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Apple Wireless Keyboard vs Wired Keyboard w/ Numeric Pad

onthecouchagain

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Original poster
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
So now that Apple is offering the Magic Trackpad for free with the new iMacs, that changes my desk configurations with wires and ports.

Has anyone opted for the Wireless keyboard and regretted it? Anyone sorely miss the number pad and other generally useful buttons like "page up," "delete" key, etc?

A truly wireless and clutter free desktop is very appealing, but I worry I will miss the full keyboard. Trying to gauge what getting accustomed to the tinier wireless keyboard is like.

Appreciate any input.
 
On my 2010 i7 I opted for the wired keyboard due to full size arrow keys, dedicated page up, page down, delete, home and end keys and have not regretted it.
 
How often do you use the num pad? Would you benefit from the wireless feature? How big is your desk?
It comes down to personal preferences. It's not the biggest decision you make, just go with what you feel most comfortable with. :)
 
I'd love the look of an all wireless desktop, but also make a lot of use of a number pad. I think I'd get the iMac with the wireless keyboard and then buy the wired one separately (I'd make use of the wireless one elsewhere, and the wired is cheaper to buy off the shelf).
 
Personally I prefer the wired keyboard for the 2 extra USB ports and number pad. Also no worries of batteries dying, etc.
 
I chose the wireless kb - never been happier. The absence of cables turned out to be a nice feature of the iMac. If I need the numpad I will get a wireless numpad as well.

4 months later I'm still using the original batteries of the kb, whereas I already changed 2 sets for the Magic Mouse - this thingie eats up the batteries like a monshter! If I had used my mac heavily I'd have considered rechargeable batteries for the mouse.
 
mjohnson1212 said:
On my 2010 i7 I opted for the wired keyboard due to full size arrow keys, dedicated page up, page down, delete, home and end keys and have not regretted it.
Click to expand...
In addition to the keys being a bit more spacious, mjohnson1212's post are all of the reasons I will be getting the wired keyboard with my new iMac. I don't need the numeric pad.

My desk has a nice keyboard drawer that is 28" wide, so the numeric keyboard and trackpad will fit comfortably. I do like the idea of my mouse/trackpad being closer to the important keys of the keyboard with the wireless, but that's not too big of a deal.

 
Has anyone been able to swap out the smaller wireless keyboard for the full size wired keyboard in an Apple retail store with their purchase of the new iMacs?
 
Wait .. how could OP said you can get Magic Trackpad for free with the new iMac?

I went to my local reseller and they said nothing about freebies, and you can actually get free Magic TrackPad? What should I do to get one?

Do I have to get certain BTO option or what? Please tell me :(

Oh .. I vote for wireless keyboard, I have an iPod touch, iPad and PS3. The keyboard surely would be useful to type on those things, aside from the iMac itself, of course.

But yeah, thumbs down for not having numpad option on wireless keyboard :(

EDIT: You shouldn´t worried about battery life in the keyboard. Wireless keyboard can always use a pair of battery in a LOOONGG LOONNNGG time. Not the same case with mouse.

Magic Mouse eat batteries for breakfast, I think because it has to use the sensor every time you move it around the table, so it dry up batteries fast.

Please, share with me how to get Magic TrackPad for free with your iMac purchase??
 
Last edited:
Cord Length

Does anyone know how long the wired keyboard cord length is and does it ship with an extension? I have read that it is .8m (31.5") with a 1m (39.5") extension.
 
iSayuSay said:
Wait .. how could OP said you can get Magic Trackpad for free with the new iMac?

I went to my local reseller and they said nothing about freebies, and you can actually get free Magic TrackPad? What should I do to get one?

Please, share with me how to get Magic TrackPad for free with your iMac purchase??
Click to expand...

You have the option of switching the Mouse for the Trackpad when ordering online. You can choose the mouse, trackpad, or both ($60 for both).
Some people have had luck asking about it in store, and getting one for free, but it's not a guarantee. Not all stores will do this.
 
NannyJordyn said:
You have the option of switching the Mouse for the Trackpad when ordering online. You can choose the mouse, trackpad, or both ($60 for both).
Some people have had luck asking about it in store, and getting one for free, but it's not a guarantee. Not all stores will do this.
Click to expand...

