Satechi Launches New Wired and Wireless Aluminum Keyboards Designed for iMac and iMac Pro

[theluggage]

But you could use a wireless Apple keyboard in a wired fashion by simply keeping it plugged in all the time.

Then you have a keyboard that costs as much as a wireless keyboard, has the same latency as a wireless keyboard, the same susceptibility to interference as wireless, the same possible problems with selecting boot options before the keyboard has connected etc. but still needs a wire. Worst of both worlds!

Main obvious criticism is that the Satechi doesn't have a USB hub like the old Apple wired KB: a couple of USB ports for flash sticks and mouse dongles is really useful on an iMac.

Not for me because I'm hoarding a spare Apple wired w/numeric pad - plus doesn't look like Satechi are offering a British layout version.

Don't really see much of an advantage to these keyboards over stock.

Er - less than half the price? I'd also want to feel one - although the current Magic Keyboards still have scissor keys, they have reduced travel c.f. the old ones, have a shallower angle and feel a bit on the flimsy side - they somehow manage to be lighter than the old model despite including a battery...

 

[pbaker103]

Very tempting at this price. If only it had backlit keys and was windows compatible so I wouldn't have to switch keyboards when I use my work PC...

 

[tardegrade]

The rounded scalop on the black keys, reminds me of my old Sinclair QL. I'm feeling quite nostalgic! lol

 

[DeepIn2U]

If you mean using an external keyboard in Clamshell mode I use a Microsoft Sculpt keyboard like that all the time. However, you are correct in that it lacks backlighting.

Just to be clear the MS sculpt has thre ability to power ON the MBP/MB when it’s off? I’ve not seen any key on any version that has that.

Wireless keyboard to power a MBP? I would like to see it's battery

Well there is a CMOS battery that BIOS or UEFI uses to control the date/time clock and route the correct amount of power to the motherboard and seeps minimal power when the laptop is in sleep mode yet updates mail in the background or when you insert the power via USB-C right? Doesn’t seem to affect laptop battery life and the external keyboard could just use a specific key and maybe even use the W1/W2 chip to achieve this.

 

[gsmornot]

What do you guys need backlight for?

 

[KaliYoni]

It's good Satechi adds an = key to the number pad (it's the last key on the upper right side in the product pictures) unlike most keyboard makers supposedly producing "Made For Mac" products...but the key isn't in the same position as on Apple keyboards. I'm not a Windows person–nor a hunt-and-peck typist–so I'm most accustomed to and prefer Apple's number pad layout.
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What do you guys need backlight for?

I don't know if Satechi's products have this problem but a lot of keyboards with black keys-white printing suffer fading and grime issues. Backlighting helps ensure keycap printing is always legible.

Also, people who work with graphics or are gamers often prefer dark environments for doing their thing. It's hard to hit keys you can't see!

 

[Bustycat]

Apple offers a Bluetooth Magic Keyboard with a Keypad: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...ith-numeric-keypad-us-english-silver?fnode=56

And 70 USD more for a space gray one.

 

[JessicaRose304]

I like the rose gold, would definitely buy for my iMac if there was a matching mouse

 

[bluespark]

I like the new affiliate link disclaimer. It makes me want to click it instead of end running the link like I’d do when the association was undisclosed.

I agree. I'm more likely to click through a link when the connection is disclosed than I am if it isn't.

 

[Candykane75]

BT Sucks because waiting sucks .
Last week I was helping some one with there new imac... WTF I realized why I have a wired keyboard and mouse .. and the BT is collecting dust, Waiting every F time to connect again via Blue tooth just sucks.
love the fact people are making wired stuff. apple BT sucks

Why in gods name do we need Backlight? most of us can type blind ...

 

[jonnysods]

The price is great but I love the feel of the new keyboards.

 

[anson42]

BT Sucks because waiting sucks .
Last week I was helping some one with there new imac... WTF I realized why I have a wired keyboard and mouse .. and the BT is collecting dust, Waiting every F time to connect again via Blue tooth just sucks.
love the fact people are making wired stuff. apple BT sucks

I've been using Apple BT keyboards exclusively since the first magic keyboard and only BT trackpads (no mice) almost as long. Been through two generations now with no complaints from me. Thought I'd offer up a favorable view of BT in contrast to yours.

