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❓ What mechanical keyboard do you use/plan to use with your Mac Studio? ❓
- Thread starter sonicthehedgefrog
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Last week, as a happy user of Apple keyboards, I decided to try out a mechanical keyboard with my Mac Studio just for the hell of it. I was about to purchase a Fujitsu/PFU Realforce 2 or Happy Hacking keyboard when I decided to find out whether there are other options that I should consider. That's when I discovered that building and collecting keyboards has become a hobby, and an expensive one at that.
There are entire forums about mechanical keyboards, and a large number of Twitch channels where people watch somebody spend the better part of three hours putting together a keyboard kit. Participants in this hobby spend a lot of time focused on how a keyboard sounds, and they make all kinds of fiddly modifications to tune "the typing sound".
There are now hundreds of videos on YouTube that are principally or entirely just someone typing on one of these mechanical keyboards at 120 or more words a minute. The point escapes me entirely, given that nobody composes at anything close to that speed. It's like they're trying to emulate a secretary copyist in a typing pool circa 1990. At the speed of real world composing, it's unlikely that the many modifications made for "typing sound" reasons make a whit of difference.
Before I knew how bonkers all this was, I ordered a keyboard kit. In the keyboard kit world (hobbyists prefer the term "custom keyboard", which is frankly a misnomer), purchases are mostly done through a "group buy", which itself is a pretty bizarre process. I should receive my keyboard sometime between October and December, although this is based on the generous assumption that production is on time. Why didn't I just buy one secondhand? Turns out that there's a dedicated market on Reddit for the sale of these kit keyboards, the only problem being that the secondhand prices are up to double the original price.
I should probably cancel the transaction, but I've decided to let it ride. However, in retrospect I should have purchased a keyboard from Fujitsu, or maybe just stuck with my Apple keyboard that works just fine
There are entire forums about mechanical keyboards, and a large number of Twitch channels where people watch somebody spend the better part of three hours putting together a keyboard kit. Participants in this hobby spend a lot of time focused on how a keyboard sounds, and they make all kinds of fiddly modifications to tune "the typing sound".
There are now hundreds of videos on YouTube that are principally or entirely just someone typing on one of these mechanical keyboards at 120 or more words a minute. The point escapes me entirely, given that nobody composes at anything close to that speed. It's like they're trying to emulate a secretary copyist in a typing pool circa 1990. At the speed of real world composing, it's unlikely that the many modifications made for "typing sound" reasons make a whit of difference.
Before I knew how bonkers all this was, I ordered a keyboard kit. In the keyboard kit world (hobbyists prefer the term "custom keyboard", which is frankly a misnomer), purchases are mostly done through a "group buy", which itself is a pretty bizarre process. I should receive my keyboard sometime between October and December, although this is based on the generous assumption that production is on time. Why didn't I just buy one secondhand? Turns out that there's a dedicated market on Reddit for the sale of these kit keyboards, the only problem being that the secondhand prices are up to double the original price.
I should probably cancel the transaction, but I've decided to let it ride. However, in retrospect I should have purchased a keyboard from Fujitsu, or maybe just stuck with my Apple keyboard that works just fine
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For work, a small $20 chicklet keyboard to use with my left hand.
Easier to move your fingers around a nearly flat keyboard with flat 'caps', compared to most mechanical ones.
For everything else a split keyboard, using ergodone pcb's.
With Kailh burgundy linear switches, using 2 o-rings for the keycaps.
It's silent and feels like typing on velvet, compared to my older boards.
Easier to move your fingers around a nearly flat keyboard with flat 'caps', compared to most mechanical ones.
For everything else a split keyboard, using ergodone pcb's.
With Kailh burgundy linear switches, using 2 o-rings for the keycaps.
It's silent and feels like typing on velvet, compared to my older boards.
I like the G915 TKL but it is pricy. Anyone have recommendations for a mechanical keyboard with brown switches and wireless that is a little cheaper?
Here you go:
Keychron K10 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
Keychron K10 Wireless mechanical keyboard has included keycaps for both Windows and macOS, and users can hotswap every switch in seconds; with the hot-swappable version. Please drop your email on "Notify Me When Available" if the product model is out of stock.
Keychron K10 Full Size 104 Keys Bluetooth Wireless/USB Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for Mac with Gateron G Pro Brown Switch/RGB Backlight/Multitasking Computer Keyboard for Windows, Aluminum Frame https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MLJ411T/ref=cm_sw_r_api_i_QGPF908P02YAVF623B4R_0
I use an OLKB Planck with Cherry MX Blues. My layout is basically Colemak with adjustments. 😎 Gory details can be found here.
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Mine is Keychron K1 browns. Using with Mac, Windows PC, and PS5.
It can connect with up to 3 devices via Bluetooth which is quite useful in my use.
It can connect with up to 3 devices via Bluetooth which is quite useful in my use.
Yeah, I switch my K2 between my Mac, Windows desktop, and iPad.
