Ask HN: What's the best desktop keyboard for Mac users? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What's the best desktop keyboard for Mac users?

11 pointsCPLX16 comments

I have never been a fan of the regular Apple keyboards, and prefer the old school ones with a lot of tactile feedback. I bought a Matias Quiet Pro which I did like quite a bit but I had to return it after a few months due to dead keys. A few months later the new one also has the same problem. So I need to change plans.

For those that use MacOS in a desktop environment, what's your favorite keyboard choice?

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Maybe it's a sign of age, but my daily driver is an Apple Extended keyboard from the G4 era (around 2002), and the angle, layout and throw is unparalleled with anything newer from Apple. This is the black-on-clear variant, with full-height top row and clear plastic margin surrounding the keys. Their current offerings in the desktop keyboard field are particularly uninspiring.

They made a LOT of the G4-style keyboards, so finding them new in box or minimally used is not all that difficult, and if I was to start a new project with unlimited budget, I'd go with a new-in-box one.

When recently forced to use a run-of-the-mill Microsoft keyboard, the only major adjustment during coding was the backwards Cmd and Option keys (Windows and Alt).

I'm a huge mechanical keyboard nut, so for a while I used the Filco Tenkeyless[0] models with Cherry Blue or Brown switches. Over time, though, I found working on a non-split keyboard made my wrists unhappy--it was too easy to scrunch my wrists inward. I tried the Matias Ergo Pro[1], but while I liked the feel of the keyswitches, the quality control was awful: after a few months, the keyboard was nigh unusable due to repeating-key and missed-key issues.

Fortunately, Kinesis (a long-time manufacturer of split-layout keyboards) has a new Gaming Edge line[2] that combines their super-adjustable split design with actual CherryMX keys. The resulting keyboard works wonderfully on my Mac: I haven't played with any of the macro keys they include for gaming, but the key layout works really well, the keys feel wonderful, and the adjustability makes my wrists and fingers happy.

[0] https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_lis... [1] http://matias.ca/ergopro/pc/ [2] https://gaming.kinesis-ergo.com/edge/

I love the Kinesis ergo keyboards, but also the ThinkPad bluetooth keyboard (no reaching for the mouse = less wrist pain).

Also a fan of WASD's keyboards, but keep in mind that their custom keycaps seem to wear down pretty fast.

Check https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/ for pretty much any/all options on the keyboard front.

Is the trackpoint really can replace mouse for web developer?

https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/products/keyboar...

A great keyboard...with the caveat that I've used it for Windows and Linux but not on a Mac. And $49.95 is list price, they're often ten or even twenty bucks less.

Logitech Solar K750[1] has served me well. 3+ years now and still going strong.

The model that I have can be easily updated to use regular batteries, once your solar interface goes bust. [2]

[1] https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/wireless-solar-keyboa... [2] https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Logitech+K750+Keyboard+Battery+...

I love the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic:

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Ergonomic-Keyboard-Business...

Eliminated my wrist pain and the little USB dongle means the battery lasts for ever. I think I change batteries once or twice a year under really heavy use.

I'm using Coolermaster Masterkeys M Keyboard. I've mapped the keys to match Mac's layout. http://www.coolermaster.com/peripheral/keyboards/masterkeys-...

Matias makes absolutely awesome keyboards, like the Tactile Pro:

http://matias.ca/tactilepro4/

which uses the same keyswitches Apple used in their legendary Extended Keyboard from yesteryear.

I'm a huge fan of the "Code" keyboards from WASD.

I use a Unicomp Model M. Thread over. The rest of posts are people bickering about second place.

Out of curiosity, how would a keyboard for a Mac user differ from a keyboard from a Windows or Linux user?

There used to be one more meta key on a Mac keyboard (back when the windows key only opened the start menu; maybe that's changed), and the location of the control key is different in relation to the alt/option key and other meta keys. Also, the windows keyboards I used used to have the windows key only on one side, whereas the cmd key is something you always want on both sides.

There are other minor differences like the naming of alt vs option or return vs enter, but those don't usually matter to a reasonably savvy user.

Windows keyboards used to also come with near-mandatory print screen and scroll lock and page up/down and a couple other keys; dunno if those are still used. (Can you take a Windows screenshot these days without print screen or a custom app?)

A Topre Realforce, variable weighted or uniform 45 g, is the best choice.

I use a Kinesis Advantage/Advantage2 at home and work.

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