How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypad?

Macintosh software/hardware discussion and troubleshooting

Moderator: James Steele

User avatar
mhschmieder
Posts: 11282
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Annandale VA

How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypad?

Post by mhschmieder »

Do people find that they adjust to the foreshortened keyboard over time? I am making all sorts of typos due to the closer spacing of keys vs. the Magic Keyboard with USB and numeric keypad that I either bought later or that came with my mid-2010 MacPro.

I think this keyboard has been the same for a few years, but it is what came with my new 2017 iMac today. Maybe I'll adjust to it over time, and the feel is of course nice, but for those who have used it for awhile, just wondering if anyone went back to the "longer" keyboard for the spacing, even if they (like me) rarely use the numeric keypad.
iMac 27" 2017 Quad-Core Intel i5 (3.8 GHz, 64 GB), OSX 13.6.1, MOTU DP 11.31, iZotope RX 10
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager

Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johhny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
User avatar
Guitar Gaz
Posts: 1381
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2005 6:36 am
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: LONDON

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by Guitar Gaz »

Hate it - can't use it - bought a wired full keyboard (although I see a new extended wireless keyboard is now available). Need the numbers both for shortcuts in Studio One and DP, but also for general computer use.
Gary Shepherd
____________
iMac 27" 3.3 GHz Intel Core i5, 32 GB Ram, Monterey 12.7.4, 64 bit, Digital Performer 11.2, Studio One 6.5 Professional, Reason 11, Melodyne 5 Editor, Korg Legacy Wavestation and M1, Arturia minimoog V, Helix Native 3.72, Bias FX 2 Elite, Superior Drummer 3, EZkeys, EZbass, Nektar Panorama T4, Motu M4, Faderport 2018, Gibson Les Paul Standard, James Tyler Variax JTV-59 and other gear.
User avatar
mikehalloran
Posts: 15134
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:08 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Sillie Con Valley

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by mikehalloran »

Guitar Gaz wrote:Hate it - can't use it - bought a wired full keyboard (although I see a new extended wireless keyboard is now available). Need the numbers both for shortcuts in Studio One and DP, but also for general computer use.
Yep!

The shortened wireless keyboard that I never used plus my Magic Trackpad 1st gen are on eBay right now.

The new extended wireless keyboard has the same feature as my Magic Trackpad 2. When the charge runs out, plug a lightening cable in and you're back up immediately—no time spend changing batteries. I keep a lightening cable attached to a USB hub for that and my iPhone.
DP 11.31; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sonoma 14.4, USB4 8TB external, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3 6/10/12; 2012 MBPs Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5.2, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 Pro, Toast 20 Pro
User avatar
mhschmieder
Posts: 11282
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Annandale VA

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by mhschmieder »

Cool, I'll look into that as I didn't know about the new extended wireless model and its extra features.

On a separate topic, I have mixed feelings about Gen 2 of Magic Mouse as the recharger cable plugs into the bottom of the mouse, about 2/3 of the way from the center to the edge, making it impossible to use while charging (as you would have to set it on the edge of a table or desk and could only click buttons but not move it), and it also loses juice quickly and unexpectedly. I could just swap AA batteries while recharging the old ones.
Last edited by mhschmieder on Mon Jul 03, 2017 11:43 am, edited 2 times in total.
iMac 27" 2017 Quad-Core Intel i5 (3.8 GHz, 64 GB), OSX 13.6.1, MOTU DP 11.31, iZotope RX 10
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager

Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johhny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
User avatar
mikehalloran
Posts: 15134
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:08 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Sillie Con Valley

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by mikehalloran »

Not a MM fan. My daughters love them. That you can't use the new one while charging would kill it for me. Not an issue with the 2nd gen Magic Trackpad.

I'm on my second wired extended keyboard. A cuppa coffee did in the first so now I use the thinnest keyboard cover I could find. I like the current Apple extended keyboards. If this one were to go down, I'd head to one of the four Apple stores in a 15 mile radius (Infinite Loop is only 2 miles away but isn't always open) and just buy another or the new extended wireless.

