Mechanical Keyboard for Mac

Mr_Toad

I'm using my iMac to write some documentation on and have decided I need a good quality keyboard with mechanical key switches.

I've got the small Bluetooth keyboard it came with and the wired version with the numeric keypad and while these are fine for general use they are far from brilliant for heavy use.

I have a good mechanical keyboard for the work PC and i can type on that all day without getting any aches and pains.

Are there any Mac users out there using either the Matias Tactile Pro or DAS keyboards?

How are you getting on with them?

Or any other mechanical keyboard?

InsideInsurance

Most keyboards are compatible with Macs, just need to adjust some key mappings.

Personally I find the wired keyboard perfectly fine for extensive typing and more comfortable than a traditional "mechanical" keyboard

Nilrem

As Insideinsurance says most keyboards will work with Mac's but you may have to play with the keymappings.

Given how much of a personal choice keyboards are, I would try and find somewhere that you can have a go with them, as there are at least three major types of mechanical keys in common use, with slightly different but distinct feels to them.

Personally I would love to get a new mechanical keyboard as the old IBM PS2 keyboards I used to pick up cheap at fairs were great (I really regret not hanging on to some of them), and there is a real difference in how a mechanical keyboard feels compared to membrane types, but I cannot justify the ~£80+ it would cost (and would miss having a wireless keyboard).

Mr_Toad

Saver0811 wrote: »

Look for one of the older style Apple Keyboards, ebay etc






http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APPLE-Mac-Black-Pro-USB-Wired-Keyboard-M7803-Works-/230751375892?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item35b9da9214

I've already got the slightly newer white version of the above keyboard that I bought off eBay. Sadly neither the older black one or the newer white one have mechanical keys.

They are nice keyboards and I find them a lot better than than the newer scrabble tile type but for touch typing they still feel a little dead. I'm using the white one to type this.

Mechanical keys give a definite on/off feel, it's the difference between playing a Steinway Grand piano and a Casio keyboard.

Mr_Toad

Nilrem wrote: »

As Insideinsurance says most keyboards will work with Mac's but you may have to play with the keymappings.

Given how much of a personal choice keyboards are, I would try and find somewhere that you can have a go with them, as there are at least three major types of mechanical keys in common use, with slightly different but distinct feels to them.

Personally I would love to get a new mechanical keyboard as the old IBM PS2 keyboards I used to pick up cheap at fairs were great (I really regret not hanging on to some of them), and there is a real difference in how a mechanical keyboard feels compared to membrane types, but I cannot justify the ~£80+ it would cost (and would miss having a wireless keyboard).

Agree about trying but I've nowhere local that even knows what a mechanical keyboard is!

The ones we use at work are the DAS S keyboard. They work with the Mac and they even do a Mac version but it isn't a 'proper' Mac version. It gives you media keys but not the other Mac function keys that I use.

To be honest I think the Matias is about the only proper mechanical Mac alternative. I suppose I was hoping that somewhere there was another that I'd missed.

It's only when you do a serious amount of typing that you realise how much the average keyboard is either a masterpiece of form over function or built down to a price.

Mr_Toad

Well, well, would you believe it.

I've just had an email from a friend, I was talking to him about mechanical keyboards in the pub a couple of nights ago, and he's found another candidate.

The Razor Black Widow Ultimate for Mac.

http://www.razerzone.com/gb-en/store/powered-for-mac

I'm surprised that my Google search for "mechanical keyboard mac uk" didn't throw this one up!

I know it's aimed at gamers but it uses the same Cherry MX Blue keys as the DAS that I know and love!

Looking at the pictures it also has all the right Mac Fn keys as well as the media keys and unlike a lot of Mac keyboards it comes in the UK layout. I can cope with the US layout but UK is better! :T