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Comment by almostkorean | Hacker News Reader

Are there any proper mechanical keyboards for Mac? I've looked around and haven't found anything that fits what I'm looking for.

I know Das makes a Mac keyboard, but the command key is too far to the left. When you look at an Apple keyboard, the command key aligns to be directly below 'x', making it easy to reach with your thumb. I think the lower height on Apple keyboards helps as well.

The closest thing I've found are a couple keyboards on Massdrop that do have the Alt/Command key further to the right but they are sold out by the time I find them.

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You might want to look at Matias — http://matias.ca — they’re pretty Mac focused.

I had their Laptop Pro keyboard for a bit, but found the Bluetooth a bit shaky. Turned me off to Bluetooth keyboards. BUT, the keyboard felt great.

(I ended up moving to an ES-87 with Cherry Browns, and then a HHKB, but that’s not a normal progression.)

CODE Keyboards [1] have a dip switch to swap the alt and super keys to make the keyboard aligned almost like this. I've also been able to easily swap the keycaps to make the visuals match too.

[1] - https://codekeyboards.com/

No, not really. I know because I've been looking for one several times and I've never found one. They're all generic/Windows keyboards. Even when they say it's a "Mac keyboard", it just means that they wrote different things on a couple of keycaps.

The best manufacturer I have come across for mechanical keyboards with actual Mac layouts are what Matias are offering. For example this: http://matias.ca/tactilepro4/

There's also the option that is not for the faintest of hearts: building your own keyboard. PCBs usually offer multiple kind of layout options for the key placement on the same board. One example of this: https://winkeyless.kr/product/b-87-ex-x2-pcb/ In the description they show a layout of the key placement with the different options highlighted in different colours. So if you want a 1.5X - 1X - 1.5X modifier keys on both sides of the keyboard, that's a possibility.

I've personally looked a bit into the custom keyboard route. I can't really say anything about casing and so on, because I haven't gotten that far into it. However, you're going to be spending a lot more money than for a generic mechanical keyboard on Amazon.

Just about any keyboard (mechanical or otherwise) can be used on a Mac. Inside of System Preferences there is a way to remap your command, alt/option, & caps lock, & control key locations if your keyboard doesn't have a way to flash a custom keymap.

I suggest checking out https://reddit.com/r/mechanicalkeyboards and https://geekhack.org.

My first Mechanical was a Das Ultimate 3 with Cherry MX Browns which I used for years on Mac, Windows, & Linux without customizing anything. I've since had numerous keyboards with various switches (Cherry MX Browns, Gateron Browns, Cherry MX Reds, Zealios, Cherry MX Silent Blacks, Topre, Cherry MX Silent Reds, Tealios, and others). I've used full size layouts, TKLs, 75%'s, 65%'s, 60%'s, and more.

My two primary boards right now are 2 HHKB BT's which utilize Topre electrostatic capacitive switches you can learn more about how Topre works here: https://deskthority.net/wiki/Topre_switch. One of my HHKB BT's is used primarily on my MacBook Pro and the other is used primarily on my Windows 10 & Linux desktop. I also have a build in the works for a new Cherry MX Silent Black 60% with a layout that matches the HHKB Pro 2 layout.

Most of the keyboards I've mentioned have actual fully customized keymapping abilities so you can setup layers, remap keys to wherever you want (if you use DVORAK or other layout that isn't QWERTY, etc).

* https://deskthority.net/wiki/HHKB_Professional2 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Hacking_Keyboard

I hope this helps. If you have any questions please feel free to reply here or drop me a note on Twitter, Reddit, or Geekhack using the same name (links below).

* https://twitter.com/brianjking * https://reddit.com/u/brianjking * https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=profile;u=59613

The Vortex Race 3 comes with extra Mac keycaps and a keyboard shortcut to switch between Mac and pc layout. I really like mine.

I have the Das one. I think the key height makes up for the positioning. I didn't even notice this when I started using the keyboard and I have no problem switching between the two.

It's a great keyboard. If that's the only thing stopping you, then I would just buy it and be happy.

Das doesn't make any Mac keyboards. They make keyboards with Mac keycaps.

Additionally, if you find a keyboard on massdrop you want, you can hit request to be notified when a drop comes back, and increase the likelihood of it coming back if enough people request it.

Massdrop shipping can take a while though.

Most mechanical keyboards can be programmed to change the mappings

That's not what he asked.

I have not seen anything. The closest I've seen to targeting the "Mac Keyboard" audience is this Input Club board that they are even advertising as being for that audience but still has the "normal" layout.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hexgears/hexgears-x-1-m...

Thank you, this looks promising

I think the best you're going to do is a standard layout board. I am a mac user(at work) and I use the mk typist with Kalih box white. Seriously, it's $99 and has some incredibly high end features. Not to mention that the box white is an AWESOME switch.

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_det...

Also, it has the dip switches to swap the cmd/alt. (the keycaps are easily swapped too)

I like the CODE keyboard which I use daily with a Mac. https://codekeyboards.com/

The Apple Extended Keyboard II is still awesome, if you can find one (and an ADB-to-USB adapter).

“This keyboard represents everything about Apple that I hate.” — Steve Jobs

It's still one of the best keyboards I've ever used, consistently so - tied honestly with the IBM Model M.

Purportedly, the Codename for the product was "Saratoga" because among other reasons, it was the size of an aircraft carrier ;-)

The Kinesis Advantage models ships with a Mac-mode and even a replaceable command key (so you can make ⌘ the main key instead of Ctrl): https://www.kinesis-ergo.com/shop/advantage2/#tab-specificat...

I have used that for about two decades and it's awesome. The only issue with this keyboard (beside price) is the size so I have tried [too] many others, but always return to it. However by now it's massively modified: all electronics and keycaps replaced (https://www.dropbox.com/s/vr1gvk0gtophnbz/Kinesis%20Advantag...)

What exactly is a "Mac" keyboard? I'm looking at a macbook keyboard and a Dell laptop keyboard. The only difference I can see are the Control, Fn, Super, and Alt keys are rearranged. There is an extra right super on the macbook, but no right control key.

The spacing on Mac and Windows keyboards definitely feel different, and are rather disorienting if you are used to Windows style keyboards. There is no del on Mac either.

A proper Mac keybaord has symmetric modifier keys (3 on each side of the spacebar) and an asterisk key in the upper right of the numpad.

https://www.wasdkeyboards.com

Buy the one you want, get a Mac keycap set.

On my Kinesis Advantage I type =+m to change to mac keybindings.

I use the 0.01 z70.

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