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Magic keyboard

Tommy66

Tommy66

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 19, 2021
54
10
Ok, I'm just about to return this little gem to Apple. I was expecting a better keyboard experience but what I got was letters I can't see in dim light, a lock key that cannot be disabled or reprogrammed and no way to put this thing to sleep without having to type in my password (or use the drop down menu). And if I choose the lock key option I'll have to manually turn off my speakers. My old Macally had none of these problems and at less than half the price. Admittedly the keys are fun to use and super quiet and no cable is a plus but I'm not sure it's worth it. Apple would need to service the lithium battery if it goes belly-up too. Even my MX Master 3 mouse has a battery I can replace.

Anyone know of a quality plug and play keyboard for today's Mac M1 Mini?
 
You can put the Mac to sleep simply by hitting the Touch ID button quickly—don't press and hold, just press it quickly and walk away... the screen shows for a brief time then goes to sleep, no password typing or visiting the menubar.

If by "lock key" you're referring to locking your screen, just set a Hot Corner to do it in Mission Control or hit Control+Command+Q. You could also map that keyboard combination to any key(s) you want in the System Preferences. Essentially all locking your screen does is put the computer to sleep anyway, so I don't bother with it.

I don't know what speakers has to do with any of this, but maybe it's an issue with the speaker connection?

I've had Apple keyboards for a long time (one for nearly 10 years) and never had one die or need service.

All that being said, the Logitech MX Keys is an excellent keyboard and uses the same Logi Options+ driver as your MX mouse.
 
MacGizmo said:
You can put the Mac to sleep simply by hitting the Touch ID button quickly—don't press and hold, just press it quickly and walk away... the screen shows for a brief time then goes to sleep, no password typing or visiting the menubar.

If by "lock key" you're referring to locking your screen, just set a Hot Corner to do it in Mission Control or hit Control+Command+Q. You could also map that keyboard combination to any key(s) you want in the System Preferences. Essentially all locking your screen does is put the computer to sleep anyway, so I don't bother with it.

I don't know what speakers has to do with any of this, but maybe it's an issue with the speaker connection?

I've had Apple keyboards for a long time (one for nearly 10 years) and never had one die or need service.

All that being said, the Logitech MX Keys is an excellent keyboard and uses the same Logi Options+ driver as your MX mouse.
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Thanks for the response. Seems there were solutions to my gripes yet I'm still left with visibility so I've taken your advice and will be going for the Logitech MX Keys Mini (with a Bolt receiver and 4 years of Asurion insurance). The reviews are good and the back lighting will be so friendly to my eyes.
 
Tommy66 said:
Thanks for the response. Seems there were solutions to my gripes yet I'm still left with visibility so I've taken your advice and will be going for the Logitech MX Keys Mini (with a Bolt receiver and 4 years of Asurion insurance). The reviews are good and the back lighting will be so friendly to my eyes.
Click to expand...
Logitech pays insane amount of money to marketers and influencers so a lot of it is skewed especially for mac uses. It’s still a very decent product though but not as good as what reviews might stay
 
thomasparra said:
Logitech pays insane amount of money to marketers and influencers so a lot of it is skewed especially for mac uses. It’s still a very decent product though but not as good as what reviews might stay
Click to expand...
That may very well be true, but I've used the MX Keys (full sized version) and MX Pro Mouse for years and find them both to be excellent. The ONLY reason I currently use the Apple keyboard now is the built-in TouchID button, which I use extensively. I suppose I could get used to entering passwords manually again, but I'm spoiled.
 
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MacGizmo said:
That may very well be true, but I've used the MX Keys (full sized version) and MX Pro Mouse for years and find them both to be excellent. The ONLY reason I currently use the Apple keyboard now is the built-in TouchID button, which I use extensively. I suppose I could get used to entering passwords manually again, but I'm spoiled.
Click to expand...
If you like the MX keys better you should make the switch. The Touch ID is nice but it doesn’t make a big difference versus entering the password manually. I thought I would use the Touch ID way more when I purchased the keyboard but I barely use it. I can testify about this especially as I use both a m1 and intel (where touchid on the magic keyboard does not work) and honestly I don’t think the Touch ID is that important to have.
 