Regularly switch between Mac and Windows PC on my K2. Works pretty well, although the ultimate for me would be for the modifier keys, slash, pound, quote etc to be e-ink and dynamically change.
I've been using an IBM MODEL M, condensed layout, manufactured in 1987 using a PS/2 to USB adapter with multiple PCs, Mac Pros and now the Mac Studio. If I could find a mechanical keyboard that matches the quality of a keyboard from 1987, I'd be happy to switch.
Received my Keychron Q5 last week and I've been using it since, and, wow, is this a nice keyboard. Gateron G Pro Brown switches (from Keychron; not custom switches).
I've been using a Q1 (version 1) with the factory lubed Gateron Brown switches up until now and I thought that was nice, but the Q5 is something else! And I really like the look of Keychron's new retro-style keycaps ("OSA").
Thing is a tank. Gotta be 5 lbs at least.
I have a Keychron K4 with standard Gateron Brown at the office at work. There's no comparison between that and the Q5.
Ali Express sells what appear to be Keychron OSA keycaps (they're not available on Keychron's own website, at least not yet). Not sure if they're legit but they're listed on Ali Express's Keychron store. I might buy a set for my original Q1 for s**ts and giggles and see how they are.
I've been using a Q1 (version 1) with the factory lubed Gateron Brown switches up until now and I thought that was nice, but the Q5 is something else! And I really like the look of Keychron's new retro-style keycaps ("OSA").
Thing is a tank. Gotta be 5 lbs at least.
I have a Keychron K4 with standard Gateron Brown at the office at work. There's no comparison between that and the Q5.
Ali Express sells what appear to be Keychron OSA keycaps (they're not available on Keychron's own website, at least not yet). Not sure if they're legit but they're listed on Ali Express's Keychron store. I might buy a set for my original Q1 for s**ts and giggles and see how they are.
I grew up typing on an old Smith Corona in Jr. High when I first learned to type, then at my first real job at Pacific Telephone we used IBM Selectric typewriters, those the typewriters that I learned to type on and where I can type the fastest and most accurate.I have seen these keyboards on many youtube videos and tech channels and wondering why they are popular? are they just the nostalgic factor or practical because of the large keys compared to the current keyboards we have like magic keyboard etc ? just curious. I would be more afraid of my fingers falling into the key spacers and the noise.
I hate the keyboards now-a-days there they is a bunch of space between the keys and hardly any key travel, back in the days of the IBM PCjr the chicklet keyboard was mocked and laughed at as a toy keyboard, that is exactly how I feel about Apple's new keyboards they are a joke. I use a Keychron (forgot which model full size with numeric keypad) with the Blue switches and I also have a Steel Series that I use with my Mac Mini that is connected to the TV. Both are very good keyboards, but I like the Keychron a bit more.
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Looks like a great keyboard. I have a K2 (my first Keychron) and really love it - interesting that you say the Q5 is so much better than the K4? I've got Gateron browns in my K2, but I'm thinking of switching them for lubed Glorious Pandas.
I did see this new keyboard is launching - the MONOKEI Standard. Looks pretty good, and at a good price. Might be worth checking out.
Does look nice. It’s a group buy which I try to avoid but a lot of boutique keyboards are like that lately.
The Q5’s case is super heavy and thick, which I think contributes to the dense, solid feel of the whole thing, regardless of the switches. The keycaps are also not as thin as on the standard Keychrons, which helps a lot with sound/feel.
I went for the aluminium K2, so it's also very heavy, and I'm using the Mac-inspired dye-sub PBT keycaps, which are WAY better than the standard keycaps (I agree, they are very thin and don't have a good sound or feel).
Next month I think I'll go for some factory-lubed Glorious Panda switches. Not the pinnacle of holy panda clones, but pre-lubed is useful and while I may have an above-average interest level I'm not exactly a mech connoisseur prepared to spend hundreds on the thing
A mechanical keyboard has a physical switch under each key.
The alternative is having a small rubber done that pushes against a pcb.
And once you discover this difference, you'll never go back if you can avoid it!
(Having said that, the keyboard on my M1 MBA is the best laptop keyboard I've ever used, and I'm quite happy with that. A desktop, on the other hand...)
There certainly are some good rubber dome keyboards.
It’s just that the majority of them aren’t as it’s done to keep costs down.
There are bad mechanical keyboards too. But these seem to be much rarer as it’s a lot of effort and cost to go through to end up with a bad product.
I'm assuming that the colors are Cherry MX key colors.
Blue is clicky.
Brown is tactile and non-clicky
Red is non-clicky linear
Green is like Blue but requires more activation pressure and there's more acoustic feedback
I have 3 CoolerMaster TKL Mechanical Blue Keyboards and 1 Max Blackbird. I prefer the CoolerMaster as they are more compact and the lighting is more consistent. I absolutely love these things and have been using them for over a decade.