Truly Mac OSX compatible keyboards?

[xrayos]

so, I just got hooked onto mechanical/semi-mechanical (Topre) keyboards. However, I'm having a tough time finding a truly osx compatible keyboard. I bought a Filco red and promptly sold it because it was too light with no feedback. Got the RF 55g and love it, but it has sleep issues with my iMac (doesn't wake up properly). I have the RF hooked up to the PC now, but I only use that computer 10% of the time.

So now, I'm on the hunt for another keyboard that I can use with my Mac. I know there are a bunch out there, but what's everyone's favorite. Don't want to get another keyboard that I'll sell in a day or 2. I would use the RF board with the iMac and never put it to sleep, but there are no mac keycaps for them.


Options:
1. Use model M and get some mac keycaps from unicomp with volume, brightness, and media keys
2. Novatouch and replacement keycaps with Mac legends. (still may have sleep issues)
3. Filco TKL blues with replacement Granite keycaps and mac keys (currently on massdrop)
4. Another cherry mx type keyboard? WASD code clears?

what do you guys think

[saturnotaku]

List of Mac-friendly mechanical keyboards

The above probably isn't a comprehensive list, but you at least get the most popular options. While just about any USB keyboard is Mac compatible, I only listed ones whose layouts can be changed to be Mac-friendly via dip switches or harwdare programming.

I love the WASD CODE since they came out with the brown switch version. If you like the sound and feel of a Model M, you might want to consider getting the CODE with green switches.

[jwaz]

What's the sleep issue exactly?

I don't really have any issues using my hhkb w/ osx, I don't think I even use the mac dip switch settings. I wouldn't trip too much about the legends either, it's pretty simple to make a very similar modifier setup to the stock apple keyboard in system settings.

[saturnotaku]

I made a video documenting the sleep/wake problem with the Realforce and OS X.

HHKBs are not affected.

[jwaz]

I made a video documenting the sleep/wake problem with the Realforce and OS X.

HHKBs are not affected.

Weird... I haven't noticed this ever and I've been using RFs with OSX for quite a while.

[caseyandgina]

List of Mac-friendly mechanical keyboards

The above probably isn't a comprehensive list, but you at least get the most popular options. While just about any USB keyboard is Mac compatible, I only listed ones whose layouts can be changed to be Mac-friendly via dip switches or harwdare programming.

I love the WASD CODE since they came out with the brown switch version. If you like the sound and feel of a Model M, you might want to consider getting the CODE with green switches.

I happily used one of those (with MX Greens) for nearly a year and now have it available for sale (make an offer if interested!).  It does not have Mac-specific keycaps but I happily used it with my Mac the entire time.  It is a great keyboard but I have moved on to the Truly Ergonomic Keyboard now and no longer want to type on non-ortholinear keyboards.

[xrayos]

could it because of a certain back of usb 3.0 hubs? My iMac is a couple of years old (late 2012) when they switched to the new thin enclosure.  I wonder if it's just osx. One day, I'll bootcamp it and see if the sleep issues arises with windows.
Also, what model RF do you have?

Weird... I haven't noticed this ever and I've been using RFs with OSX for quite a while.

[Sygaldry]

THe HHKB works flawlessly on OSX.

[saturnotaku]

could it because of a certain back of usb 3.0 hubs? My iMac is a couple of years old (late 2012) when they switched to the new thin enclosure. 

It's not a USB 3.0 problem because my MacBook Pro has USB 2.0, and the issue is still there. I think the problem is a conflict with OS X and the keyboard firmware. An update for the latter would probably resolve it, but Realforce has no interest in making one.

[xrayos]

you're right. I did everything possible, short of re-installing osx. I even reset SMC and PRAM. I've resorted to leaving the iMac powered on, but display turns off.

[orihalcon]

Anyone tried a Soarer's converter? You could remap keys that way, could fix the sleep issue too. Most high end mechanical boards are backwards compatible with ps/2, which would be the only requirement.

[saturnotaku]

Anyone tried a Soarer's converter? You could remap keys that way, could fix the sleep issue too. Most high end mechanical boards are backwards compatible with ps/2, which would be the only requirement.

You would then need a PS2 to USB adapter, which would add further cost to something that would already be a time and money sink with no guarantee of a solution.

OP, one way to work around the issue that I forgot to mention is that if you wake your computer up with your mouse, the keyboard will work normally. That's a much simpler and cheaper workaround than trying to faff about with new controllers and such.