If Apple can make a water resistant iPhone, how come they can't make a coffee resistant keyboard?
DP 11.31; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sonoma 14.4, USB4 8TB external, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3 6/10/12; 2012 MBPs Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5.2, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 Pro, Toast 20 Pro
User avatar
MIDI Life Crisis
Posts: 26254
Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Contact:

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by MIDI Life Crisis »

Not only could I not survive w/o a keypad, I have a second on the left (iHome makes a great wired one). Especially when using Finale, but in many other apps.
2013 Mac Pro 32GB RAM

OSX 10.14.6; DP 10; Track 16; Finale 26, iPad Pro, et al

MIDI LIFE CRISIS
User avatar
mhschmieder
Posts: 11282
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Annandale VA

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by mhschmieder »

I didn't realize this, but another vendor had beaten Apple to the punch:

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Matias/FK418BTS/

It's cheaper than Apple's new extended keyboard, and looks like it MIGHT have a bit of a rise in the back, which is something people complain about with the new Apple wireless keyboards being too flush against the desk.
iMac 27" 2017 Quad-Core Intel i5 (3.8 GHz, 64 GB), OSX 13.6.1, MOTU DP 11.31, iZotope RX 10
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager

Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johhny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
User avatar
Gravity Jim
Posts: 2005
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:55 am
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Santa Rosa, CA

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by Gravity Jim »

How do we like it? Not at all.

I can't use it because my DP hand is inexorably programmed to make things happened with the numeric keys. Lisa hates it because she's an old hand at Excell, etc., and a keyboard without a numeric pad is just broken, as far as she's concerned.

My son likes them, but he's a UX Designer and does much of his work with a small keyboard and a pen-controlled surface. So when Lisa got her new iMac last month, we traded the baby keyboard to Aiden for his unused full size one (he wanted the rechargeable version).
Jim Bordner

MacPro 5,1 (3.33Ghz 12-core), 32g RAM, OS X 10.14.6 • MOTU DP 10.11 • Logic Pro X 10.2.5 • Waves Platinum, UAD-2, Slate Digital, Komplete, Omnisphere 2, LASS, CineSamples, Chipsounds, V Collection 5[color]
User avatar
mhschmieder
Posts: 11282
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Annandale VA

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by mhschmieder »

I was doing more or less OK with it, until my first work-from-home day with the new computer/keyboard today.

When I remote to Windows, it expects the control key vs. the command key for shortcuts, even though it's kind of weird about having a Mac-centric view of much else of what I type on the Mac.

I have made countless errors today hitting the "fn" function key, as I am used to the control key being the corner key on the left.

Not sure I can abide by this keyboard. I'll give it a bit more time though, as I want to be certain before I decide which keyboard to order in Spanish and Russian.
iMac 27" 2017 Quad-Core Intel i5 (3.8 GHz, 64 GB), OSX 13.6.1, MOTU DP 11.31, iZotope RX 10
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager

Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johhny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
User avatar
mikehalloran
Posts: 15134
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:08 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Sillie Con Valley

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by mikehalloran »

mhschmieder wrote:I didn't realize this, but another vendor had beaten Apple to the punch:

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Matias/FK418BTS/

It's cheaper than Apple's new extended keyboard, and looks like it MIGHT have a bit of a rise in the back, which is something people complain about with the new Apple wireless keyboards being too flush against the desk.
I have some older Matias keyboards. One still works and I use it with my G4. The rest don't as they broke easily. I prefered them to the keyboards that came with my PPCs.

When I got my 2010 with its aluminum extended keyboard, that ended it for me and Matias.
DP 11.31; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sonoma 14.4, USB4 8TB external, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3 6/10/12; 2012 MBPs Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5.2, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 Pro, Toast 20 Pro
User avatar
mhschmieder
Posts: 11282
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Annandale VA

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by mhschmieder »

Another nail in the coffin for the Magic Mouse rev 2 tonight, as I plugged it in twice for several hours each time to recharge it, and it is barely at 50% after that amount of time, with no use while recharging. That is completely unacceptable, and if the computer goes to sleep, so does the recharging of the mouse.

