[HN Gopher] Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard
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Teardown of the Apple's A1243 Keyboard
Author : szczys
Score : 44 points
Date : 2021-02-12 15:16 UTC (7 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (twitter.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (twitter.com)
| kube-system wrote:
| I like the key travel on the A1243. I wish their newer scissor
| switches were just a little bit taller.
| ksec wrote:
| Thanks. Again I am glad I am not the only one.
|
| 0.7 mm - Butterfly keyboard
|
| 1 mm - 16" MBP "Magic" ( Scissor ) keyboard
|
| 1.3 mm - old scissor keyboard
|
| It is only 0.3mm but it is a world of difference. And at no
| point would I want a 0.3mm thinner Laptop at the expense of
| much better typing experience.
|
| Even Microsoft copy the 1.3mm Key Travel Design with their
| Surface Book.
| kube-system wrote:
| I'm measuring 1.8mm of total travel on my A1243, and 0.8mm on
| my 2020 Macbook Pro but it could just be a matter of
| technique. 1.3 would probably be great.
| jordache wrote:
| my fav apple keyboard is the from the green PowerMac G4
| generation, with the clear plastic casing, and hefty mass.
|
| Just don't look at the underside, where food crumbs, hairs that
| fall into the key holes are forever trapped.
|
| https://www.reddit.com/r/VintageApple/comments/ax9hqm/got_an...
| phyalow wrote:
| That is still my daily driver with my 2019 Mac Pro. Great piece
| of kit.
| timw4mail wrote:
| So mushy...asthetically, I liked the transparent insulation on
| the cables, but I can't bear to actually use that.
| devNoise wrote:
| Yeah, the M7803 is great. Still have the one from my G4. A
| couple of years ago, I found a guy on FB market place that was
| clearing out an office with a bunch of those. Bought two, a
| black/clear and white. With those as backups, I took my
| original one apart to give it a good cleaning.
| 1-6 wrote:
| I hope Twitter doesn't become a commonplace location to put this
| type of info. I love teardowns, I loathe Twitter.
| 24gttghh wrote:
| https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Apple+Keyboard+A1243+Teardow...
|
| Enjoy
| machello13 wrote:
| I've been using this model keyboard for probably around 10 years
| now. I even have a couple spares sitting in a drawer since they
| don't make them anymore.
|
| * they're very durable (talking normal usage + spilling drinks a
| few times a year -- no stuck or broken keys)
|
| * the key labels never fade
|
| * there's 2 low-power USB ports (I think USB 2.0?) which aren't
| good for much, but good enough to plug a mouse into
|
| * it's not the easiest thing to take apart but if you get crumbs
| under a key, it's pretty easy to pry it up and then click it back
| in
| Hamuko wrote:
| > _talking normal usage + spilling drinks a few times a year_
|
| I've definitely dumped at least one cup of tea into mine,
| possibly even more, and it's still working perfect. It's quite
| bizarre actually.
| simonbarker87 wrote:
| I dumped an entire cup of tea into a 2016 MPB, it did not
| survive as well as your keyboard
| jahnu wrote:
| Same. Love em. My current one is dying. Are there any similar
| ones on the market?
| nuccy wrote:
| Interesting, a cup of sweet tea killed my A1243. Water got
| inside and shortened some pads or tracks, since pressing one
| key instead generated 3 or 4 others. I tried to dry it with
| rise and silica gel for weeks - didn't help. Then I tried to
| open it and that was an excellent example of an Apple product
| which feels great while it works and has 0 repairability, so is
| an e-waste when broken. Disassembly of any other keyboard would
| allow to fix such a simple problem. At the end I've got a used
| A1243 from ebay and am typing on it right now :) (if it breaks
| I would probably go to Logitech MX keys for Mac).
| aendruk wrote:
| Yep, a splash of coffee is what finally did mine in and
| they're totally unserviceable.
|
| Fortunately low-profile keys have been growing in popularity
| in the mechanical keyboard community so there are some
| excellent options to choose from now.
| nuccy wrote:
| During disassembly what surprised me the most was that the
| back plate is really rigid, since that plastic is reinforced
| with a metal plate. Instead of fixing that plastic-metal
| assembly with excessive use of glue, some 6-10 screws on the
| perimeter could produce the same solidity feel. Unfortunately
| much less repair-friendly and probably more expensive
| solution was used instead.
