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geekhack Community => Reviews => Topic started by: jeffsui on Tue, 03 February 2015, 06:10:10

Title: Matias Laptop Pro (Mac User)
Post by: jeffsui on Tue, 03 February 2015, 06:10:10
Layout
So the firs thing I want to comment on is the key layout of the matias.  It is EXCELLENT for the mac. 

On windows the "main" shortcut key is ctrl where as on mac its command.  When typing on the mac I spend a lot of time using my left thumb to move to hit the command button, and thus the closer the command button is to the right edge of the x the better.  As you can see in the following chart Matias is Almost perfectly aligned with the right edge of the X as opposed to just about every other keyboard i've seen out there.  For a mac user this makes the transition VERY easy.  I'm currently typing on a Das Keyboard 4 on a mac at my office and although I'm used to the thumb travel distance I still MUCH prefer the Matias when using a mac. 

    Apple Keyboard        Matias Laptop Pro        Das Keyboard 4   
(http://i.stack.imgur.com/MBNhn.jpg)(http://i.stack.imgur.com/OtEQ7.jpg)(http://i.stack.imgur.com/S084k.jpg)

When i first received the keyboard i had a slight issue with the space bar.  The way i was hitting it with my thumb (on the corner of the side) felt a little "sharp" in my hand, however, after a day or two of use I completely stopped noticing it. 

Sound
Probably the best way to check out the sound of this keyboard is on the Matias webpage where they show a comparison of different keys: http://matias.ca/quietpro/pc/ .  There is a slightly "warm" feel to the sound and in general its quite pleasing.  Its also surprisingly quiet which is nice.   
Its hard to describe the sound this keyboard makes but (having only used a blue cherry before) it is a MUCH more warm and pleasing sound.  I find typing on it a very rewarding experience

Switches
My experience before this keyboard was only with cherry blue switches which I thought I really really loved, however, at this point I much prefer the Matias switches.  They have a stronger tactile feel to them, and after using the keyboard on the weekends and at night at home the cherry feels too "mushy" for me.  Perhaps i need to upgrade to greens.  They have a very nice tactile feel and a good solid resistence.  I really think they are great switches. 

Build Quality & Sex Appeal
This keyboard will not get you laid.  It is ugly. It has perhaps a retro nostalgia which might appeal to hipsters but compared to the other offerings out there (visually) its not that much of a looker.  However once you get to spend time with it and learn its personality and quirks you will develop a strong love for this keyboard and look past its plastic exterior.  Things like Awesome Typing Experience and I can type a check mark with ease and I don't need no wires will make you forget that its kind of ugly. 

So its actually not that bad.  Its a grey/silver plastic that looks worse than it actually is.   Its not a sleek minimalist look.  The keys themselves are covered in symbols (which is actually quite useful once you use them a few times), and the body just isn't that sexy when you compare it to other Mac products out there.  With regards to the plastic body, its translucent in parts as you can see the led lights shining through to indicate power and bluetooth "stuff'.  The retro

Bluetooth & Syncing
Its bluetooth.  Its easy to sync.  I wish it had the ability to sync to multiple devices, however, when I bring my laptop home from work I just re-sync it and its not that big a deal.  To sync you hold the power button down until it flashes blue and then you sync it.  Having a blue tooth mechanical is really awesome because, as a Mac user, I'm used to wireless bluetooth everything

Power & Charging
One tap on the "power button" and it will turn off, another to turn it on.  If the light starts flashing yellow (as it did when I opened it the 1st time) you have to charge it.  It comes with a usb cable that has male ends on both sides (I haven't really seen one of these before) so I would make sure not to loose it.  I charged it over night so I don't know how long that took.

Cost
I paid 130 shipped from mass drop.

Summary

As I am primarily a Mac user (perhaps 75% mac currently and a split 25% windows/linux) having a mac layout keyboard is one of the more important factors for me in keyboard choice.  Being accustomed to a wireless life with my iMac this keyboard was a natural switch for the apple wireless keyboard (which isn't really that bad as far as keyboards go).  For me the layout and type-feel are the two most important points of this keyboard and it succeeds in both areas.  This keyboard is currently being used with my iMac.

Pro
 * Mac Layout
 * Excellent Typing Experience
 * Bluetooth
 * Great Battery Life (as far as I can tell)

Con
 * Not the sexiest keyboard out there
 * Can only sync with 1 bluetooth device

Final thoughts:  :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
 (Makes me consider selling my Das Keyboard 4 and switching to another set of Alps switches)!


--- Edit ---
Somebody asked about "wobble".  I haven't experienced anything which seems out of the ordinary.  Also the keys are lined up quite nicely. 

