Apple Mechanical Keyboard Old

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  1. Mac Mechanical Keyboard
  2. Old School Mechanical Keyboard
  3. Amazon Mechanical Keyboards

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There is no doubt that Mechanical keyboards are the real deal when it comes to typing and gaming. It feels so good to type on a mechanical keyboard because you will get the satisfying clicky sound and tactile feedback from it (with clicky switches only). Moreover, they are also much more reliable and durable than regular membrane or rubber dome keyboards. Modern mechanical keyboards have become so modern, both in looks and functionality that sometimes we even don't get that retro feeling that we are using a mechanical keyboard. However, they do feel mechanical to the core when we type on them, but that overall vintage or retro feel seems kind of missing in appearance and functionality. So, if you want to experience the real feel of a vintage typewriter style mechanical keyboard, and want to stand out from the crowd, then there are some pretty unique looking mechanical keyboards out in the market, which are called as Retro Mechanical Keyboards. You may also call them Retro Classic Mechanical Keyboards or Typewriter keyboards because of their Vintage look. These keyboards mimic the design of a typewriter and they put you in nostalgia state when you use them for typing.

Also, Retro Mechanical Keyboards look very cool, and they come with round typewriter keycaps and some of them have their whole design made to look like a typewriter. These retro-style keyboards are best suited to typing only, but you may use it for a light amount of gaming too. Also, some of them feature LED backlighting and some are available in wireless functionality too. They are available in both Full key and Tenkeyless (TKL) form factors, and here I am going to list down the Best Retro Mechanical Keyboards that can add an extra oomph factor to your desk.

Read also:Best Low Profile Mechanical Keyboards for Typing & Gaming

1-16 of over 1,000 results for 'old apple keyboard' Matias FK303 Mini Tactile Pro USB Wired Tenkeyless Keyboard with Built-in 3-Port Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Hub - Compatible with Mac 4.1 out of 5 stars 75. Future Apple Magic Keyboard Might Put Mechanical Keyboards To Shame By Tyler Lee, on 16:48 PDT One of the advantages of building a custom mechanical keyboard is that you can pick the switch you want to go inside of it. Mechanical keyboards aren't mainstream, but they are becoming more popular as small-scale manufacturing becomes cheaper and online communities grow.

Best Retro Mechanical Keyboards [Vintage Typewriter Style]

Below are the best retro style mechanical keyboards that are inspired by the typewriter design, and have a vintage kind of feel and look to them. These are great looking keyboards that are super stylish and are way different from the plethora of mechanical keyboards that you would normal see, including the gaming ones.

AZIO Classic Mechanical Keyboard (USB/BT)

[Looks Great, Bluetooth & USB Options Available]

AZIO is an American company that is known for its premium retro mechanical keyboards. Here we have AZIO Classic Mechanical Keyboard, which is one of the finest and gorgeous looking retro mechanical keyboards in the market. This retro steampunk keyboard comes with round 'typewriter' keycaps and is available in different color options that include Artisan, Elwood, Onyx, and Posh.

Artisan has a black leather top plate with copper colored metal frame & keycap border; Elwood has wood finish top surface with greyish metal frame and keycap borders; Onyx comes in all black color with leather top plate and Posh has got a white leather top plate with white keycaps and copper colored metal frame. Each keyboard has an elegantly designed logo plate, featuring premium grade brushed anodized aluminum, and each plate is embossed with the product name that is filled with glossy lacquer paint for a classy shine and vintage appeal. Below, you can see all the color options of this classic retro mechanical keyboard.

Moreover, the keyboard is available in two variants that include USB only and Bluetooth+USB (hybrid). The keyboard comes with clicky and tactile mechanical switches (blue switches), made by Kailh, which is one of the largest manufacturers of mechanical switches. These switches are pretty good, reliable and come very close to the Cherry MX switches. The keyboard has got white backlight for Onyx, Artisan, Elwood variants and orange backlight for the Posh variant that looks very classy and illuminates the keycaps very well. You can also adjust the brightness of the keys on-the-fly and there is no software needed for it. The media shortcuts are shared with the functional keys (F1-F12) that can be used in conjunction with the special FN key.

The keyboard is strongly built and comes with height or tilt-adjustable round stands at the bottom. This keyboard is a bit on the taller side, and you may want to use a wrist rest with it for a better comfort level. On the gaming front, the keyboard supports 6-Keys rollover with Anti-ghosting. The Bluetooth version is a hybrid one, which means it supports both Bluetooth and USB wired mode of operation. With Bluetooth enabled, you can pair it with various Bluetooth devices that include your Android phone, tablet, laptop, etc. It comes with a USB Type-C cable that is also used for charging the battery, rated at 6000mAh, and can last up to two months with moderate backlight usage, and up to one year with the backlight turned off. The USB cable is braided for extra protection.