Wow thanks for enlightening. I thought what OP said that Apple includes free Magic TrackPad along with Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse as standard issue

Yep .. I ordered the new iMac, and I chose Magic TrackPad. I dread Magic Mouse due to its unergonomic design, and lack of third button.

But I wouldn´t dread if :apple: give me Magic Mouse + TrackPad for no additional cost :p
 
Last gen wired keyboard for me , I don't like this new flat keyboard styling at all , I want long travel mechanical keys for typing .
 
I thought more people had keyboard drawers at their desks. ;-)

I prefer the wired for my day-to-day operations. A number pad is much more efficient for data entry. Gotta have it.
 
Keyboards

I just ordered a new iMac from Amazon. And with it, I also ordered the two keypads (wired and wireless), and also the battery charger. With the amount of $$$ I saved by not having to pay the state sales tax, I got everything for under the Apple price.

This way, I figured that I could try the wireless keypad and if need be I could use it with a Kensington numeric keypad that I have left over. Of course the numeric is wired. But I do input numbers a lot, I wanted the two options to see which I was really happy with.

I am tossed primarily because of the rechargeable batteries. I don't want to spend my time replacing batteries each month or even every four months in the case of the keyboard.

Likewise, I have a Kensington Turbo Mouse which may choose over the Magic Mouse. Likewise again I have both options to choose from.
 
*shrugs* I think having to change batteries and change them semi-annually, while a nuisance, is hardly a reason to dislike a peripheral... especially with the world of high capacity (2500mAH) rechargeable batteries. As a photographer my house is full of batteries charging everywhere, anyway. ;-)

I want to say that especially since it is your primary input method, aesthetics should come after usability. It's all about the work. It's all about the keypad, kids. ;-) But if you're one of those people who aren't efficiency-minded, and your keyboard has to be on a desk, I think the wireless is a fine option.
 
Entourage12 said:
Has anyone been able to swap out the smaller wireless keyboard for the full size wired keyboard in an Apple retail store with their purchase of the new iMacs?
Click to expand...

I did. I purchased the base 21.5" for my parents and told them I wanted to swap out keyboards as my dad needed the numeric keypad. They grabbed a wired keyboard and rang it up as $49 but did an "Instant Savings" of $49. It took them 5 minutes or so to get the iMac from the back so I thought they were opening it up and taking out the wireless keyboard. But when I got home I saw they didn't and it was still in the box. Not sure if they forgot or "forgot". :D

Personally the wireless keyboard isn't a big selling point to me on a desktop computer. It is just one wire. Having no wires and a smaller footprint doesn't make up for not having a numeric keypad, extra keys, not having to worry about batteries, and a 2 port included USB hub.
 
i have used the wired slim aluminum keyboard on my old PC as it was the best keyboard i found to use due to key spacings versus my larger hands .. it was robust as well ...

Now i have upgraded to the new MAC in my sig in last few days i still use that keyboard and the wireless is still in box ... yes it takes up a usb port but their are 2 on keyboard .... and you don't have to lose the number pad
 
You could always add a keypad.

8337_image.gif


http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Cropmark/8337/
 
i have the wired keyboard becuase of num pad and because of the usb ports... also the magic mouse eats up all my batteries anyway.
 
I got my first iMac in early 2008 and it came with the wireless keyboard. I used it through a few change of batteries but really missed the numeric pad. Especially using calculator. I bought the wired one a few months afterwards and it has been plugged in since. Not a big deal if you end up owning both, you might want to switch it up:D
 
onthecouchagain said:
So now that Apple is offering the Magic Trackpad for free with the new iMacs, that changes my desk configurations with wires and ports.

Has anyone opted for the Wireless keyboard and regretted it? Anyone sorely miss the number pad and other generally useful buttons like "page up," "delete" key, etc?

A truly wireless and clutter free desktop is very appealing, but I worry I will miss the full keyboard. Trying to gauge what getting accustomed to the tinier wireless keyboard is like.

Appreciate any input.
Click to expand...

There is a wireless number pad being sold in the Apple store which actually hooks together with Apples wireless keyboard. I believe its $44
 
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