Touch ID Keyboard for M1 MBP in Clamshell - Come ON!

[jadot]

So, this has been talked about to the ends of the earth, obviously, but the fact is, I need a new keyboard for my M1 MBP in Clamshell operation with my lush 2K BENQ display.

I wouldn't mind a keyboard with Touch ID, considering I paid for the feature and hardly get to use it. I'm losing valuable seconds here, typing in my password.

So, I'm asking; rather than predictions, has anybody heard anything about timelines for the Touch ID keyboards becoming available for people NOT buying an iMac? We all know that when the new 27-32 inch iMacs come later this year there will be new colour ways, probably in line with the Current 'Pro' line (silver/space grey/ black?) but I want to know when I can buy the effing keyboard on its own. I literally do not care what colour it is.

Anyone?

 

[JohnnyGo]

You can use your Apple Watch as a touch id substitute for any Mac

 

[xraydoc]

I strongly suspect Apple will eventually sell the TouchID keyboards (both the ten-key-less and extended models) at retail. People need replacements, change their minds about extended vs non-extended, etc. And Apple wouldn't have explicitly stated that they'll work on any M1 machine if they didn't intend to support any M1 machine other than the 24" iMac. Why they're waiting, I'm not sure... worldwide chip shortage, perhaps?

They'll also almost certainly be selling the new Magic Trackpads and Mouses in the various colorways as well. And since the new keyboards and trackpads have slightly different corners than the current ones available at retail, the next Mac Pro will likely ship with the same new shapes.

But until then, as stated above, my Apple Watch does the same job.

 

[jadot]

You can use your Apple Watch as a touch id substitute for any Mac

I don't have an Apple watch, so for me this is a rather expensive solution for touch ID.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I love my Apple Watch. Unlocks my Mac when I move it (not 100% success rate but mostly). Love double clicking my watch for Admin prompts too.

But, despite having an Apple Watch? I bought a laptop stand to hold my laptop OPEN next to my 4k monitor so that I can use Touch ID when I need it because some applications won't utilize the watch and still ask for a password anyway (but will accept Touch ID).

SOUNDANCE Laptop Stand, Aluminum Computer Riser, Ergonomic Laptops Elevator for Desk, Metal Holder Compatible with 10 to 15.6 Inches Notebook Computer, Silver

Soundance laptop stand - Your choice for getting rid of neck or shoulder pain after hunching laptop for a long time.

www.amazon.com

I know having your cool M1 MBP in clamshell mode behind the monitor or out of the way is nice but ... Touch ID is worth it, so I use this with my laptop sitting right next to my monitor - and I got a normal Apple Magic Keyboard.

The moment Apple puts out the Touch ID keyboards I'm buying one. To say I'm disappointed that they aren't available now would be an understatement.

 

[jdb8167]

I know having your cool M1 MBP in clamshell mode behind the monitor or out of the way is nice but ... Touch ID is worth it, so I use this with my laptop sitting right next to my monitor - and I got a normal Apple Magic Keyboard.

The moment Apple puts out the Touch ID keyboards I'm buying one. To say I'm disappointed that they aren't available now would be an understatement.

I don’t really have room on my desk to have my MacBook Air open. I have a 24” 4K monitor, the MBA, a 2013 Mac Pro, and a 27” Thunderbolt Display on my desk. If I ever get rid of the MP then I will get a lot of desk space back but I still need access to an Intel Mac.

 

[thenewperson]

They’ll likely sell that (probably only in silver) soon. I’m more annoyed that I still can’t get a backlit keyboard from them along with Touch ID.

 

[jadot]

I love my Apple Watch. Unlocks my Mac when I move it (not 100% success rate but mostly). Love double clicking my watch for Admin prompts too.

But, despite having an Apple Watch? I bought a laptop stand to hold my laptop OPEN next to my 4k monitor so that I can use Touch ID when I need it because some applications won't utilize the watch and still ask for a password anyway (but will accept Touch ID).

SOUNDANCE Laptop Stand, Aluminum Computer Riser, Ergonomic Laptops Elevator for Desk, Metal Holder Compatible with 10 to 15.6 Inches Notebook Computer, Silver

Soundance laptop stand - Your choice for getting rid of neck or shoulder pain after hunching laptop for a long time.

www.amazon.com

I know having your cool M1 MBP in clamshell mode behind the monitor or out of the way is nice but ... Touch ID is worth it, so I use this with my laptop sitting right next to my monitor - and I got a normal Apple Magic Keyboard.

The moment Apple puts out the Touch ID keyboards I'm buying one. To say I'm disappointed that they aren't available now would be an understatement.

This.

Sadly, even though Apple are doing mind boggling amazing things with technology right now, I'm the kind of person who is just hacked off at the holding back strategy with touch ID if it's compatible with my M1 Laptop. And that's where my head is at with Apple at this moment in time.
I guess what will happen is that anyone buying a new iMac will just flip the keyboard on eBay for stupid £$s and almost pay for the cost of the new machine.

The after market sales throw down is real.

Me? I'll wait, thanks, but Apple better not put the Touch ID keyboards on for anything near what they probably will (I'm guessing £/$200 ) which will be a real kick in the balls for early M1 adopters like myself.
I don't care what colour it is, and I don't care about backlit keys.

In the end, this is how the feeling of Apple manifests in my head, and remains. I'm not saying this means anything at all, and it's totally a first-world problem/non problem, but all they've got to do is put the thing in a box and up for sale. The reality is that the people who want it have already paid for their M1 machine and making the Touch ID keyboard available won't kill iMac sales because none of these M1 customers are going to have any money left to buy an iMac just for the keyboard anyway.

Just sell us the keyboard, or at least a trackpad with Touch ID, or something, anything.