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Spinning Fan

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 13, 2018
45
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I have been using a previous generation (without the touch ID) Magic Keyboard for about a year and a half.
Purchased in April of last year.

Last week, the Q W E R T keys suddenly stopped registering, and I brought it to an Apple store to see if it was broken or could be fixed.
The result seemed to be that there was a physical disconnection of something inside, and could not be fixed (or fixing it would end up costing more than a purchase of a new one..).

I wanted to see others' experiences on if 1.5 years was normal life expectancy under light use. I use it for about 2 days a week, have it covered and protected (and immobile) while I do not use it.

I am considering purchasing a new one, because I like the feel of the keyboard... but do not want to spend 100 USD on a keyboard every 18 months.

Would appreciate hearing experiences, and what everybody does to prolong it's life.
Thanks
 
I have been using a previous generation (without the touch ID) Magic Keyboard for about a year and a half.
Purchased in April of last year.

Last week, the Q W E R T keys suddenly stopped registering, and I brought it to an Apple store to see if it was broken or could be fixed.
The result seemed to be that there was a physical disconnection of something inside, and could not be fixed (or fixing it would end up costing more than a purchase of a new one..).

I wanted to see others' experiences on if 1.5 years was normal life expectancy under light use. I use it for about 2 days a week, have it covered and protected (and immobile) while I do not use it.

I am considering purchasing a new one, because I like the feel of the keyboard... but do not want to spend 100 USD on a keyboard every 18 months.

Would appreciate hearing experiences, and what everybody does to prolong it's life.
Thanks

Keep it in the original box and never open it. It will last forever, always be brand new.
(I use a Keychrone K8 mechanical keyboard, BTW)
 
I have been using a previous generation (without the touch ID) Magic Keyboard for about a year and a half.
Purchased in April of last year.

Last week, the Q W E R T keys suddenly stopped registering, and I brought it to an Apple store to see if it was broken or could be fixed.
Well, if you’re outside the USA (and haven’t spilled something on it or otherwise abused it) I’d take that further - certainly under EU or UK regulations a device like that would be expected to last more than 18 months of normal use.

I don’t think these keyboards are built for the ages though - I got a magic keyboard with my iMac in 2017 but it’s probably only had about 6 months worth of use because I’ve mainly been using my old ~2011 aluminium wired keyboard (*so* much better) - even so, some of the key labels are starting to wear off - pathetic. Unless you really, really want Touch ID (and have a Mac that uses it) I’d get a third-party keyboard - it might not be better but if you’re getting cheap, unrepairable tat you might as well pay cheap tat prices.

And, yes, sorry, put the Tragic Keyboard alongside the old Wired keyboard and it really does make it look like cheap tat. The only thing the “Magic” keyboard has going for it is that it isn’t the butterfly keyboard. Personally, I prefer the feel of the old one, which had about twice as much travel - even after giving the new a good, extended try, but even if you write that off as subjective, the new one feels horribly flimsy alongside it - heck, it weighs less than the old one despite including a battery (this is a desktop keyboard - heavier is better), is almost to rally flat on the desk (cool obviously trumps ergonomics) and with rubber feet in the 4 corners the middle sags down to touch the desk. That’s the non-touch ID one - I assume the new one is just the same.

Sadly, my old wired keyboard just choked on a nice hot cup of tea - and it ain’t perfect because I can’t open it up to dry out - and some of the key labels are a memory but that’s after a decade of one careless owner. Fortunately I have a spare.

Pity - the 2010 era Mac ”chiclet” keyboard wins my vote for best low-profile keyboard ever - the butterfly was an abomination and the current “scissor” keyboard really isn’t as good as the old one.
 
Thanks both. Yea, the keyboard was left stationary mostly for iPad connection use, but the original thought was to bring it with me when I travel .. Laptop replacement for times that don't require a full laptop. No abuse, no spillage, even had it in a case when not in use. Worked better than the *New* iPad Magic Keyboards, and was much lighter even when combined with the Magic Trackpad..

Although I think my case may have been an anomaly (especially based on the fact that I can't find too many blog posts etc. on Magic Keyboard not responding..), I just can't bring myself to buy another one if there are reliability issues that can't be fixed when I actually need to use the thing. The "throw away when done.. can't be fixed" approach just does not seem very eco-friendly either.

So, I've resigned myself to the fact that I am not going to be travelling much in the near future and dusted off a trusted old mechanical keyboard (HHKB) for now. Will think about mobile-yet-usable keyboards when the time comes. Thanks
 
The keyboards have always outlasted my iMacs (2008, 2012 versions). I currently have a 2017 iMac, and while it had a PSU problem, the keyboard is fine. I use my iMac daily.
 
I've never had a problem with the Magic Keyboard - the one I'm using now with my iMac was purchased in Feb 2018. Zero problems.

Eighteen months sounds too short. You might check local repair shops that are regularly repairing phones, iPads, and so forth. They can probably open up the keyboard and see if the connections simply need to be cleaned, or they may be able to repair. iFixit has a teardown guide (but not repair guide), but if they are showing how to take it apart then I'm sure that an experienced repair shop could give it a try. That would be my approach, before buying a new one.
 
A year and a half is definitely not normal. I would expect any keyboard to last at least a decade even with heavy use.
 
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Thanks all, Yes I am starting to think that the failure of my keyboard was a bit of an anomaly..

I will try opening the thing up to see if there are any spots that can be cleaned or re-soldered .. it will go to trash otherwise, so nothing to lose. Best start watching online videos to see how it is done.. ;)
 
I am still waiting for a new 27" iMac and my 2009 iMac including keyboard and magic mouse still work perfectly (the iMac is on it's third disk - now SSD). If nothing is announced before the end of the year I will go with a M1 Mini
 
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