Is the iMac Pro Keyboard the MacBook Pro disaster?

[brookter1]

I've just bought a new iMac and it came with the Magic Keyboard. I tried it for a while (because it was new, of course...) but gave up after an hour or so -- it's was really uncomfortable. So I've gone back to the Kinesis Advantage — which to be fair I originally bought because the previous version of the iMac keyboard did my RSI no good at all.. Reminded me why I bought the Kinesis in the first place.

In fact, the Magic Keyboard was considerably less comfortable to type on than my MacBook 12" -- it's probably something to do with the different body posture you adopt with a laptop and a desktop as much as anything. I can type for hours on the MacBook with no problems -- half an hour on the Magic Keyboard and my wrists were starting to ache.

 

[theluggage]

All the desktop keyboards are still scissor switches (not the butterfly that's in the laptops now) and are exceptionally reliable.

but so far apple is not using that new design on the Magic Keyboard

...they are still scissor mechanisms but they are still not the same as the 'classic' mac chiclet keyboard in 2015 MBP and the Apple aluminium keyboard. They have noticeably shorter travel (and you can see from the pictures that they are lower profile). The slope of the Magic Keyboard is also shallower than the old Aluminium external keyboards.

While (unlike the MBP butterfly keyboards) there is no reason to expect mechanical problems, they haven't yet faced the test of time the way the old design has.

I can type for hours on the MacBook with no problems -- half an hour on the Magic Keyboard and my wrists were starting to ache.

That was my experience c.f. the old Aluminium keyboard w/numeric pad.

Keyboards are subjective and people's mileage may vary as to whether you like the new design, but everybody should bear in mind that it is a new design, even though it is still technically a "scissor" mechanism.

 

[turbineseaplane]

...they are still scissor mechanisms but they are still not the same as the 'classic' mac chiclet keyboard in 2015 MBP and the Apple aluminium keyboard.

That part is true - Sorry I misunderstood what you're comparing.

While (unlike the MBP butterfly keyboards) there is no reason to expect mechanical problems, they haven't yet faced the test of time the way the old design has.

Also true - But I have to say that I have *abused* 3 different Magic Keyboards now for over 2 years and they are totally bulletproof from my experience.

The key is that they are proven scissor switches and the case clearance for the keys is more than adequate. Those 2 things are the problems with the butterfly keyboards so, barring those issues, I don't see any reason to surmise that the Magic Keyboards won't last a long time.

If you think about it - There are loads of Magic Keyboards in the wild and have been for over 2 years now and we have essentially no reports at all of any issues similar to the butterfly switches.
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Personally, I'd opt for a non-chicklet mechanical keyboard myself

What's your board of choice?

I'm somewhat ironically trying out another Matias Ergo Pro today. It will be my first 2017 Ergo Pro. I had 2 of them in the past but they had immense quality control and longevity issues, which really was a bummer as I very much liked them otherwise.