The keyboard supports Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 and Mac, and Mac Layout Replacement Keycaps comes bundled with the BT variant of this keyboard. The Bluetooth model has dedicated switches to switch between USB and Bluetooth mode, and also between PC and Mac layout. Overall, a high-quality and great looking retro mechanical keyboard that can turn heads, and can grab a lot of attention from your friends and family. Personally, I would recommend the Bluetooth version more, because of its wider compatibility and functionality. You can check out the different color options and variants of this keyboard from the link given below.

AZIO Classic Mechanical Keyboard Specifications
Form FactorFull Size
Switch TypeAZIO Typelit Mechanical Switch (by Kailh)
BacklightWhite LED (Onyx, Artisan, Elwood), Orange LED (Posh)
InterfaceUSB only, Bluetooth / USB
FeaturesNKRO 6-Keys rollover with Anti-ghosting, Tilt/Height adjustment, USB Type-C charging port (for BT version), 6000 mAh Li-ion battery (for BT version), Braided USB cable, Windows and Mac support, Mac Layout Replacement Keycaps (BT version only), FN media shortcut keys

AZIO Retro Compact Keyboard (RCK)

[Portable, Palm Rest Included]

This is the compact version of the above mentioned AZIO Classic Mechanical Keyboard. This Retro Classic Compact keyboard comes with almost the same features that you find in the Bluetooth variant of the above mentioned AZIO Classic Mechanical Keyboard. It comes with the same Kailh blue switches that are tactile and clicky and have the same rounded typewriter styled keycaps. The keyboard comes in different color options that include Artisan, Elwood, Gunmetal, and Posh.

Artisan, Elwood and the Gunmetal variant has White Backlight, while Posh one comes with Orange backlight. The connection interface includes Bluetooth and USB, and you can switch between these modes via a switch located on the side of the keyboard. The keyboard comes with a soft-touch palm rest or wrist rest that provides you utmost comfort during typing. It also supports 6-Keys rollover that can prove very handy, if you want to use it for gaming. Both PC and Mac layouts are supported and a dedicated switch is also present to switch between these layouts.

The keyboard comes with a 5000mAh battery that can provide up to two months of usage with moderate backlight use ON, and up to one year with backlight completely turned Off. It comes with a USB Type-C cable that also serves as a charging cable for the keyboard. Media shortcuts can be invoked using the special function key (FN), and the keyboard does not require any software. The build quality is good and you can also adjust the height of the keyboard. Other unique elements include an elegantly designed plaque with our logo embossed and filled with a glossy lacquer for a classy shine. Due to its smaller size, it is easy to carry around during travel and can fit in your laptop bag. So, if you are looking for a portable retro mechanical keyboard that is drop-dead gorgeous, packed with features and has good build quality then just grab it now. You can check out the various color options from the links given below. Personally, the wood finish variant looks super cool. https://soft-holiday.mystrikingly.com/blog/ontime-pro-2-10-5.

AZIO Retro Compact Keyboard Specifications
Form FactorCompact
Switch TypeAZIO Typelit Mechanical Switch (by Kailh)
BacklightWhite LED (Onyx, Artisan, Elwood), Orange LED (Posh)
InterfaceBluetooth / USB
FeaturesNKRO 6-Keys rollover with Anti-ghosting, Tilt/Height adjustment, USB Type-C charging port 5000 mAh Li-ion battery, Braided USB cable, Windows and Mac support, Mac Layout Replacement Keycaps, FN media shortcut keys

Qwerkywriter S Typewriter Inspired Mechanical Keyboard

[Original Typewriter Design, Cherry MX Blue Switch]

Qwerkywriter S is probably the Best Typewriter Inspired Mechanical Keyboard because it does not look like a keyboard, but an actual typewriter. It has got all the design elements of a typewriter including every single minute detail. Along with the design, this keyboard has great built quality and has a scratch-resistant aluminum body. It comes with genuine Cherry Blue switches that are tactile and clicky switches, and are considered best for typing. The round keycaps with chrome border look very classy, and they actually resemble original typewriter keycaps.

The keyboard comes with Dual Scroll Knob Encoders, where the left knob controls the volume and the right one is for mouse scroll. The typewriter design ‘carriage return' serves as an extra enter key, and is programmable for macros to up to 15 characters to generate signatures and even copy, cut, paste commands. It also comes with an integrated tablet stand that comfortably supports 10.5-inch screen tablets and most of the 12-inch tablets. The keyboard lacks backlighting that may be a concern for some users, but it is not that deal-breaking. Although the keyboard is not meant for gaming, it does support N-Key Rollover in USB wired mode.