| aidenn0 wrote:
| As a rule, screws are more expensive than glue for
| manufacturing.
| bee_rider wrote:
| I've been using my desktop with a portable monitor and a
| lapdesk, due to recent high demand for work-from-home space in
| my apartment. We shouldn't undervalue those USB ports, it is
| really nice to have all the non-monitor user interface stuff go
| through a single wire, if the alternative is to have a bunch of
| wires tangled around you on the couch.
| marcodiego wrote:
| I think keyboards could be more powerful. I remember apple had a
| keyboard with usb ports[1] and sun had keyboards with
| speakers[2]. I don't why keyboards can't have some inexpensive
| useful features.
|
| [1] https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/imac-aluminum-
| faq/im...
|
| [2]
| https://archive.org/stream/bitsavers_sunsparcSPationVer11999...
| spijdar wrote:
| Just FYI, the speaker in the Sun keyboard only existed to emit
| status beeps when the computer is powered on and self-tests.
| Most non-suns have the same speaker integrated into the
| computer itself. At least when those sorts of beepy-PC-BIOSes
| were more common.
| nuccy wrote:
| Actually A1243 has an internal USB hub with two ports on both
| sides of the bump underneath. Those ports are very handy for
| Logitech wireless adapters: wherever the keyboard is plugged to
| the mouse comes with it.
| Hamuko wrote:
| The A1243 has two USB ports.
|
| https://everymac.com/images/other_images/apple-aluminum-keyb...
| aidenn0 wrote:
| Matias still makes apple-style keyboards with USB ports.
| shadykiller wrote:
| Anyone looking for a wireless mechanical keyboard - I can't
| recommend Logitech G913 more. Especially if it's employer
| sponsored. Low profile, compact and great switches. Love it :)
| josefresco wrote:
| Why isn't this a blog post? /old man rant
| gurkendoktor wrote:
| That model, but without the numpad, is still my favorite keyboard
| (the A1242). I've tried mechanical keyboards for fun, but I keep
| coming back to this one for the low profile.
|
| It was only sold for a year or so before the wireless model
| replaced it, and it's hard to find them now. What I did was to
| look for used iMacs from 2010, see which ones have the A1242,
| then ask the seller to only sell me the keyboard.
|
| Based on the replies I wasn't the first one to ask! Seems like
| there are still some fans around.
| graywh wrote:
| I found one (A1242) in the office surplus last year and have
| been using it since.
| ascagnel_ wrote:
| Apple has put out two versions of their tenkeyless keyboard --
| one powered by AA batteries (and with a substantial battery
| hump to hold them), and a low-profile version with an internal
| battery that charges via Lightning. I had been using one of the
| latter for at least 5-6 years (before a key died, courtesy of
| something falling on the keyboard). I've had my current
| keyboard for about 4 months, and I haven't yet had to recharge
| it after the initial charge.
| gumby wrote:
| My gf and I each have a wireless keypadless AA-powereed apple
| keyboard, one of which takes two batteries and one of which
| takes three. I only know because I was using one and it ran
| low, and I discovered I had prepared the wrong number of
| batteries.
| londons_explore wrote:
| I would _hope_ they can achieve a 50 year battery lifespan...
|
| After all, in the life of a keyboard it probably types 10,000
| characters per day for 50 years. Call that 400 Million events
| that need to be sent to your mac via bluetooth low energy.
|
| The system can be entirely powered down when no key is
| pressed, so the only energy loss is a pre-keypress amount.
| That works out to about 3 Watt-hours (assuming each keypress
| is transmitted 3 times for interference-resistance and has a
| packet length the same as an advertisement). A long-life
| alkaline battery has a low enough leakage to last 50 years,
| and about the volume of an AA cell can easily power daily use
| for 50 years. If you want to go smaller and lighter, you
| could get 10 years out of a coin cell.
|
| It would probably work out cheaper because you don't need to
| ship the device with a cable or charge circuitry too. Users
| don't have one more thing to worry about charging either.
| lm28469 wrote:
| > It would probably work out cheaper because you don't need
| to ship the device with a cable or charge circuitry too.
| Users don't have one more thing to worry about charging
| either.
|
| Knowing Apple they'd probably solder or glue the battery so
| that you have even one less thing to worry about
| echohack5 wrote:
| This isn't widely known, but the Magic2 keyboard can be turned
| into a wired keyboard by simply plugging in a thunderbolt wire.
