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Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

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Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#21

Post by ascagnel_ »

gurkendoktor wrote: post #15

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…

Apple has put out two versions of their tenkeyless keyboard -- one powered by AA batteries (and with a substantial battery hump to hold them), and a low-profile version with an internal battery that charges via Lightning. I had been using one of the latter for at least 5-6 years (before a key died, courtesy of something falling on the keyboard). I've had my current keyboard for about 4 months, and I haven't yet had to recharge it after the initial charge.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#22

Post by nuccy »

nuccy wrote: post #20
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 keyb…

During disassembly what surprised me the most was that the back plate is really rigid, since that plastic is reinforced with a metal plate. Instead of fixing that plastic-metal assembly with excessive use of glue, some 6-10 screws on the perimeter could produce the same solidity feel. Unfortunately much less repair-friendly and probably more expensive solution was used instead.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#23

Post by dangrie158 »

kube-system wrote: post #9
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.

Usually when electronic devices have a metal housing, they're tied to ground. Getting shocked could be a sign of a wiring issue in the building. Ground should be at zero electrical potential.

The tingling you may feel is absolutely normal. Most devices (Mac minis and MacBooks while connected to the charger) don‘t even connect to PE (only 2 connectors on the plug).

The tingling comes from some leakage across the transformer isolated primary/secondary but is so small that it’s not dangerous.

That’s also completely unrelated to static discharges that zap you once you touch something that can equalize the potential

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#24

Post by timw4mail »

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.

Winter is a painful time for static electricity...anything that conducts electricity can shock you.

Aluminum computers or keyboards, steel wall corners...if it has exposed metal, I swear I have been shocked!

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#25

Post by echohack5 »

gurkendoktor wrote: post #15

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…

This isn't widely known, but the Magic2 keyboard can be turned into a wired keyboard by simply plugging in a thunderbolt wire. It will function entirely without bluetooth.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#26

Post by timw4mail »

jordache wrote: post #3

my fav apple keyboard is the from the green PowerMac G4 generation, with the clear plastic casing, and hefty mass. Just don't look at the underside, where food crumbs, hairs that fall into the key holes are forever trapped. https://www.reddit.com/r/VintageApple/comments/ax9hqm/got_an...

So mushy...asthetically, I liked the transparent insulation on the cables, but I can't bear to actually use that.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#27

Post by Hamuko »

echohack5 wrote: post #25
gurkendoktor wrote: post #15

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…

This isn't widely known, but the Magic2 keyboard can be turned into a wired keyboard by simply plugging in a thunderbolt wire. It will function entirely without bluetooth.

I doubt many people don't like the Magic Keyboard because it's wireless, but rather because it has a different key feel. Although I have an A1243 at home and had a Magic Keyboard at the office and didn't feel like there was much of a difference between the two. If my A1243 failed for some reason, I'd probably just get one of those (since buying a mechanical keyboard with a Mac layout is impossible).

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#28

Post by londons_explore »

ascagnel_ wrote: post #21
gurkendoktor wrote: post #15

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…

Apple has put out two versions of their tenkeyless keyboard -- one powered by AA batteries (and with a substantial battery hump to hold them), and a low-profile version with an internal battery that charges via Lightning. I had been using one of the latter for at least 5-6 years (before a key died, courtesy of something falling on the keyboard). I've had my current keyboard for about 4 months, and I haven't yet had t…

I would hope they can achieve a 50 year battery lifespan...

After all, in the life of a keyboard it probably types 10,000 characters per day for 50 years. Call that 400 Million events that need to be sent to your mac via bluetooth low energy.

The system can be entirely powered down when no key is pressed, so the only energy loss is a pre-keypress amount. That works out to about 3 Watt-hours (assuming each keypress is transmitted 3 times for interference-resistance and has a packet length the same as an advertisement). A long-life alkaline battery has a low enough leakage to last 50 years, and about the volume of an AA cell can easily power daily use for 50 years. If you want to go smaller and lighter, you could get 10 years out of a coin cell.

It would probably work out cheaper because you don't need to ship the device with a cable or charge circuitry too. Users don't have one more thing to worry about charging either.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#29

Post by londons_explore »

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.

This is a characteristic of your mains AC supply. You won't get a shock off things not connected to the mains AC earth (usually plugged in appliances and radiators/water pipes).

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#30

Post by Hamuko »

tambourine_man wrote: post #14
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.

I received some fun electric stimulation when my hand was touching both my aluminium Apple keyboard and my MacBook Pro when it was plugged in.
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