Connectivity options include Bluetooth and USB, and you can easily switch between them anytime, depending on your requirements. With Bluetooth, you can pair up to three Bluetooth enabled devices simultaneously and can easily switch between them using a button only (FN + 1/2/3). The battery is large and can last up to one month on a single charge, depending on the usage. The USB cable is braided that can be used for a wired mode of operation, and it also charges that battery. The keyboard is a little heavy and weighs slightly under 3lbs. It officially supports Windows, macOS and Android devices. So, if you want the coolest looking retro mechanical keyboard that is practical, fun to use, feature-rich and is a stunner, then honestly you won't find anything better than this. Highly recommended by me.

Qwerkywriter S Mechanical Keyboard Specifications
Form FactorCompact
Switch TypeCherry MX Blue
BacklightNA
InterfaceBluetooth / USB
FeaturesNKRO support (USB), Dual Scroll Knob Encoders, Integrated Tablet Stand, Macro Return bar (programmable), Scratch Resistant All Aluminum Chassis, Typewriter-Inspired Keycaps, Long Lasting Battery, supports Windows, MacOS, Android, Braided USB cable

Lofree Four Seasons Mechanical Keyboard

[Colorful Vintage Keyboard, Compact]

Lofree Four Seasons is a colorful retro mechanical keyboard that looks very pleasant to the eyes. This a compact 75% keyboard with 79 keys, and comes with Gateron Blue Switches, which are basically Cherry MX blue clones, and are tactile & clicky in nature. This retro vintage mechanical keyboard comes with round keycaps that are illuminated by white LED backlighting and has three levels of brightness. The keyboard supports both Bluetooth and USB mode of operation and comes with a 4000mAh Li-ion Battery that can last up to three weeks depending on the backlight intensity and usage. A micro-USB cable comes with the keyboard for the wired mode of operation, and it also charges the battery when plugged. In Bluetooth mode, it allows you to connect up to three devices simultaneously, and you can easily switch between them on-the-fly using FN key with 1, 2 or 3 keys.

The keyboard is compatible with Mac, Android and Windows OS and comes in three different colors options or seasons that include Vernal white (Spring), Aestival Blue (Spring) and Autumnal Grey (Autumn). You can switch between Windows/Android and Mac/iOS modes, and between Bluetooth and USB mode by using the switches located at the side. The keyboard really looks very stylish and is pretty compact, which makes it perfect for users who travel a lot in their day to day work.

Note: An older model of this keyboard is also available, which is the Lofree DOT Mechanical Keyboard. It is considerably cheaper than the Four Seasons model but comes with almost the same functionality, features and design elements. It does come with different colors that include pure white, venetian red and turquoise blue. You can check out this model too from the links given below.

Lofree Four Seasons Mechanical Keyboard Specifications
Form FactorCompact (79 Keys)
Switch TypeGateron Blue Switch
BacklightWhite LED
InterfaceBluetooth / USB
Features4000mAh Li-ion Rechargeable Battery, Mac, Android, and Windows OS Compatible, Colorful design, Micro USB Cable, FN multimedia keys and shortcuts

PENNA Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard

[Lightweight, Old Typewriter Design, Cherry MX Switches]

Cineflare transmorphic for final cut pro x. A very cool looking vintage retro keyboard that is inspired by the typewriter design. Just like the above mentioned Qwerkywriter S, this PENNA keyboard is also designed to look like a traditional typewriter, and mimic its functionality too. This keyboard comes with Cherry MX Blue / Brown / Red switches, and you get the option to choose from, depending on your requirements and working style. The keyboard also offers to choose from two different types of keycaps, which are: Retro Chrome Keycaps that looks like typewrite keycaps, and Diamond shape keycaps that are designed for offering better typing comfort and accuracy. The keyboard also comes with a macro bar on the side that is used for recording macros.

Unlike other retro mechanical keyboards here, this keyboard offers only one connectivity option, which is Bluetooth. You can pair up to five devices simultaneously and can switch between them using FN+F1~F5 keys. It requires two AA batteries for working and offers six months of idle time. However, the actual usage time depends on your usage, but it does last long with normal usage. It also has a Cradle Holder to hold your smartphone or tablet for viewing when you are working on the keyboard.

The Keyboard supports Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac, and you can switch between the operating systems using the switch located at the side. Another good thing about this keyboard is that it is on the lighter side and weighs under 800gm, which is pretty good for a mechanical keyboard with high-quality construction. There is no doubt that it is a very attractive and unique retro mechanical keyboard that has a vintage look to it, and is quite portable too because of its compact size. It would be much nicer if it has LED backlighting and USB support, but still, it has plenty to offer. This vintage style typewriter mechanical keyboard is available in various color options (matte black, special wood, pure white, olive green), and you can check all of them out from the links given below.