| It will function entirely without bluetooth.
| ceejayoz wrote:
| (This also seems to fix Bluetooth connectivity issues. I've
| got a Mac that likes to forget its connections, and doing
| this appears to force a "oh, I recognize that device".)
| devenson wrote:
| FYI- disconnects may be caused by USB-3 interference with
| bluetooth signal.
| IndrekR wrote:
| Using Magic2s on my PCs. Wired. Windows needed a driver
| extracted from bootcamp to make fn key work properly. Those I
| consider to be the best keyboards I have used so far; and I
| have used many, including the much hyped original IBM
| mechanical ones (with the PCs they came with).
| Hamuko wrote:
| I doubt many people don't like the Magic Keyboard because
| it's wireless, but rather because it has a different key
| feel. Although I have an A1243 at home and had a Magic
| Keyboard at the office and didn't feel like there was much of
| a difference between the two. If my A1243 failed for some
| reason, I'd probably just get one of those (since buying a
| mechanical keyboard with a Mac layout is impossible).
| throw-away_42 wrote:
| I've had a Matias Laptop Pro for Mac for years and I've
| been super-happy with it. Mechanical but very quiet. So it
| wasn't impossible for me, but you might have other criteria
| that would make it so.
| Hamuko wrote:
| I don't consider 60%ers real keyboards. Also, Matias'
| tendency to shorten the Option key on their mechanical
| keyboards annoys me.
|
| I think the Laptop Pro might also only be available with
| an US layout.
| spike021 wrote:
| >since buying a mechanical keyboard with a Mac layout is
| impossible
|
| Recently bought a Keychron K2. First mechanical keyboard
| ever (except the older keyboards that came with computers
| in the 90's/early 00's).
|
| It's pretty great. Bluetooth and wired modes. Has keycaps
| for Command and Option. Has the media key icons on the
| function keys.
|
| It also has a switch so you can quickly set it for Windows
| (and it comes with keycaps for that as well).
| citrusybread wrote:
| I can highly recommend ... not buying the DAS keyboard with
| mac layout.
|
| I have one I got gently used from a coworker, who special
| ordered it... it's got a sticky spacebar that will random
| lock up and need to be lubricated; the keys are just
| printed on ABS so they're already wearing out and they look
| ugly as sin (plus they get so grimy so quickly).
|
| the only pro on this thing is the volume wheel / media
| keys, and the fact that the mac will recognize it and
| follow the "correct" behaviour. had tons of problems with
| previous keyboards since mac osx doesn't seem to have the
| same level of customization as eg kde.
|
| they're also advertised as having cherry keys, but they're
| really no-names -- not even Kalih, Outemu, or Gateron (who
| at this point are as reliable or better than cherry).
|
| Hard pass. My coolermaster keyboard ended up being a lot
| better. not holding my breath that apple gets its shit
| together and adopts a better keyboard layout. did wish
| someone made a mechanical that maybe used a dip switch or
| something easy to switch between layouts.
| Hamuko wrote:
| There actually isn't a Das keyboard with a Mac layout for
| there are no mechanical keyboards with a Mac layout on
| sale, period. Trust me, I've looked.
|
| So no worries, I'll just buy a Magic Keyboard if mine
| breaks. Or maybe I'll buy the Matias clone of the A1243.
| suchire wrote:
| This isn't a Mac layout?
| https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-professional-
| for-m...
| Hamuko wrote:
| It's not. The Function key is in the wrong place, the
| Eject button is in the wrong place and it's removed the
| F14 and F15 in favour of brightness keys(?).
| robertoandred wrote:
| It says "Backspace" instead of Delete. Heresy.
| semanticist wrote:
| Here's one with a UK Mac layout:
| https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-va109mac-pbt-
| backlit-...
|
| I'm currently dithering between buying that or the Das as
| my own A1243 is slowly dying, but at least that one looks
| like all the buttons are in the right place.
| GekkePrutser wrote:
| Me too.. I absolutely hate the feel of the newer 'magic'
| keyboards. Still use the old ones everywhere. The 'butterfly'
| laptop ones I just can't use at all.
|
| Not surprised these are totally unrepairable by the way.
| Luckily they rarely need to be repaired.
| Wingman4l7 wrote:
| People seem to have forgotten eBay exists -- the A1242/3 is
| still readily available on there.