--- Update ---

It turned out had an issue with my comma button on the laptop pro.  I've contacted matias and they shipped me a new keyboard immidietely so I can also speak highly of their custemor service
Title: Re: Matias Laptop Pro (Mac User)
Post by: vivalarevolución on Tue, 03 February 2015, 07:51:37
I have one of these as well (although I never use it).  For what it is designed to do, I find it to an effective, well-designed keyboard.  It may not have the look and feel of higher end custom keyboards, but it's enough to get the job done.
Title: Re: Matias Laptop Pro (Mac User)
Post by: jeffsui on Tue, 03 February 2015, 11:52:58
What do you use instead?
Title: Re: Matias Laptop Pro (Mac User)
Post by: saturnotaku on Tue, 03 February 2015, 14:12:26
I bought a Laptop Pro to use at work but am returning it. While I liked the layout and feel of the switches, the rest of it felt really cheap and plastic-y. With the feet up, it would slide around on my desk too easily and was uncomfortable with the feet down. It also had a problem with one of the switches where pressing the key would either not register at all or register a double press (xx instead of just x).

IMO, this keyboard is a bit too much of a niche product to be worth consideration.
Title: Re: Matias Laptop Pro (Mac User)
Post by: jacobolus on Tue, 03 February 2015, 15:06:20
Quote from: jeffsui on Tue, 03 February 2015, 06:10:10
On windows the "main" shortcut key is ctrl where as on mac its command.  When typing on the mac I spend a lot of time using my left thumb to move to hit the command button, and thus the closer the command button is to the right edge of the x the better.  As you can see in the following chart Matias is Almost perfectly aligned with the right edge of the X as opposed to just about every other keyboard i've seen out there.  For a mac user this makes the transition VERY easy.  I'm currently typing on a Das Keyboard 4 on a mac at my office and although I'm used to the thumb travel distance I still MUCH prefer the Matias when using a mac. 
Note that you can swap the modifier keys very easy in OS X. Go to the Keyboard pane of System Preferences, and click the ‘Modifier Keys...’ button:
(http://i.imgur.com/nrl3My3.png)
Title: Re: Matias Laptop Pro (Mac User)
Post by: Firebolt1914 on Tue, 03 February 2015, 16:41:23
People have said the simplified alps switches wobble quite a bit. What do you think about that?
Title: Re: Matias Laptop Pro (Mac User)
Post by: vivalarevolución on Tue, 03 February 2015, 16:58:49
Quote from: jeffsui on Tue, 03 February 2015, 11:52:58
What do you use instead?

Mostly IBM Model F keyboards and smaller 65% keyboards.  If I traveled more, I might have more use for the Matias Laptop Pro.
Title: Re: Matias Laptop Pro (Mac User)
Post by: jeffsui on Tue, 03 February 2015, 18:32:55
I haven't noticed any wobble.  I did read about wobble issues before buying the keyboard but nothing has jumped out to me.  Also looking at the profile view everything is lined up perfectly.

Title: Re: Matias Laptop Pro (Mac User)
Post by: jeffsui on Tue, 03 February 2015, 18:35:40
With regards to mapping the keys, yes its possible to do so, however, as somebody who regularly uses multiple Mac's I feel it makes more sense to stick with the "default" keys.  Usually the key mapping is better for switching the windows button and alt button to map to option and command.  To have control on the external keyboard = command, ,while the internal keyboard remained the same would be bonkers.

Quote from: jacobolus on Tue, 03 February 2015, 15:06:20
Quote from: jeffsui on Tue, 03 February 2015, 06:10:10
On windows the "main" shortcut key is ctrl where as on mac its command.  When typing on the mac I spend a lot of time using my left thumb to move to hit the command button, and thus the closer the command button is to the right edge of the x the better.  As you can see in the following chart Matias is Almost perfectly aligned with the right edge of the X as opposed to just about every other keyboard i've seen out there.  For a mac user this makes the transition VERY easy.  I'm currently typing on a Das Keyboard 4 on a mac at my office and although I'm used to the thumb travel distance I still MUCH prefer the Matias when using a mac. 
Note that you can swap the modifier keys very easy in OS X. Go to the Keyboard pane of System Preferences, and click the ‘Modifier Keys...’ button:
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/nrl3My3.png)

Title: Re: Matias Laptop Pro (Mac User)
Post by: jacobolus on Tue, 03 February 2015, 19:01:01
Quote from: jeffsui on Tue, 03 February 2015, 18:35:40
With regards to mapping the keys, yes its possible to do so, however, as somebody who regularly uses multiple Mac's I feel it makes more sense to stick with the "default" keys.
What I mean is, if you’re stuck using a keyboard designed for Windows, you can make the “Alt” key into command, and the “windows” key into option (personally I’d recommend swapping the physical keycaps too). Then there shouldn’t be any friction/confusion switching between the Windows-y keyboard and any standard Apple keyboard.