20 ms·

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

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.

ascagnel_ 6y ago
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 6y ago
  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 6y ago
    > 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
- gumby 6y ago
  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.
- johnwalkr 6y ago
  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.
echohack5 6y ago
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.
- Hamuko 6y ago
  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).
  - citrusybread 6y ago
    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 6y ago
      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.
Wingman4l7 6y ago
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 6y ago
  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.
graywh 6y ago
I found one (A1242) in the office surplus last year and have been using it since.
GekkePrutser 6y ago
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.
appleuser43242 6y ago
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_ 6y ago

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 6y ago
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 6y ago
  > 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
gumby 6y ago
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.
johnwalkr 6y ago
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.

echohack5 6y ago

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.

Hamuko 6y ago
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).
- citrusybread 6y ago
  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 6y ago
    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.

Wingman4l7 6y ago

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 6y ago
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.

graywh 6y ago

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

GekkePrutser 6y ago

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.

appleuser43242 6y ago

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.