I now regret parting with gen 1, which had simple and quick to recharge standard AA batteries which you didn't have to stop using the mouse while recharging.

What were they thinking? To have the recharger insert with a special cable that is rigid and goes vertically up into the bottom of the mouse in such a way that you can't possibly use it, and for it to take 12 hours to recharge, and then only if none of the various sleep modes kick in during that time.
iMac 27" 2017 Quad-Core Intel i5 (3.8 GHz, 64 GB), OSX 13.6.1, MOTU DP 11.31, iZotope RX 10
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager

Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johhny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
User avatar
HCMarkus
Posts: 9712
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:01 am
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Rancho Bohemia, California
Contact:

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by HCMarkus »

mhschmieder wrote:Another nail in the coffin for the Magic Mouse rev 2 tonight, as I plugged it in twice for several hours each time to recharge it, and it is barely at 50% after that amount of time, with no use while recharging. That is completely unacceptable, and if the computer goes to sleep, so does the recharging of the mouse.

I now regret parting with gen 1, which had simple and quick to recharge standard AA batteries which you didn't have to stop using the mouse while recharging.

What were they thinking? To have the recharger insert with a special cable that is rigid and goes vertically up into the bottom of the mouse in such a way that you can't possibly use it, and for it to take 12 hours to recharge, and then only if none of the various sleep modes kick in during that time.
Hey mh, hook it up to an iPhone or other USB power supply and leave it overnight; I think you'll find one charge lasts for a month or more. That's my experience.

I use the wired Mac keyboard with numeric; since my Mac Pro is resting remotely from my work area, having a hard-wired keyboard into which I have a USB Bluetooth dongle plugged gives me perfect reception for my mouse, which rests only inches from the dongle. There's no wire on top of my desk 'cause I drilled a hole thru which the keyboard cable passes underneath. Simply amazing. :lol:
User avatar
mhschmieder
Posts: 11282
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Annandale VA

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by mhschmieder »

HC, thanks for the advice. I was using a powered USB hub to charge it, but maybe since that's plugged in turn into the computer, it isn't "direct" enough to keep the recharge mode going.

I don't have an iPhone or any mobile devices. But I think there might be a difference between a charge-oriented USB receptacle and a powered USB hub, if not labeled specifically for recharging. I'll try to figure that out.
iMac 27" 2017 Quad-Core Intel i5 (3.8 GHz, 64 GB), OSX 13.6.1, MOTU DP 11.31, iZotope RX 10
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager

Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johhny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
User avatar
mikehalloran
Posts: 15134
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:08 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Sillie Con Valley

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by mikehalloran »

But I think there might be a difference between a charge-oriented USB receptacle and a powered USB hub, if not labeled specifically for recharging. I'll try to figure that out.
Some USB hubs do have dedicated charging ports that continue to do so when the computer is asleep.

I have one from D-Link. Unfortunately, the data ports go to sleep when my Mac does and don't wake up ... so I no longer use it. For that reason, I use an el-cheapo from Amazon without this feature but it never goes down on me.

Dedicated USB chargers are quite inexpensive — far less so than charging hubs.
DP 11.31; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sonoma 14.4, USB4 8TB external, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3 6/10/12; 2012 MBPs Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5.2, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 Pro, Toast 20 Pro
User avatar
mhschmieder
Posts: 11282
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Annandale VA

Re: How do people like the shortened Mac keyboard sans keypa

Post by mhschmieder »

Thanks, I'll look for one when I stock up on ink in a few days.

I thought the mouse had died a few days ago as it was unresponsive, so I brought it to work, no problem, then last night it EVENTUALLY decided to re-pair with my iMac.

Hopefully I didn't damage it during the debugging process, as I thought maybe the optical sensor was out of calibration and tried shifting it. Of course it wouldn't budge, but I may have limited its life in the process. I was desperate at that point!
iMac 27" 2017 Quad-Core Intel i5 (3.8 GHz, 64 GB), OSX 13.6.1, MOTU DP 11.31, iZotope RX 10
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager

Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johhny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
Post Reply