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

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11–17 of 17 posts

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

#11
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).

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

#12
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+...

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

#14
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/

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

#15
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.

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