[gurkendoktor]

That model, but without the numpad, is still my favorite keyboard (the A1242). I've tried mechanical keyboards for fun, but I keep coming back to this one for the low profile.

It was only sold for a year or so before the wireless model replaced it, and it's hard to find them now. What I did was to look for used iMacs from 2010, see which ones have the A1242, then ask the seller to only sell me the keyboard.

Based on the replies I wasn't the first one to ask! Seems like there are still some fans around.

[echohack5]

This isn't widely known, but the Magic2 keyboard can be turned into a wired keyboard by simply plugging in a thunderbolt wire. It will function entirely without bluetooth.

[ceejayoz]

(This also seems to fix Bluetooth connectivity issues. I've got a Mac that likes to forget its connections, and doing this appears to force a "oh, I recognize that device".)

[devenson]

FYI- disconnects may be caused by USB-3 interference with bluetooth signal.

[Hamuko]

I doubt many people don't like the Magic Keyboard because it's wireless, but rather because it has a different key feel. Although I have an A1243 at home and had a Magic Keyboard at the office and didn't feel like there was much of a difference between the two. If my A1243 failed for some reason, I'd probably just get one of those (since buying a mechanical keyboard with a Mac layout is impossible).

[dubya]

I have an A1243 at home and a Magic Keyboard 2 at work. The difference in feel doesn't bother me, but the fn in the left corner gets me every time. Caps lock is mapped to control on both, but apparently I use that other control key when switching browser tabs.

[Hamuko]

So you have the short version of the Magic Keyboard right? Because the full-sized Magic Keyboard should have the Function key in its rightful place.

[dubya]

Yes, the short version. I didn't realize there was a full-size version or I'm sure I would have picked that when my Mac was replaced.

[throw-away_42]

I've had a Matias Laptop Pro for Mac for years and I've been super-happy with it. Mechanical but very quiet. So it wasn't impossible for me, but you might have other criteria that would make it so.

[Hamuko]

I don't consider 60%ers real keyboards. Also, Matias' tendency to shorten the Option key on their mechanical keyboards annoys me.

I think the Laptop Pro might also only be available with an US layout.

[spike021]

>since buying a mechanical keyboard with a Mac layout is impossible

Recently bought a Keychron K2. First mechanical keyboard ever (except the older keyboards that came with computers in the 90's/early 00's).

It's pretty great. Bluetooth and wired modes. Has keycaps for Command and Option. Has the media key icons on the function keys.

It also has a switch so you can quickly set it for Windows (and it comes with keycaps for that as well).

[citrusybread]

I can highly recommend ... not buying the DAS keyboard with mac layout.

I have one I got gently used from a coworker, who special ordered it... it's got a sticky spacebar that will random lock up and need to be lubricated; the keys are just printed on ABS so they're already wearing out and they look ugly as sin (plus they get so grimy so quickly).

the only pro on this thing is the volume wheel / media keys, and the fact that the mac will recognize it and follow the "correct" behaviour. had tons of problems with previous keyboards since mac osx doesn't seem to have the same level of customization as eg kde.

they're also advertised as having cherry keys, but they're really no-names -- not even Kalih, Outemu, or Gateron (who at this point are as reliable or better than cherry).

Hard pass. My coolermaster keyboard ended up being a lot better. not holding my breath that apple gets its shit together and adopts a better keyboard layout. did wish someone made a mechanical that maybe used a dip switch or something easy to switch between layouts.

[Hamuko]

There actually isn't a Das keyboard with a Mac layout for there are no mechanical keyboards with a Mac layout on sale, period. Trust me, I've looked.

So no worries, I'll just buy a Magic Keyboard if mine breaks. Or maybe I'll buy the Matias clone of the A1243.

[semanticist]

Here's one with a UK Mac layout: https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-va109mac-pbt-backlit-...

I'm currently dithering between buying that or the Das as my own A1243 is slowly dying, but at least that one looks like all the buttons are in the right place.

[Hamuko]

That's not a Mac layout. Function key is in the wrong place (it should replace the Insert key) and it's missing an Eject key.

I don't know why people find it so hard to believe when I say that there are no mechanical keyboards with a Mac layout. There just simply aren't. The best is the Matias Tactile Pro and even that has slight shortcomings (short Option and Eject button replaces F19). Pretty much everything else is just the manufacturer's generic PC keyboard with Mac-specific keycaps.

This one is exactly that: a generic mechanical keyboard with Mac-specific keycaps. Just look at the non-Mac variant: https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-va109m-sakura-pbt-bac... It's exactly the same layout.

