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Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

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Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#61

Post by spike021 »

Hamuko wrote: post #27
echohack5 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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).

>since buying a mechanical keyboard with a Mac layout is impossible

Recently bought a Keychron K2. First mechanical keyboard ever (except the older keyboards that came with computers in the 90's/early 00's).

It's pretty great. Bluetooth and wired modes. Has keycaps for Command and Option. Has the media key icons on the function keys.

It also has a switch so you can quickly set it for Windows (and it comes with keycaps for that as well).

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#63

Post by semanticist »

Hamuko wrote: post #50
citrusybread wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can highly recommend ... not buying the DAS keyboard with mac layout. I have one I got gently used from a coworker, who special ordered it... it's got a sticky spacebar that will random lock up and need to be lubricated; the keys are just printed on ABS so they're already wearing out and they look ugly as sin (plus they get so grimy so quickly). the only pro on this thing is the volume wheel / media keys, and the f…

There actually isn't a Das keyboard with a Mac layout for there are no mechanical keyboards with a Mac layout on sale, period. Trust me, I've looked. So no worries, I'll just buy a Magic Keyboard if mine breaks. Or maybe I'll buy the Matias clone of the A1243.

Here's one with a UK Mac layout: https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-va109mac-pbt-backlit-...

I'm currently dithering between buying that or the Das as my own A1243 is slowly dying, but at least that one looks like all the buttons are in the right place.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#64

Post by philjohn »

ksec wrote: post #4
kube-system wrote: post #2

I like the key travel on the A1243. I wish their newer scissor switches were just a little bit taller.

Thanks. Again I am glad I am not the only one. 0.7 mm - Butterfly keyboard 1 mm - 16” MBP "Magic" ( Scissor ) keyboard 1.3 mm - old scissor keyboard It is only 0.3mm but it is a world of difference. And at no point would I want a 0.3mm thinner Laptop at the expense of much better typing experience. Even Microsoft copy the 1.3mm Key Travel Design with their Surface Book.

I still miss the old-style Thinkpad keyboards ... they were a joy to type on.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#65

Post by dubya »

Hamuko wrote: post #27
echohack5 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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).

I have an A1243 at home and a Magic Keyboard 2 at work. The difference in feel doesn't bother me, but the fn in the left corner gets me every time. Caps lock is mapped to control on both, but apparently I use that other control key when switching browser tabs.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#66

Post by aylmao »

This is the exact same keyboard I'm typing this on (I actually didn't know the model number, I had to check).

It's a good one! The keys definitely have more travel than modern MacBook keyboard keys. I like its size, incline, and weight too. I'm split on the size, on the one hand it's kind of long, so it fits awkwardly in my backpack and I find myself pushing it left and right often.

On the other hand, I like having a dedicated delete key and full-size arrow keys. A version of it with the separate arrow keys but no num-pad would be perfect for me.

The USB ports aren't very good for data, but they're great to plug a mouse into. I have a wireless Logitech mouse with the USB receiver, not Bluetooth. It's easy forget it's not Bluetooth though because the receiver has just been tucked in under the keyboard the whole time.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#67

Post by tomjakubowski »

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...

Yeah, when I changed from the HHKB to the Ergodox EZ, I found myself disappointed by my new keyboard's lack of USB ports. It's the best place for a wireless mouse dongle; one cable now brings both your mouse and keyboard to another computer.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#68

Post by johnwalkr »

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’ve been using the original USB magic keyboard (same as in this link but without the number pad) and the original Bluetooth magic keyboard for about 12 years with no issues.

Just got an M1 MacBook and it’s so nice to have a pretty consistent feel compared to my other keyboards.

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#69

Post by johnwalkr »

aylmao wrote: post #66

This is the exact same keyboard I'm typing this on (I actually didn't know the model number, I had to check). It's a good one! The keys definitely have more travel than modern MacBook keyboard keys. I like its size, incline, and weight too. I'm split on the size, on the one hand it's kind of long, so it fits awkwardly in my backpack and I find myself pushing it left and right often. On the other hand, I like having a…

The current MacBook key travel is similar (a bit less travel but much more than the butterfly keyboards).

Re: Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard

#70

Post by vestrigi »

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...

Used this until recently too but the keys where actually really not smooth to press. The big ISO enter key is especially bad, because it needs to be pressed in the right spot to move. I can confirm the trapped crumbs which are almost impossible to remove because the keyboard is really not easy to open up. I remember it having more than 30 screws scattered on the metal plate.
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