 

[LoadStar]

Then you have a keyboard that costs as much as a wireless keyboard, has the same latency as a wireless keyboard, the same susceptibility to interference as wireless, the same possible problems with selecting boot options before the keyboard has connected etc. but still needs a wire. Worst of both worlds!

I believe that the Apple wireless extended keyboard switches over to communicate exclusively over USB when it is plugged in via the cable.

That said, what you can't do with a wireless keyboard, even one using the cable, is secure them properly, particularly in a lab or classroom. That's one reason Apple still offers the wired extended keyboards to education (when bundled into a new system). There are a lot of people still looking to get a wired keyboard for just that reason, to secure the keyboard via the cable.

 

[Gameboy70]

Some key words: "scissor switch keys" vs "butterfly keys"

Maybe Satechi is forecasting the near-term future, reading even fan whine about the butterfly mechanism, feel, etc and putting some alternative options on the market. Choices are good, no?

Scissor switch keys don't have to be licensed from Apple, and there's less incentive to make a low-travel external keyboard. Apple's butterfly keyboard patent makes it clear that they were primarily trying to enable thinner laptop designs. I'd be shocked to see anyone make a third-party butterfly keyboard.

 

[smirking]

These aren’t real Mac layout keyboards, there just rebadged PC ones.

Who cares? They're just keyboards. If they function the same, what's the difference? Everything having to be special Mac editions just drives up the costs. Besides that, I'm typing on a MBP keyboard that has 4 keys on the left side of the spacebar.

The only thing I value about Mac specific keyboards is that they usually have a the left command key placed further toward the right so they're more comfortable to hold down with your left thumb. When I'm dealing with RSI flare ups, it's for this reason alone that I often try to find Mac specific keyboards. Other times, I'm fine with standard PC layouts.
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Some key words: "scissor switch keys" vs "butterfly keys"

Not even Apple's is using butterfly keys for their own Magic Keyboards. They're using scissor switches in those and believe it or not, some people are hoping for a butterfly switch edition of the Magic Keyboard.

I found the Mac Pro version of the Magic Keyboard to be rather pleasing to type on. It's a cross between the old scissor switch and the butterfly switch. It's a lower travel and crisper scissor switch. The regular white Magic Keyboards don't feel as crisp to me, but it could simply be variations in the copies that I tried at the Apple Store.

 

[VictorTango777]

Does the wired keyboard have additional USB ports?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Scissor switch keys don't have to be licensed from Apple, and there's less incentive to make a low-travel external keyboard. Apple's butterfly keyboard patent makes it clear that they were primarily trying to enable thinner laptop designs. I'd be shocked to see anyone make a third-party butterfly keyboard.

That's the point. I've seen so much whining even around here about the butterfly (and admittedly, I don't like it better myself). Here's an alternative to where Apple may go next with their desktop keyboards. As usual, most are in "ugly" and "what's the point?" mode. But, potentially, this offers a real choice for those that take any issue with the butterfly option.
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Who cares? They're just keyboards. If they function the same, what's the difference? Everything having to be special Mac editions just drives up the costs. Besides that, I'm typing on a MBP keyboard that has 4 keys on the left side of the spacebar.

The only thing I value about Mac specific keyboards is that they usually have a the left command key placed further toward the right so they're more comfortable to hold down with your left thumb. When I'm dealing with RSI flare ups, it's for this reason alone that I often try to find Mac specific keyboards. Other times, I'm fine with standard PC layouts.
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Not even Apple's is using butterfly keys for their own Magic Keyboards. They're using scissor switches in those and believe it or not, some people are hoping for a butterfly switch edition of the Magic Keyboard.

I found the Mac Pro version of the Magic Keyboard to be rather pleasing to type on. It's a cross between the old scissor switch and the butterfly switch. It's a lower travel and crisper scissor switch. The regular white Magic Keyboards don't feel as crisp to me, but it could simply be variations in the copies that I tried at the Apple Store.

