3 ms·

Bringing the laptop interface to the desktop? Not interested. The desktop is the one place where I don't need wireless, I don't care how big, old, or ugly loo

by Splines 11y ago

Bringing the laptop interface to the desktop? Not interested. The desktop is the one place where I don't need wireless, I don't care how big, old, or ugly looking my hardware is, and what I bought 10 years ago still works perfectly fine today. The Magic Keyboard seems designed for using it from the couch. Any other use case seems better served with a "normal" keyboard.

coldpie 11y ago
Amen. I actually built up a stash of the old-style Microsoft ergonomic keyboards shortly before they stopped building them. I cycle through them only when I spill water on them; that is their Achilles heel. I give them Viking funerals.
- togusa 11y ago
  Same with cheap cherry G83s for me. I widlarize mine though :)
bshimmin 11y ago
I've used an Apple Wireless keyboard (I believe the previous generation of the new "Magic" one) for a few years as my primary keyboard, usually at a MBP connected to one or more monitors, sat on a big glass desk. It's small, pleasant to type on, easy to move about, and slips into my laptop bag easily in case I really think I'm going to need it on the road (I rarely do). I replace the batteries maybe as much as twice a year. It's looking a bit grubby now so I'll probably buy this new one to replace it. I had much worse experiences with Apple's wireless keyboards when they first came out (pairing problems, latency, etc); but this seems to me like a technology that's pretty mature and "just works" now.
IkmoIkmo 11y ago
Friend of mine definitely did some couch typing on a TV-connected macbook in his tiny studio. Anyway, I agree that wireless isn't essential but I'd personally prefer it because I tend to use a mouse with my MBP half of the time. Putting a wired mouse in my bag vs just a mouse, then taking it out and connecting it with a cable in a coffeeshop.. it's just not as convenient as just throwing a wireless mouse in your bag and taking it out. Beyond that it's a bit cleaner on the desktop. I don't mind the look of a wire (actually I've never really used a wireless mouse because I don't care about the look, and the convenience isn't worth the money for me), but for example right now I have a notepad laying ontop of my wire, behind my MBP, behind my mouse, that's weighing down on the cable making it heavier to move the mouse. So I have to put the notepad below the cable, and then grab it from under the cable when I need it and this repeated throughout the day for anything I want to put on my desktop that has a mouse + charger cable crossing it. Ridiculous first world problems that I wouldn't spend money on solving, but if my mouse blew up today and a genie asked me if I wanted a wire on my free replacement mouse or not, it's clear what I'd choose. Another is when I disconnect the mouse on my MBP (hooked up to a keyboard, mouse and screen at home) because I want to plug in my camera or my phone to transfer some files and I only have 2 USB slots. Anyway again I'm not one to have a wireless mouse but there's definitely people who benefit in a desktop environment and I'd wager to say it's not a small niche, either.
wordbank 11y ago
I use Apple BT keyboard for almost 4 years now. I've always loved slim keyboards and it's the best slim keyboard you can find. Also small arrows is a great idea: you can navigate through code without moving your hand to the right.

by Splines 11y ago

coldpie 11y ago

Amen. I actually built up a stash of the old-style Microsoft ergonomic keyboards shortly before they stopped building them. I cycle through them only when I spill water on them; that is their Achilles heel. I give them Viking funerals.

togusa 11y ago
Same with cheap cherry G83s for me. I widlarize mine though :)

bshimmin 11y ago

I've used an Apple Wireless keyboard (I believe the previous generation of the new "Magic" one) for a few years as my primary keyboard, usually at a MBP connected to one or more monitors, sat on a big glass desk. It's small, pleasant to type on, easy to move about, and slips into my laptop bag easily in case I really think I'm going to need it on the road (I rarely do). I replace the batteries maybe as much as twice a year. It's looking a bit grubby now so I'll probably buy this new one to replace it. I had much worse experiences with Apple's wireless keyboards when they first came out (pairing problems, latency, etc); but this seems to me like a technology that's pretty mature and "just works" now.

IkmoIkmo 11y ago

Friend of mine definitely did some couch typing on a TV-connected macbook in his tiny studio. Anyway, I agree that wireless isn't essential but I'd personally prefer it because I tend to use a mouse with my MBP half of the time. Putting a wired mouse in my bag vs just a mouse, then taking it out and connecting it with a cable in a coffeeshop.. it's just not as convenient as just throwing a wireless mouse in your bag and taking it out. Beyond that it's a bit cleaner on the desktop. I don't mind the look of a wire (actually I've never really used a wireless mouse because I don't care about the look, and the convenience isn't worth the money for me), but for example right now I have a notepad laying ontop of my wire, behind my MBP, behind my mouse, that's weighing down on the cable making it heavier to move the mouse. So I have to put the notepad below the cable, and then grab it from under the cable when I need it and this repeated throughout the day for anything I want to put on my desktop that has a mouse + charger cable crossing it. Ridiculous first world problems that I wouldn't spend money on solving, but if my mouse blew up today and a genie asked me if I wanted a wire on my free replacement mouse or not, it's clear what I'd choose. Another is when I disconnect the mouse on my MBP (hooked up to a keyboard, mouse and screen at home) because I want to plug in my camera or my phone to transfer some files and I only have 2 USB slots. Anyway again I'm not one to have a wireless mouse but there's definitely people who benefit in a desktop environment and I'd wager to say it's not a small niche, either.

wordbank 11y ago

I use Apple BT keyboard for almost 4 years now. I've always loved slim keyboards and it's the best slim keyboard you can find. Also small arrows is a great idea: you can navigate through code without moving your hand to the right.