[suchire]

This isn’t a Mac layout? https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-professional-for-m...

[robertoandred]

It says "Backspace" instead of Delete. Heresy.

[Hamuko]

It's not. The Function key is in the wrong place, the Eject button is in the wrong place and it's removed the F14 and F15 in favour of brightness keys(?).

[awiesenhofer]

Connecting a keyboard via pcie, now thats a commitment to low latency. Although Apple keyboards are great at that even via USB:

https://danluu.com/keyboard-latency/

[gurkendoktor]

The current Magic Keyboard has the weird arrow key layout that Apple already phased out again on its laptops. I also don't like how it feels to type on. But the ability to use a Lightning (not Thunderbolt) cable is a godsend on my Magic Trackpad 2, for some reason I'm getting a lot of lag with Bluetooth.

[IndrekR]

Using Magic2s on my PCs. Wired. Windows needed a driver extracted from bootcamp to make fn key work properly. Those I consider to be the best keyboards I have used so far; and I have used many, including the much hyped original IBM mechanical ones (with the PCs they came with).

[Wingman4l7]

People seem to have forgotten eBay exists -- the A1242/3 is still readily available on there.

I cringe a little seeing all this affection for the A1243, after having seen scads of them go into the scrap heap at my local nonprofit electronics recycler.

[gurkendoktor]

The A1243 is available on eBay, but the A1242 is really hard to find here in Germany. Hence the iMac detour.

+1 for eBay, anyway. I've made an exception for my M1 MacBook, but generally I try to buy everything used.

[appleuser43242]

Check with your local Apple authorized service provider (AASP)! At least in the US, they can still order those keyboards from Apple as repair parts. You don't need a computer serial number (or maybe you do, but the AASP can just stick a serial number on it). Pricing should be the same as the original retail MSRP, but it's possible some AASPs could add a markup if Apple allows them to (which I don't know).

AASPs were also able to order the iMac Pro space gray keyboards the same way, back when they were exclusive to the iMac Pro and weren't sold standalone.

Apple low-profile keyboards have been my keyboard of choice for over 10 years on any platform and for any use (gaming included). I know a lot of people swear by mechanical keyboards, but personally I type much faster with the low-profile keys and love the feel of them.

[ascagnel_]

Apple has put out two versions of their tenkeyless keyboard -- one powered by AA batteries (and with a substantial battery hump to hold them), and a low-profile version with an internal battery that charges via Lightning. I had been using one of the latter for at least 5-6 years (before a key died, courtesy of something falling on the keyboard). I've had my current keyboard for about 4 months, and I haven't yet had to recharge it after the initial charge.

[londons_explore]

I would hope they can achieve a 50 year battery lifespan...

After all, in the life of a keyboard it probably types 10,000 characters per day for 50 years. Call that 400 Million events that need to be sent to your mac via bluetooth low energy.

The system can be entirely powered down when no key is pressed, so the only energy loss is a pre-keypress amount. That works out to about 3 Watt-hours (assuming each keypress is transmitted 3 times for interference-resistance and has a packet length the same as an advertisement). A long-life alkaline battery has a low enough leakage to last 50 years, and about the volume of an AA cell can easily power daily use for 50 years. If you want to go smaller and lighter, you could get 10 years out of a coin cell.

It would probably work out cheaper because you don't need to ship the device with a cable or charge circuitry too. Users don't have one more thing to worry about charging either.

[lm28469]

> It would probably work out cheaper because you don't need to ship the device with a cable or charge circuitry too. Users don't have one more thing to worry about charging either.

Knowing Apple they'd probably solder or glue the battery so that you have even one less thing to worry about

[johnwalkr]

I’ve been using the original USB magic keyboard (same as in this link but without the number pad) and the original Bluetooth magic keyboard for about 12 years with no issues.

Just got an M1 MacBook and it’s so nice to have a pretty consistent feel compared to my other keyboards.

[gumby]

My gf and I each have a wireless keypadless AA-powereed apple keyboard, one of which takes two batteries and one of which takes three. I only know because I was using one and it ran low, and I discovered I had prepared the wrong number of batteries.

[graywh]

I found one (A1242) in the office surplus last year and have been using it since.

[GekkePrutser]

Me too.. I absolutely hate the feel of the newer 'magic' keyboards. Still use the old ones everywhere. The 'butterfly' laptop ones I just can't use at all.

Not surprised these are totally unrepairable by the way. Luckily they rarely need to be repaired.