Bluetooth and WIreless Keyboards For Mac
Apple's Current Bluetooth Keyboard Options
There's an ever growing range of Mac compatible Wireless and Bluetooth keyboard options. From the minimalist model Apple currently sells to full-size keyboards for Mac with numeric keypads, You'll ideally want Apple supported function keys that are clearly labeled and support Expose, Screen Brightness, Speaker Volume and proper Disk Eject features of OS X Leopard and Tiger.
- Razor Thin Aluminum: Compatible with iPhone, iPad IOS4 and OSX it's a simple choice. But for desktop computer use, we're not impressed with the far-too-small compact Bluetooth keyboard Apple currently offers. It's lack of a separate numeric keyboard (which the full-size USB version has) is frustrating. It's a functional and serviceable wireless option, but far from ideal.
Apple and 3rd Party Wireless Bluetooth Keyboards "Made For Mac"
- Aluminum Full Sized: Several computer accessory manufacturers make input devices with Macintosh users in mind. Among these Wireless Bluetooth Keyboards you'll see MacAlly, Logitech and other alternatives worth pondering beyond Apple's own offerings.
Stuck, Unresponsive Key? Dropped Keyboard? Cat Pee'd On It?
There's good reasons to avoid the tangle of wires and freedom of placement of your keyboard with your Bluetooth equipped Macintosh. And many opt for an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard with their Mac order. There are some drawbacks: Difficulty pairing, futzing and replacing batteries, Bluetooth interference issues. A wired device is implicitly more predictable and reliable than any wireless battery-operated peripheral. But that's the price you pay for wire-free computing. It's important to note that not all Wireless keyboards are explicitly Blue-Tooth devices. For years, Radio-Frequency RF transmitters have been used - the RF Transmitter a USB dongle type device to communicate with the keyboard. And some of these RF keyboards (and Mice) can be Mac compatible.
Older Mac Bluetooth Keyboards - Non Aluminum
Some users really want an original matching Apple keyboard when you need to replace it. The earlier clear acrylic and white plastic Bluetooth Apple keyboard models can still be found. Try scouring - you can often find the exact color or style of discontinued model. But buyer beware: Really make sure the auction clearly states it was TESTED - and guaranteed fully-functional and not have any dud or broken keys.
Fix Mac Bluetooth Keyboard? Sometimes You Just Can't
Broken and damaged keys on an Apple Mac keyboard often require completely replacing the entire thing. A single unresponsive or hopelessly stuck key is often caused by a damaged micro-switch under the key that is so small and tiny there is NO way to 'repair' the key switch. A Bluetooth's batteries may leak or corrode, damaging the battery compartment and killing a Bluetooth keyboard. Cracked key-tops or missing Mac keycaps can sometimes be replaced individually, but often small plastic latches get broken when something falls onto your Mac keyboard and won't stay on when pressed into position. Just buying new Mac compatible keyboard is the most direct solution for 'repairing' the vast majority of keyboard problems.
Windows PC Bluetooth Keyboards On A Mac : Okay, Sorta, Kinda, Ugh!
Yes, nearly ANY Windows PC keyboard will pair over Bluetooth and largely work on your Macintosh - well at least PART of it. Far too many these days have literally a dozen or three extra special function keys and spiffy features only supported on Windows -- keys which when pressed may very well do nothing, something unpredictable, or worse-case do something you DON'T want to happen. Often the 'Windows' icon key is NOT mapped to the Apple 'Command' key and when you want the Option key you have to press ALT instead. Yeah, you can 'get used to it', but it's far from elegant.
Another frustration you may find trying to use a Windows keyboard is that on boot-up your Mac may have problems initially recognizing the 'alien' keyboard and require you to follow on-screen instructions built-into OS X that have to be done at boot time to help your Mac figure out which key is what. Annoying!
Another frustration you may find trying to use a Windows keyboard is that on boot-up your Mac may have problems initially recognizing the 'alien' keyboard and require you to follow on-screen instructions built-into OS X that have to be done at boot time to help your Mac figure out which key is what. Annoying!