[skullydazed]

I've been very happy with my fc660m and fc660c. Both work flawlessly. I use software remapping to swap the alt/cmd keys because the dip switch only affects the key on the left, but that's the only oddity.

[xrayos]

I think it the RF's firmware also. Yes, I read about waking it up with the mouse also, but sometimes I forget. I wonder if there's a sub hub that can stay active even when the iMac goes to sleep.

Does anyone know for certain if the novatouch has any sleep issues?

[saturnotaku]

I think it the RF's firmware also. Yes, I read about waking it up with the mouse also, but sometimes I forget. Does anyone know for certain if the novatouch has any sleep issues?

It doesn't.

[xrayos]

^ hmm, a novatouch and some granite key caps may do the job.

[orihalcon]

Anyone tried a Soarer's converter? You could remap keys that way, could fix the sleep issue too. Most high end mechanical boards are backwards compatible with ps/2, which would be the only requirement.

You would then need a PS2 to USB adapter, which would add further cost to something that would already be a time and money sink with no guarantee of a solution.

OP, one way to work around the issue that I forgot to mention is that if you wake your computer up with your mouse, the keyboard will work normally. That's a much simpler and cheaper workaround than trying to faff about with new controllers and such.

Well, the idea would be to use something like this so you wouldn't also need a PS/2 to USB adapter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301452854832

Do all Realforce boards you've tried have this problem for you or is this a known issue?  I've got a RF board that I bought with sticky keys from a coffee spill and haven't  gotten around to cleaning yet.  I have access to a few different Macs of various vintages and versions of OS X that I could test the Soarer's on, but I'd have to be able to replicate the problem first, and I'm not sure that I'll get it with my RF board unless it is a widespread problem.

What version of OS X and what age of iMac do you have, and have you seen the problem with other macs, or just that one?

[xrayos]

Your cable looks interesting. This problem seems to affect a few of us. There are some that say it doesn't, but I'm not sure about their version of the keyboard. It could be just the 87u that has the dip switches.

See here,
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47411.0

I have a 2012 iMac on Yosemite.

[saturnotaku]

What version of OS X and what age of iMac do you have, and have you seen the problem with other macs, or just that one?

I had two RF keyboards, and 87U silent and a uniform 45g that started life as a 55g. Both were tested on two different Macs, one a 2011 MacBook Pro (USB 2.0) and a 2012 Mac Mini (USB 3.0). Both were running Mavericks at the time, but I also did a test on Lion and Mountain Lion on the MacBook Pro. Both keyboards exhibited the same issue on both computers.

Two HHKBs and all but one Cherry MX board I've used on both systems worked just fine. The one Cherry keyboard that didn't work was a KUL ES-87 that wouldn't bring the Mac out of sleep mode at all. After writing 2 emails to the company, they got back to me saying that they were aware of the problem. Apparently a batch of boards shipped with an old firmware revision, but unfortunately it's not upgradable by the end user.

[Findecanor]

I wonder what is going on on the protocol level. This doesn't happen on PCs, does it? How do Macs and PC act different after a keyboard has asked to resume?

[saturnotaku]

It must be something in how USB protocols are handled in OS X versus Windows. OS X has always had weird issues with USB - for example for the longest time, running a mouse at anything above the standard 125 Hz caused problems. You can't do n-key rollover through USB on a Mac, which is why some mechanical keyboards aren't compatible. Varmilo and some Noppoo models fell into this category. They outright said not to use them on a Mac.

[xrayos]

it's a shame that OS X can't fix this problem. I have my SSK hooked up to the iMac and it just works. sleep, wake, and karabiner


orihalcon,

I don't think your cable will work with the Realforce because it's not compatible with PS/2 protocols. Unless, the cable can convert USB to PS/2 then back to usb

[orihalcon]

it's a shame that OS X can't fix this problem. I have my SSK hooked up to the iMac and it just works. sleep, wake, and karabiner


orihalcon,

I don't think your cable will work with the Realforce because it's not compatible with PS/2 protocols. Unless, the cable can convert USB to PS/2 then back to usb

Ah, good point.  I'd seen conflicting reports googling where there have been some reviews that state that certain USB models support PS/2 "with supplied adapter," but it appears that those are likely incorrect.  Seems that they don't support PS/2 and the adapter wouldn't work in that case.  Too bad, that probably would have been a fairly easy fix if PS/2 was supported... Going to try it on my RF board anyway and see if it works by chance.