Page 2 – More Meh, a Tiny Quibble, and My Conclusions
The Matias keyboard in the photo below (bottom right) is a little longer than the wired Apple USB keyboard (top right), but is more compact width wise than the old Apple Wireless keyboard (left).
So I find this next feature to be ‘meh,’ but some people undoubtedly will see this as a big and good feature. This keyboard let’s you pair with up to 4 different devices.
I find this ‘meh’ because the only real use for an iPad is a great toilet companion, and it certainly doesn’t need a keyboard with a numeric keypad for my use case. Of course, your mileage may vary. I freely allow that others will disagree and will love to pair this keyboard with their iPhone, iPad, Macs, Android devices, Windows PCs, etc. Personally, I would have preferred not to have the extra pairing keys. Instead, change the pairing keys to be extra function keys (F16-F19 as found on the wired Apple USB keyboard). Perhaps in a future revision, Matias could put 4 chiclet keys next to the chiclet on/off button on the back side of the keyboard, and in addition, give us back F16-F19 keys.
This is my being a bit greedy, but in addition to more function keys, I would have loved it if Matias made the Fn key work like a Caps Lock key. So when you hit the Fn key it would flip a little LED and toggle lock the F1-F15 keys. So if you want to go on a longer bout of function key use, you don’t have to press down the Fn key like a shift key every time you want to engage a function key.
The Matias uses a micro-USB connector instead of a lightening cable for recharging. The charging indicators are bit wonky. It takes 5 hours to fully charge it, and the Caps Lock key acts as a battery status having several different color LEDs: amber indicating the keyboard needs to be charged, or is charging; green is charged.
You can plug in the charging cable and still use the keyboard as it charges, which is nice. However, one nice thing about the Apple Magic Keyboard is not only can you use the keyboard while it’s plugged in and charging, it will work as a USB keyboard while plugged in—this is super nice if you’re ever doing some fancy reboots like purging PR RAM while booting. The Matias keyboard will only work through its bluetooth connection, i.e., it will not work just as a plain wired USB keyboard while plugged in.
The Bad
My only negative quibble is the Matias keyboard does not show it’s current battery level under the Bluetooth menu like Apple devices do, instead, relying on its weird caps lock LEDs for battery charging status.
That said, since you only have to charge it once a year, it’s not really a big deal.
Some may quibble that it costs $99, the same as Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but as a value proposition, it spanks Apple’s offering. If you’ve been waiting for an Apple Wireless Keyboard with a numeric keypad, don’t. Hell will freeze over sooner than Apple starts actually listening to it’s customers. Instead, wait no longer, this is it: the Matias Wireless Aluminum Keyboard ($110.95 – Amazon, or $99 from Matias, plus shipping)
A nice-looking keyboard, thanks for the review. I’m always on the hunt for quality peripherals.
If I could humbly submit another contender in the full-size numeric “best Apple keyboard that Apple doesn’t make”, the Logitech K750 for Mac? Particularly as a “value for money” proposition. It can’t really be compared directly to the Matias (in both good and bad ways) but it has an extremely attractive, Mac-like fit and finish. Forget one-year battery life, how about solar-powered? At first I thought it would be gimmicky but after a long time without cables OR batteries, I’m sold.
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Solar-Desktop-Keyboard/dp/B005L38VRU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480505047&sr=8-1&keywords=logitech+solar+keyboard+mac
Pros:
– Price! $38.99 versus $100
– No batteries. Ever.
– Beautiful, Mac-like design
– Apple keyboard layout
– Excellent typing touch (for me, anyway. Admittedly subjective)
– Has all 15 Functions keys! 🙂
– Full support through Logitech’s Unifying Receiver and Solar apps
Cons:
– Some apparent build quality issues. I have had mine for over a year, and got them for two other family members who have also had no issues. But reading the Amazon reviews it appears there are problems with a significant number. You pays your money, you takes your chances. Still, with Amazon’s return policy, should be able to get a good copy even if you’re get unlucky at first. I reiterate: the three units I have experience with have been flawless.
– No backlighting. Obviously the power demands of such is too much for solar recharging.
– Doesn’t have the BT functionality of the Matias, if that is a desired feature.
So Bob, I agree with you on both points.
First, if you look in the photo of my junk drawer, you will see at least one of my old A1016 keyboards, which is in fact a bluetooth Apple keyboard with a full numeric keypad. I have 2 problems with that old keyboard, first, it’s clear terrarium plastic collects lots of icky gunk and its white parts turn an icky yellowish color with time. 2nd, I’ve grown to like the more modern shorter throw keyboards from Apple (highly subjective, no doubt)–the Matias key throw is about 2mm btw.
Second, I agree, it would be great to have backlighting on the Matias, and considering how long its battery lasts, they probably have enough juice to do it. Maybe they’ll consider adding it in the future.
Interestingly, the Sonder keyboard will have backlight. https://sonderdesign.com Then again, I pre-ordered the Sonder keyboard more than a year ago, I think. In the mean time, this Matias keyboard is serving me well. As always, YMMV!
Apple made a full size wireless keyboard (model A1016) not backlit either, during the white iMac days, as an upgradable option to their white wired standard (model A1048).
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/mac-platform/articles/123307.aspx
No backlit keys is a deal breaker for me and I’m sure many others. I’d buy 5 if they had the backlit feature, even for $25-$30 more. What’s the big deal about more recharges for a backlit feature?