MacGizmo said:
That may very well be true, but I've used the MX Keys (full sized version) and MX Pro Mouse for years and find them both to be excellent. The ONLY reason I currently use the Apple keyboard now is the built-in TouchID button, which I use extensively. I suppose I could get used to entering passwords manually again, but I'm spoiled.
Click to expand...
On Amazon I asked (re: MX Keys Mini with no Touch ID) if I will need to use my password when I wake my computer up. The manufacturer said "you can assign the sleep function to any of the Fn Keys. Alternatively, you will have to enter the password to log back in again." I took this to mean I wouldn't need to use a password.
 
I phoned Logitech support and was informed that it was not possible to avoid entering a password after waking up the computer. I told her my $29 Macally didn't force me to enter a password and that this was crazy. This is unbelievable and a deal breaker.

From Dave at Logi support chat: "The MX Keys mini keys can't be programmed." Astonishing.
 
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Tommy66 said:
I phoned Logitech support and was informed that it was not possible to avoid entering a password after waking up the computer. I told her my $29 Macally didn't force me to enter a password and that this was crazy. This is unbelievable and a deal breaker.

From Dave at Logi support chat: "The MX Keys mini keys can't be programmed." Astonishing.
Click to expand...
Your MacAlly keyboard had nothing to do with this. The keyboard doesn’t control whatsoever how or when the computer locks when the screensaver comes on or sleep is enabled. You control this from your Mac’s system settings.
 
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xraydoc said:
Your MacAlly keyboard had nothing to do with this. The keyboard doesn’t control whatsoever how or when the computer locks when the screensaver comes on or sleep is enabled. You control this from your Mac’s system settings.
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That's odd since nothing was changed in my settings yet a password was required with one keyboard while not with the other.
 
Earlier this year I had an M1 iMac for a couple of weeks with the Bluetooth Magic keyboard and mouse. Several times the keyboard and/or mouse disconnected while I was using the computer and I had to wait, sometimes a long time, before they reconnected. Also, when the iMac would wake up in 1-2 seconds sometimes it would take 5-50 seconds for the keyboard and/or mouse to connect so the computer was unusable.
 
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I just got the Apple Magic Keyboard with the number pad and I kind of hate it!

I think it's the extra keys and number pad that's throwing me off as I don't get a sense of a keyboard center despite having the main keyboard portion centered in front of me, if that makes any sense. I find myself hitting the keys to the left or right of the keys that I want to hit, and then I hit the forward delete and arrow left keys instead return, control, etc.

I am coming from a regular wireless Magic Keyboard from my iMac and I am also used the keyboards on my MacBooks as well - which have the same layout as the external Magic Keyboard without the number pad. I am sure this is all muscle memory and I will get used to it. The truth is, I have no use for the number pad but I wanted the black option and for some strange reason, Apple doesn't make the non-number pad Magic Keyboard in black (and the matching matte black Magic Trackpad is so sleek and clean looking).

Also, for the price, this keyboard should be backlit and have a bolder font as the key print is very thin and light. Also, I find that there is less key travel versus the wireless Magic Keyboard from my 2015 iMac. Perhaps it's just my unit.

Lastly, now that I am stuck with all these keys, is there a way to map them so that they are useful? Specifically F13 through F19. I'd love to map them to show desktop, launch an app, minimize windows, etc. Kind of like what Logitech offers in their MX line.

I know that there aren't any baked in options to do this, so does anyone know of any good 3rd party apps that will allow you to map these unused function keys? I don't want to use the top row as standard function keys having to press function to use the regular useful keys (brightness, volume, etc.), I just want to map the unused function keys so that they are, well, functional.

By the way, unless I am going insane, I actually do not even see a dedicated 'Fn' key on this keyboard! Or is that the key with the globe on it? Isn't that supposed to be the emoji menu key?
 
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