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Ask HN: What is your favorite keyboard for a mac?

4 points by dec0dedab0de ↗ HN
I recently started a new job as a developer, and I was given a Macbook Pro by my company. I have been looking for an ergonomic keyboard with the same key layout, but it doesn't look like there are too many options. I know a ton of people develop on Macs, what do you use?

10 comments

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jaimebuelta
I use the wireless Apple one, but the Microsoft Sculpt ergonomic keyboard is very popular in my office

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-gb/p/sculpt-ergonomic-d...

caw
A few of my co-workers have that and like it, but if you don't want laptop keys there's always the Microsoft 4000 (what I use), or 8000 for wireless. On the 4000, things like the volume buttons work out of the box with a Mac, but not all of the other special keys do.
justin808
Kinesis Advantage MPC, with the recessed keys. Here's a picture of me with the keyboard: http://www.railsonmaui.com/about/

It's very important that the keyboard is low enough so your wrists are straight. In other words, avoid putting it on top of a high desk.

I've been using this keyboard since working with Richard Williamson and Paul King at Infoscape in in 1997. It does take some getting used to, and you might want to configure the location of some of the keys. I have all the mac modifier keys accessible to my thumbs on BOTH sides so that I hit the modifier with one hand and use the opposite hand for the key, almost always.

Here's a link on Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Kinesis-KB500USB-BLK-Advantage-Conto...

companyhen
Along with that keyboard, your B&B looks nice. :)
dholowiski
I have a Kinesis Freestyle 2 keyboard, it's pretty great. I also emailed them off and on for weeks asking them questions about their keyboards, the people there are great too.
informatimago
Same as for any other computer: Das Keyboard 3 (or Filco TenKeyLess otaku).

The point being to use the same keyboard and the same mouse on all the computers you use (and configure the keyboard layout to be identical or the closest possible on all systems you use). This is how you increase the ergonomy of your human/computer interface. Consider the keyboard/mouse part of your body, and use USB as human/computer interface instead.

Someone1234
I'd avoid mechanical keyboards for development work. They simply require more energy expended per keypress which will tire your hands, slow your typing speed, and further worsen RSA-like problems.

Plus SOME of them are super loud. Which will annoy the people around you. However that's less of an issue with modern switches.

Unfortunately I don't have any Mac specific suggestions for you. Most of the people I work with are using Microsoft keyboards (yes, even Mac users). One person had a mechanical but when it broke they too moved to a Microsoft soft-key keyboard. One manager has a Apple Wireless keyboard however.

Few suggestions:

Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic, Sculpt Comfort, Comfort Curve 3000

Also AmazonBasics Wired Keyboard, it is chiclet style which is super nice for a workplace (stays clean, etc), and it has soft touch keys which allow you to type very expediently.

The reason people are suggesting mechanical keyboards are largely because they're in vogue at the moment. They went out of style, and now a lot of younger people think they're cooler than sliced bread (since they weren't around when every keyboard was mechanical). I'd suggest that before you even considered spending $100 on a mechanical keyboard (instead of $10-15 on some of the soft touch ones) you go play with one (e.g. Best Buy, they're in the "gaming section," not keyboards as they're a fashion accessory).

rsto
I use the ES-87 Keyed Up Labs mechanical keyboard with MX Brown switches. It has a hardware switch for Mac compatibility. I am happy with it. http://www.keyeduplabs.com/es-87.html

The ES-87 is not ergonomic, but since I suffered from RSI a couple of months ago, my personal opinion is that there is no better prevention or cure of keyboard-related health issues than just reducing the time spent at the keyboard. Pen and paper help a lot to reduce the amount of throwaway code that should not have been written in first place.