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Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

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Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#11

Post by machello13 »

I've been using this model keyboard for probably around 10 years now. I even have a couple spares sitting in a drawer since they don't make them anymore.

* they're very durable (talking normal usage + spilling drinks a few times a year — no stuck or broken keys)

* the key labels never fade

* there's 2 low-power USB ports (I think USB 2.0?) which aren't good for much, but good enough to plug a mouse into

* it's not the easiest thing to take apart but if you get crumbs under a key, it's pretty easy to pry it up and then click it back in

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#12

Post by marcodiego »

I think keyboards could be more powerful. I remember apple had a keyboard with usb ports[1] and sun had keyboards with speakers[2]. I don't why keyboards can't have some inexpensive useful features.

[1] https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/imac-aluminum-faq/im...

[2] https://archive.org/stream/bitsavers_sunsparcSPationVer11999...

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#14

Post by tambourine_man »

Naga wrote: post #7

I forgot about these until this post. I used to have one when they came out, and I worked at a retail store where all of our kiosks had these. Does anyone else get electric shocks often from them? I would get them anytime I touched the metal case of it. I never thought to google it or anything.

>Does anyone else get electric shocks often from them?

Oh yes. Also, many aluminum laptops when plugged in.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#15

Post by gurkendoktor »

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.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#16

Post by nuccy »

marcodiego wrote: post #12

I think keyboards could be more powerful. I remember apple had a keyboard with usb ports[1] and sun had keyboards with speakers[2]. I don't why keyboards can't have some inexpensive useful features. [1] https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/imac-aluminum-faq/im... [2] https://archive.org/stream/bitsavers_sunsparcSPationVer11999...

Actually A1243 has an internal USB hub with two ports on both sides of the bump underneath. Those ports are very handy for Logitech wireless adapters: wherever the keyboard is plugged to the mouse comes with it.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#17

Post by Hamuko »

marcodiego wrote: post #12

I think keyboards could be more powerful. I remember apple had a keyboard with usb ports[1] and sun had keyboards with speakers[2]. I don't why keyboards can't have some inexpensive useful features. [1] https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/imac-aluminum-faq/im... [2] https://archive.org/stream/bitsavers_sunsparcSPationVer11999...

The A1243 has two USB ports.

https://everymac.com/images/other_images/apple-aluminum-keyb...

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#18

Post by Hamuko »

machello13 wrote: post #11

I've been using this model keyboard for probably around 10 years now. I even have a couple spares sitting in a drawer since they don't make them anymore. * they're very durable (talking normal usage + spilling drinks a few times a year — no stuck or broken keys) * the key labels never fade * there's 2 low-power USB ports (I think USB 2.0?) which aren't good for much, but good enough to plug a mouse into * it's not th…

>talking normal usage + spilling drinks a few times a year

I've definitely dumped at least one cup of tea into mine, possibly even more, and it's still working perfect. It's quite bizarre actually.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#19

Post by jahnu »

machello13 wrote: post #11

I've been using this model keyboard for probably around 10 years now. I even have a couple spares sitting in a drawer since they don't make them anymore. * they're very durable (talking normal usage + spilling drinks a few times a year — no stuck or broken keys) * the key labels never fade * there's 2 low-power USB ports (I think USB 2.0?) which aren't good for much, but good enough to plug a mouse into * it's not th…

Same. Love em. My current one is dying. Are there any similar ones on the market?

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#20

Post by nuccy »

machello13 wrote: post #11

I've been using this model keyboard for probably around 10 years now. I even have a couple spares sitting in a drawer since they don't make them anymore. * they're very durable (talking normal usage + spilling drinks a few times a year — no stuck or broken keys) * the key labels never fade * there's 2 low-power USB ports (I think USB 2.0?) which aren't good for much, but good enough to plug a mouse into * it's not th…

Interesting, a cup of sweet tea killed my A1243. Water got inside and shortened some pads or tracks, since pressing one key instead generated 3 or 4 others. I tried to dry it with rise and silica gel for weeks - didn't help. Then I tried to open it and that was an excellent example of an Apple product which feels great while it works and has 0 repairability, so is an e-waste when broken. Disassembly of any other keyboard would allow to fix such a simple problem. At the end I've got a used A1243 from ebay and am typing on it right now :) (if it breaks I would probably go to Logitech MX keys for Mac).
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