Just got back from the Apple Store with my new Magic Keyboard. Bear in mind, I've been using the wireless aluminum keyboard for many, many years now, without the keypad of course, so this is just to give you a baseline of what I'm used to.
The packaging is pure Apple. There's a Lightning cable in the box, along with a small manual, and the keyboard itself is wrapped in plastic similarly to the "old" aluminum keyboard
Pairing with your computer is easy. I'm using a 2014 5K iMac running 10.11, and pairing was as simple as plugging in the keyboard with the Lightning cable, and my Mac told me my Magic Keyboard was ready for use.
The battery came 98% charged, and it got to 100% in just a few minutes.
Now, the interesting part/surprise: I noticed my Bluetooth-connected symbol wasn't on when I had the cable connected, and yep - suspicions confirmed. This is a 100% WIRED keyboard when the Lightning cable is connected to the computer. I was able to turn Bluetooth off on my iMac, and the keyboard kept working. Very nice!
When you disconnect the cable, there's a momentary pause while it switches to wireless mode.
Typing:
Now, this is the thing that's most important, and I have to tell you - I love it. I love it so much more than my old aluminum keyboard. I type faster, more accurately, and the key feel is great. The new scissor mechanism really does make a substantial difference, even more noticeably on larger keys like the space bar, tab key etc. Just a very consistent press no matter where you press. Yes, it's a shallower press than the aluminum keyboard, but it's so much better - for me - than that keyboard. I find it's increased my words per minute instantly. It makes me want a new MacBook even more, now...
Feel:
The Magic keyboard is flatter than the aluminum keyboard, and that's definitely taking a little getting used to, but apparently it's better for my wrists this way, so I'll believe Apple. I do like that the keyboard no longer slides around a little on my glass table, since it's flat, and has four rubber pieces to keep it in place, as opposed to the aluminum keyboard where its friction is gained mostly along the top edge where the batteries go in, despite the rubber bits on the bottom.
Overall, I'm in love so far. This really does feel like the ultimate Mac keyboard. Key feel is VERY consistent, and it's just a complete joy to type on so far. It's night and day better than - say, the Logitech K810/K811 in terms of key feel and build quality.
A couple of negatives:
1.) It's expensive. Cause... Apple.
2.) No backlit keys. This would have been nice, but... what can you do, right?
3.) Integrated battery. I know some have said that when the battery dies - the keyboard is done. And yes, that's true. But, if it gets 1 month per charge, and it's good for... say... 100 full charges (which I'm guessing is VERY much on the low side) - that's still 8.3 years, - longer than any keyboard I've ever kept. And of course, you can still use it wired if the battery dies. But bottom line is that the battery is not even remotely a concern of mine.
4.) For the OCD among you, the up and down arrow keys aren't perfectly aligned together, something I noticed in pictures from other reviews (it's pretty subtle). It won't bother many, but it's something I at least noticed.
One last thought:
I typed up these first impressions on the new keyboard, and I just put back the old one. Bear in mind, this is fewer than 20 minutes of use.. The old wireless aluminum keyboard feels clunky, outdated, the keys feel horrible - just yuck.
Yep, I'm sold on the new one. That didn't take long....
The packaging is pure Apple. There's a Lightning cable in the box, along with a small manual, and the keyboard itself is wrapped in plastic similarly to the "old" aluminum keyboard
Pairing with your computer is easy. I'm using a 2014 5K iMac running 10.11, and pairing was as simple as plugging in the keyboard with the Lightning cable, and my Mac told me my Magic Keyboard was ready for use.
The battery came 98% charged, and it got to 100% in just a few minutes.
Now, the interesting part/surprise: I noticed my Bluetooth-connected symbol wasn't on when I had the cable connected, and yep - suspicions confirmed. This is a 100% WIRED keyboard when the Lightning cable is connected to the computer. I was able to turn Bluetooth off on my iMac, and the keyboard kept working. Very nice!
When you disconnect the cable, there's a momentary pause while it switches to wireless mode.
Typing:
Now, this is the thing that's most important, and I have to tell you - I love it. I love it so much more than my old aluminum keyboard. I type faster, more accurately, and the key feel is great. The new scissor mechanism really does make a substantial difference, even more noticeably on larger keys like the space bar, tab key etc. Just a very consistent press no matter where you press. Yes, it's a shallower press than the aluminum keyboard, but it's so much better - for me - than that keyboard. I find it's increased my words per minute instantly. It makes me want a new MacBook even more, now...
Feel:
The Magic keyboard is flatter than the aluminum keyboard, and that's definitely taking a little getting used to, but apparently it's better for my wrists this way, so I'll believe Apple. I do like that the keyboard no longer slides around a little on my glass table, since it's flat, and has four rubber pieces to keep it in place, as opposed to the aluminum keyboard where its friction is gained mostly along the top edge where the batteries go in, despite the rubber bits on the bottom.
Overall, I'm in love so far. This really does feel like the ultimate Mac keyboard. Key feel is VERY consistent, and it's just a complete joy to type on so far. It's night and day better than - say, the Logitech K810/K811 in terms of key feel and build quality.
A couple of negatives:
1.) It's expensive. Cause... Apple.
2.) No backlit keys. This would have been nice, but... what can you do, right?
3.) Integrated battery. I know some have said that when the battery dies - the keyboard is done. And yes, that's true. But, if it gets 1 month per charge, and it's good for... say... 100 full charges (which I'm guessing is VERY much on the low side) - that's still 8.3 years, - longer than any keyboard I've ever kept. And of course, you can still use it wired if the battery dies. But bottom line is that the battery is not even remotely a concern of mine.
4.) For the OCD among you, the up and down arrow keys aren't perfectly aligned together, something I noticed in pictures from other reviews (it's pretty subtle). It won't bother many, but it's something I at least noticed.
One last thought:
I typed up these first impressions on the new keyboard, and I just put back the old one. Bear in mind, this is fewer than 20 minutes of use.. The old wireless aluminum keyboard feels clunky, outdated, the keys feel horrible - just yuck.
Yep, I'm sold on the new one. That didn't take long....
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