|
| I cringe a little seeing all this affection for the A1243,
| after having seen scads of them go into the scrap heap at my
| local nonprofit electronics recycler.
| rshm wrote:
| Any who moved from this keyboard to newer bluetooth version with
| keypad. Do you find key spacing a bit tigher in newer version ?
| [deleted]
| throwaway4good wrote:
| This is my favorite keyboard.
| AltruisticGapHN wrote:
| Used them for past ten years, on Windows. So quiet. I used
| Apple's drivers to have the nice osd for media keys.
|
| I love how the AAK feels sturdy. It's one large slab, it doesnt
| slide easily on the table thanks to the rubber pads. It gives a
| nice low vibration thud when you type on it, it doesn't feel
| cheap.
|
| However i got myself a mechanical keyboard lately. The only issue
| i have with the AAK is that the function keys have no separation,
| always need to double check if I'm pressing the right key. For
| gaming this can be annoying. On many other pc kkeyboards you get
| f1-f4 grouped, then some space, then f5-f8 etc. so it's much
| easier to find them if you eg. need to pres f5 quickly.
|
| Now I'm on a Ducky One 2 TKL with "cherry mx silent red" and what
| a joke. It?s WAY more noisy than the AAK. The transition was
| rough... but i start to like it... i guess you can get used to
| either, the AAK now feels a bit weird.
|
| Anyways, long story to say only after switching away i realized
| just how nice these "scissor" switches feel. I genuinely never
| even paid attention to the small resistance of the keys, before
| they activate.
| Naga wrote:
| I forgot about these until this post. I used to have one when
| they came out, and I worked at a retail store where all of our
| kiosks had these.
|
| Does anyone else get electric shocks often from them? I would get
| them anytime I touched the metal case of it. I never thought to
| google it or anything.
| kube-system wrote:
| Usually when electronic devices have a metal housing, they're
| tied to ground. Getting shocked could be a sign of a wiring
| issue in the building. Ground _should_ be at zero electrical
| potential.
| dangrie158 wrote:
| The tingling you may feel is absolutely normal. Most devices
| (Mac minis and MacBooks while connected to the charger) don't
| even connect to PE (only 2 connectors on the plug).
|
| The tingling comes from some leakage across the transformer
| isolated primary/secondary but is so small that it's not
| dangerous.
|
| That's also completely unrelated to static discharges that
| zap you once you touch something that can equalize the
| potential
| kube-system wrote:
| The post on the AC adapter (that the duckhead or extension
| cable slots into) is earthed, and some adapters (other than
| the 2 prong US duckhead) continue this to the building
| ground.
|
| The US extension cable is earthed, and I believe some
| duckheads in other countries are as well. The power
| adapters that were in use for mac desktops during the time
| period that the person I am replying to was referring to
| were earthed.
| https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.vmVNrqGAR3raMcey5fAXUQHaE6
|
| Although you are correct in cases where the device is not
| earthed.
| londons_explore wrote:
| This is a characteristic of your mains AC supply. You won't get
| a shock off things not connected to the mains AC earth (usually
| plugged in appliances and radiators/water pipes).
| tambourine_man wrote:
| >Does anyone else get electric shocks often from them?
|
| Oh yes. Also, many aluminum laptops when plugged in.
| Hamuko wrote:
| I received some fun electric stimulation when my hand was
| touching both my aluminium Apple keyboard and my MacBook Pro
| when it was plugged in.
| timw4mail wrote:
| Winter is a painful time for static electricity...anything that
| conducts electricity can shock you.
|
| Aluminum computers or keyboards, steel wall corners...if it has
| exposed metal, I swear I have been shocked!
| pmcollins wrote:
| I was using a Microsoft ergo keyboard, among others, for years
| and suffered from what I thought was going to be lifelong
| tendonitis, making life rather difficult as a programmer.
|
| Then I started using this keyboard and my tendonitis went away in
| a few weeks and never came back. Thank you Apple.
| michaelcampbell wrote:
| I love and loathe Apple keyboards. On the love side, the original
| 1984 Mac, and the Apple ][. On the loathe side, most anything in
| this century.
|
| I like the IBM model M's, too, so there's that.
|
| My daily drivers now are Cherry Blues or Browns.
| cmiller1 wrote:
| Matias makes some modern USB clones of the original Apple
| keyboards you mention, all the way down to making a modern
| clone of the ALPS switches.
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