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Fed up with Apple bluetooth keyboard

rjalex

rjalex

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 27, 2011
274
62
Rome, Italy
Dear friends,
I am using an Apple BT keyboard which came with my iMac and now on my Mac Mini M1 (BigSur 11.3.1).

It has several seconds of delay when the Mini wakes up from sleep before it accept my input and sometimes the BT stack kind of goes bonkers and to fix it I have to restart the machine. Also the batteries tend to die just in the moment they should NOT :)

For these reasons I really want to switch to a keyboard with cable.

I write articles, program as my main activities so a good keyboard is a very important accessory.

I know ergonomics may be a very personal opinion but if you could recommend a cabled keyboard with the Mac keys (including volume control) with a good typing dynamics I'd really appreciate.

Thanks in advance
 
If you otherwise like your BT keyboard, just connect a Lightning cable to it and plug it into your Mac Mini. It works wired just fine.
 
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Allyance said:
I just looked my KB over and I don't see a lightning input!
Click to expand...
Oh. You must have the really old keyboard with AA batteries in the hollow tube. The rechargable keyboard that replaced that one has a Lightning port. So if you otherwise like your keyboard, you can replace it with Apple's newer model. Not only will you never need to replace batteries, it probably has a newer bluetooth chip that might alleviate your problems.
 
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Your Mac mini actually is interfering with the BT. It's been a known issue since the very first Mac mini.

You can get an actual wired keyboard such as this one:
www.amazon.com

Wired Keyboard for Apple Mac OS,Plug-N-Play, Chic-and-Sleek All-Aluminum USB Keyboard with Numeric Keypad for iMac/Mac Mini or MacBook Laptop (Keyboard Riser Included)

Wired Keyboard for Apple Mac OS,Plug-N-Play, Chic-and-Sleek All-Aluminum USB Keyboard with Numeric Keypad for iMac/Mac Mini or MacBook Laptop (Keyboard Riser Included)
www.amazon.com

Or you can get any old wired keyboard of your liking. For the mini, I'd avoid a wireless keyboard because the device itself is going to interfere with reception.
 
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I have the new Apple bluetooth keyboard with keypad. Works perfectly with my 2018 Mini - and the space grey also looks great. ;) Now, my keyboard sits on the same tabletop as the Mini and is only about six inches away so I'm sure that helps. I'm a fast touch typist and really like the feel of this keyboard. Always liked the keyboard on my 2013 Macbook Air and also the old Apple USB keyboard. But I like the new wireless keyboard even more.
 
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My SG Apple Magic Keyboard works flawlessly with my M1 Mini. Zero issues.
 
As another friend in the thread stated I have the old AA powered keyboard which cannot be connected with a cable. Mine sits on the same table as the mini just a few inches from it but still it sucks. As I wrote the biggest problems I have are after resuming from a sleep. Several seconds before I can type my password plus from times to times the BT stuck goes haywire and the only way out is to power cycle the mini.
Aside from those problems, when things work I do like the typing feedback.
I therefore might try to find the newer connectable version.
This would go through an hub of course since the Mini M1 only has two Usb-C/TB ports, right?
 
I had tons of USB-C interference problems with WiFi and Bluetooth. I got a ferrite bead and put it around the USB-C cable to the usb-c hub. Since then I can work again.
 
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I got fed up with Apple keyboards long before the Magic came out. I use a Unicomp Spacesaver for the Mac. Built like the old IBM M-type battleships and you can actually know that the keys are being pressed. I have several of the original IBM's but it is a pain to configure an option key. Or rather, to keep it configured after every Apple update. They work great on Linux though.
 
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I gave up on my Apple keyboards - typing on little buttons isn't a great experience at the best of times, and it would have a bit of a fit every now and then and go through disconnect/connect cycles for a few seconds.

I replaced it with a wired mechanical keyboard with black switches. It makes typing much more satisfying.
 
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My Magic Keyboard in Space Grey works great with my Mac Mini but my matching Magic Mouse II has issues. Sometimes it works just fine and then it gets the Bluetooth Blues. I have all but given up on the Magic Mouse and use my wired Logitech Hero instead. If they were to come out with a Magic Mouse III with the Lightning Port on the front where it should be (to allow it to work when plugged in) I would buy 3, one for each of my Macs.
 
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Thank you all for your interesting input. I really love the magic trackpad and that never seems to loose a beat even though it's BT. I would really love to find a Unicomp Spacesaver but cannot here in Italy/Europe :(
 
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