I believe it. Again, my guess is that maybe this company knows- or is just best guessing- where Apple's keyboards are going next. Maybe they've seen some of the gripes from those that don't love thinner over keyboard feel. So they are rolling out an option... that no one has to buy... but is there if someone might feel strong enough about butterfly to long for something that looks like an Apple keyboard but hangs on to how the keys (used to) feel? Consumer choices are good? These existing as an option won't hurt anybody.

Note: Both replies typed on my wired Apple Inc. iMac keyboard with numeric keypad. No backlighting, but seemingly no complaints about that not being in Apple's cut of this kind of keyboard.

 

[smirking]

I believe it... Maybe they've seen some of the gripes from those that don't love thinner over keyboard feel. So they are rolling out an option... that no one has to buy...

Wouldn't be surprising if someone was trying to capitalize on people who wanted to go back to the previous generation keyboard. The previous generation of Apple Bluetooth Keyboards are fetching a small premium on eBay after being pretty cheap for most of the previous years.

A growing number of people are preferring the butterfly switches too. The more I type on them, the more I like them, but I'm a keyboard enthusiast and I have a new favorite switch every other week. Lol. I appreciate every design that doesn't suck.

 

[Gameboy70]

That's the point. I've seen so much whining even around here about the butterfly (and admittedly, I don't like it better myself). Here's an alternative to where Apple may go next with their desktop keyboards. As usual, most are in "ugly" and "what's the point?" mode. But, potentially, this offers a real choice for those that take any issue with the butterfly option.

Any third party would have to go out of its way to make a butterfly keyboard, licensing the patent from Apple and facing an uncertain market that's shown little enthusiasm for the innovation. As another poster pointed out, the Magic Keyboard uses scissor switches, since external keyboards don't have to optimize for thinness.

 

[Bustycat]

Does the wired keyboard have additional USB ports?

No, and it uses USB-A to connect.
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I don't get it. Why is Satechi making two almost identical keyboards?
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-slim-wireless-keyboard-from-satechi.2134913/

The new Bluetooth keyboards are full-size.

 

[KPandian1]

Why the eject key?

Likewise, why did Apple include the power button on the keyboard in the laptops? It is not a keyboard function.

I liked the top right power button, as most devices have, and the fact that it was machined into the first aluminum chassis.

 

[TheIntruder]

Fantastic! I don't know of another currently in production wired extended keyboard made for Mac.

Did Matias discontinue theirs? (It's also backit and has a USB hub for those who mentioned those features)

I just want the old Apple USB wired keyboards back. I have one on my work PC and love it but it’s nearly 10 years old and is in need of replacement. This just might be it.

The original aluminum keyboards were the best keyboards Apple has made since the Extended I/II.

The current Magic keyboard feels like a flimsy toy in comparison, and will become landfill fodder once the batteries wear out.

 

[Scooz]

I may need to check these out. Wife's wired iMac keypboard is completely gross at this point (she's a writer who eats at her desk...don't get me started) and she's been asking for a new one. I was thinking bluetooth but she needs a number pad. So I like this better than the Apple offering without the numpad.

But meanwhile there is an Apple Wireless Keyboard with numpad.

Not sure about the crumble compatibility, though.

(edit: just saw that there were already similar comments before . Still, I really like the new Magic Keyboards as the key mechanism works quite well here, compared to the Macbook or MBP with not that much travel)

 

[smirking]

Did Matias discontinue theirs?

Nope. Still making them.

The original aluminum keyboards were the best keyboards Apple has made since the Extended I/II.

Plenty of copies of the wireless version of that keyboard can be found on eBay still, but the prices are starting to go up and new copies are getting harder to come by.

I have three of those, but I'm going to let go of two of them.

 

[mdbradigan]

Agree - would buy a wired version today if it were backlit.

(I vastly prefer in a dark room - don't "need", but prefer; and would prefer full customization of rgb backlight by-key, by-zone, etc.)