sculpt which with remapped keys is not too bad in terms of positioning. Plus the angle of the keyboard is great ergonomically. Matias also makes some decent looking keyboards but they don't appear to be very reliable based on online reports.
Cute Momo btw.
Personally I love the flat Apple keyboards. Sometimes I have to use PC keyboards (not even the really thick kind) at work and it's really tiring, plus a comedy of typos. But if one prefers the chunky style but wants touch ID - why not just connect both but leave the touch ID one out of the way where it can be used just for touch ID? Seems simpler than trying to take it apart and retains value if you ever want to sell it. I accidentally had two mice connected for months (one wireless plus a wired one plugged in behind the mac) and there were no issues - the second one just sat there unused behind the Mac.
Isn't it strange how people see things differently. I use the current gen Magic Keyboard on my Mac, the internal keyboard on my MBA and an old Model M style buckling spring keyboard on my work PC.
I find them all equally comfortable and I enjoy using both kinds. I love the loud clicking and the feeling of the mechanical keyboard and I enjoy using the flat, quiet keyboard with little travel on my Mac. I can use them both for hours and hours on end with no problems at all.
It would seem wrong to swap them round though, that would be unnatural
I find them all equally comfortable and I enjoy using both kinds. I love the loud clicking and the feeling of the mechanical keyboard and I enjoy using the flat, quiet keyboard with little travel on my Mac. I can use them both for hours and hours on end with no problems at all.
It would seem wrong to swap them round though, that would be unnatural
Could not agree more, @Feek. I am using an Apple Extended Keyboard II at my desk (just LOVE typing on it, even though the sound is not appreciated by my better half) and the MacBook Pro mid 2012 while traveling.
Have been thinking alternatives to the AEK but it is very difficult to find something that is mechanical but rather quiet, and fully compatible with a Mac. I have been looking at Keychron but did not yet find an option with Swiss keyboard layout.
Have been thinking alternatives to the AEK but it is very difficult to find something that is mechanical but rather quiet, and fully compatible with a Mac. I have been looking at Keychron but did not yet find an option with Swiss keyboard layout.
Simply a matter of personal preference, not people never experiencing ergonomic keyboards... While I couldn't stand the magic mouse, I love my magic keyboard & trackpad. Had the older magic keyboard before getting the new one with touch ID, half for touch ID and half to keepa keyboard w/ old computer. I type very fast from muscle memory, they tried to force the hand positions in school and it slowed me down. With the flat keyboard it feels like it takes less energy and I don't have the problem of accidentally hitting keys. And as someone irrationally annoyed by small sounds, the louder sound of clicking does get to me. Never had any pain whatsoever and I promise I am on my computer.. almost always.
My complaint is that only new iMac users get the purple version
My complaint is that only new iMac users get the purple version
I bought the new touch-id keyboard shortly after I got my Mac Studio and Studio Display.
I had a perfectly fine earlier Apple keyboard earlier, together with a trackpad, which I also replaced later. Also much smoother.
But I gave in on the keyboard earlier, I even have touch-id on my 2018 MBA, so why not on the new Studio?
Very pleased with it, it’s used quite a lot.
Nicer to type on the new keyboard too, not complaining.
We can always complain at Apple’s prices, but we have gone through that…..
And sure, I was thinking of why there’s was no touch-ID alone device to buy. Would’ve been nice, saved many older AND newer keyboards from abandonment.
I had a perfectly fine earlier Apple keyboard earlier, together with a trackpad, which I also replaced later. Also much smoother.
But I gave in on the keyboard earlier, I even have touch-id on my 2018 MBA, so why not on the new Studio?
Very pleased with it, it’s used quite a lot.
Nicer to type on the new keyboard too, not complaining.
We can always complain at Apple’s prices, but we have gone through that…..
And sure, I was thinking of why there’s was no touch-ID alone device to buy. Would’ve been nice, saved many older AND newer keyboards from abandonment.
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I find I can type on Apple’s keyboards for longer periods of time than I can on mechanical keyboards. A few years ago I had a really bad flare up of carpel tunnel from a Cherry Brown switch keyboard after a week of nearly all day and all night work (should have gone red?). While I can’t type as smoothly or as fast as a mechanical keyboard I can type for long periods of time without pain on the Apple keyboards. Also, I can’t use mechanical keyboards on voice calls anymore without annoying everyone on the call.
I like the Touch ID because I can use my MBP in clamshell mode and have Touch ID whenever I want. I got a USB mic so I can do clamshell mode without greatly impacting the battery life of my AirPods.
Apples Keyboards - I tend to go through them at a rate of about one a year or two. (I type a lot and often) - usually the keys start wearing off on the left side of the keyboard after 3-4 months and after which the keyboard really starts to break in.
I have both an Intel MBP and an M1 MBP - my non-touch ID Apple keyboard and touch-id Apple keyboard work on both interchangeably (for me).
I like the Touch ID because I can use my MBP in clamshell mode and have Touch ID whenever I want. I got a USB mic so I can do clamshell mode without greatly impacting the battery life of my AirPods.
Apples Keyboards - I tend to go through them at a rate of about one a year or two. (I type a lot and often) - usually the keys start wearing off on the left side of the keyboard after 3-4 months and after which the keyboard really starts to break in.
I have both an Intel MBP and an M1 MBP - my non-touch ID Apple keyboard and touch-id Apple keyboard work on both interchangeably (for me).
I would pay so much money for an MX Keys with Touch ID.
The keyboards in the MBPs are SO MUCH BETTER than the Magic Keyboard, which makes my aged knuckles ache after like five minutes of typing. If they would simply make that available in an external keyboard, it would be a downright recommendable purchase.
The keyboards in the MBPs are SO MUCH BETTER than the Magic Keyboard, which makes my aged knuckles ache after like five minutes of typing. If they would simply make that available in an external keyboard, it would be a downright recommendable purchase.
I think that keyboards are subjective and very much a matter of what you become used to. For me, there is a 'cost' to switching and a lengthy period of adaptation, so once I get used to a certain keyboard, it's pretty hard for me to switch to another.
While there are bad keyboards, there aren't any universally accepted "good" keyboards. It's all about personal preference.
The Magic keyboard isn't a bad keyboard by any measure. It's not to everyone's taste and it took me a few weeks before I felt completely comfortable. Now I find it more relaxing than other keyboards I have used. I love the low profile and find that I go quicker as a result. TouchID is necessary because I use my laptop in clamshell mode when at my desk (90% of my computing time).
While there are bad keyboards, there aren't any universally accepted "good" keyboards. It's all about personal preference.
The Magic keyboard isn't a bad keyboard by any measure. It's not to everyone's taste and it took me a few weeks before I felt completely comfortable. Now I find it more relaxing than other keyboards I have used. I love the low profile and find that I go quicker as a result. TouchID is necessary because I use my laptop in clamshell mode when at my desk (90% of my computing time).