![]() ![]() But they somehow look entirely modern, too. The models I’ve been testing are considerately designed with oodles of references to the past. If you’re into nostalgic stuff, then you absolutely need a mechanical keyboard. A feeling of nostalgia (and ultra-reliability) I actually relish sitting down and typing on these keyboards, and the end of every sentence spurs me onto the next. It might not be particularly pleasant to listen to for everyone in your office (more on that later), but there’s definitely some magic going on between the sound those keys make and the desire to create and get stuff done. There’s something infinitely pleasing about the clickety-clack sound of a well-made mechanical keyboard. Some would probably describe the sound mechanical keyboards make as akin to an ASMR experience. And the result of that is higher levels of productivity and, crucially, fewer mistakes. I’m definitely a better typist since I started using mechanical keyboards. The sound (which I’ll get onto in a moment) and the sponginess of the key travel becomes pretty addictive after a while, and while you will indeed make plenty of mistakes to start with, you’ll slowly raise your typing ability without even realising it. Once you get over that initial mechanical keyboard weirdness, you’ll become a better typist, and you’ll even grow to love it. Stick with it – because there are some serious upsides. You can’t be a lazy typist like I am each keystroke needs to be measured, accurate and fluid.īut don’t let that put you off. ![]() This demands a different typing style and plenty of patience as you get used to it. The key travel on mechanical keyboards, although different from model to model, is significant compared to a laptop keyboard or Apple Magic Keyboard. That’s the biggest difference you’ll notice, to be honest. This is particularly the case if you’ve been using an Apple (or similar) keyboard with relatively limited key travel. You may even dislike that initial experience. If you grab yourself a mechanical keyboard after reading this, it will feel odd to type on. If that sounds like you and, like me, you’ve been tempted, here’s what I’ve discovered while using them with my 27” iMac and M1 Mac mini. So, what follows is a complete novice’s experience of mechanical keyboards. I haven’t read up on the different types of switches, nor do I have much of an interest in their inner workings. And I’ve been conscious for quite some time that the type of keyboard you use can have a significant impact on your ability to type quickly and, crucially, enjoy the process of getting words down.Ī disclaimer: I know nothing about mechanical keyboards. Which was pretty special.īut, these days, I do a lot of typing. They also remind me, somewhat wonderfully, of the Amiga 500 I had as a kid. You could argue that Apple’s keyboards are mechanical keyboards, too, but there seems to be a general acceptance that the term is best used to describe third-party devices.įor me (and, I suspect, many others), mechanical keyboards remind me of the keyboards we used to use at school those great, big hulking grey devices which clicked and clacked in IT classes and had what seemed like bottom-less key travel. At this point, the A1048 keyboard was discontinued.PCMag defines mechanical keyboards as physical keyboards which use “an individual spring and switch for each key”. In 2007, they released a newer keyboard with low-profile keys and an aluminum chassis. There is also a useful repair guide on Instructables.Īpple released a Bluetooth wireless version of this keyboard ( model number A1016) later the same year. Follow the guides on this page or this repair video from the iBook Guy on YouTube. The keyboard is not too difficult to disassemble for cleaning and repair. You can identify this keyboard by looking for the model number “A1048.” It is written in small gray print on the bottom of the device. These ports were rated at USB 1.1 speeds (12 Mbit/s) until Apple updated the model in 2005 to support USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/s). On either side of this cable there are USB ports which you can use with more devices like a mouse. The keyboard connects to your computer via a USB cable that is attached to the back of the keyboard. The arrow keys are clustered in an upside down T shape on the right side of the letter keys. It has a full-sized number pad and movement keys like page up/down and home/end. The keyboard has 16 function keys (F1 through F16), volume keys, and an eject key in the top row. Unlike the previous version, the case on the A1048 fits tightly around the edge of all the keys and does not feature an adjustable foot on the bottom. The new model dropped the “Pro” moniker in favor of the simpler name “Apple Keyboard.” The A1048 keyboard features 109 white keys in a transparent plastic case. In May 2003, Apple released the model A1048 keyboard as a major design change from the previous Apple Pro Keyboard. ![]()
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