PENNA Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard Specifications
Form FactorCompact (TKL)
Switch TypeCherry MX Blue / Brown / Red
BacklightNA
InterfaceBluetooth
FeaturesWorks on 2xAA Battery, FN multimedia shortcuts, Macro Bar, supports Windows/Android/iOS, Pair up to 5 devices via Bluetooth, Bluetooth 4.2 support, Built-in Cradle Holder

AZIO MK Retro Mechanical Keyboard

Keyboard

[Cheaper than Azio Classic, Best Value for Money]

AZIO MK Retro is a cheaper variant of the AZIO Classic mechanical keyboard. This full-size mechanical keyboard does retain the same design but lacks LED backlighting, leather top plate, and some premium elements and metal finish. However, it comes with almost all the basic functionality, features and costs way less. It comes with the same Kailh blue mechanical switches and rounded typewriter keycaps. The features list includes N-Key Rollover with Anti-Ghosting, Adjustable Height, FN media shortcuts and Dust & Spill Resistant design. It uses a USB interface only and has got a braided USB cable.

This budget retro vintage mechanical keyboard comes in a variety of color options that include black & silver, white & gold, black & gold, black & red, black & magenta, white & silver, and white & pink. The keyboard officially supports Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 but can work with Mac in a limited capacity. So, if you want a budget retro mechanical keyboard that looks good and has all the basic features then this is definitely the perfect choice.

AZIO Mk Retro Mechanical Keyboard Specifications
Form FactorFull Size
Switch TypeKailh Blue Switch
BacklightNA
InterfaceUSB
FeaturesN-Key Rollover with Anti-Ghosting, Adjustable Height, Dust & Spill-Resistant, Braided USB cable
Best mechanical keyboard

[Cheaper than Azio Classic, Best Value for Money]

AZIO MK Retro is a cheaper variant of the AZIO Classic mechanical keyboard. This full-size mechanical keyboard does retain the same design but lacks LED backlighting, leather top plate, and some premium elements and metal finish. However, it comes with almost all the basic functionality, features and costs way less. It comes with the same Kailh blue mechanical switches and rounded typewriter keycaps. The features list includes N-Key Rollover with Anti-Ghosting, Adjustable Height, FN media shortcuts and Dust & Spill Resistant design. It uses a USB interface only and has got a braided USB cable.

This budget retro vintage mechanical keyboard comes in a variety of color options that include black & silver, white & gold, black & gold, black & red, black & magenta, white & silver, and white & pink. The keyboard officially supports Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 but can work with Mac in a limited capacity. So, if you want a budget retro mechanical keyboard that looks good and has all the basic features then this is definitely the perfect choice.

AZIO Mk Retro Mechanical Keyboard Specifications
Form FactorFull Size
Switch TypeKailh Blue Switch
BacklightNA
InterfaceUSB
FeaturesN-Key Rollover with Anti-Ghosting, Adjustable Height, Dust & Spill-Resistant, Braided USB cable

MK9 RGB Retro Mechanical Keyboard

[Fancy Looking with Retro Typewriter Keycaps]

If you want something funky with a bit of vintage feel to it then this keyboard fits the bill perfectly. This is an RGB mechanical keyboard that comes with tactile and clicky Blue mechanical switches and has got Vintage Typewriter Inspired Keycaps. The features of this keyboard include 18 Backlit modes, Aluminum & ABS construction, NKRO with Anti-ghosting. The RGB lighting, effects and brightness on this keyboard can be changed on-the-fly with the help of the FN key. There is also an LED Logo located on the bottom end of the keyboard. It is compatible with Win XP, Win2000, Win ME, Vista Win7, Win8, Win10, Android, Linux, iOS and other operating systems. Also, it is quite cheap compared to the other premium branded retro mechanical keyboards listed above, but it works quite well. It is available in two colors: white and black.

Free slots on the internet. Note: A higher model of this keyboard is also available, which is the MK13 RGB Retro Mechanical Keyboard. It comes with dedicated multimedia buttons, two knobs at the top for controlling volume and LED brightness, while other features remain almost the same.

MK9 RGB Retro Mechanical Keyboard Specifications
Form FactorFull size
Switch TypeBlue switch
BacklightRGB LED
InterfaceUSB
Features18 Backlit Modes, supports Windows / Mac OS / Android / Linux / iOS, Vintage Typewriter Inspired Keycaps, Aluminum / ABS construction, NKRO with Anti-ghosting

Retro Vintage Style Keycaps

If you want to give your current mechanical keyboard a bit of retro or vintage look, then you can do so by using the retro keycaps.

Redragon A106 Steampunk Typewriter Retro Keycaps 104 keys

A set of 104 retro keycaps from Redragon. These are vintage or retro looking typewriter keycaps, made from ABS plastic (Double-shot-molded ABS keycaps), and are round in design. They have transparent lettering for crystal clear backlighting and are durable. These round keycaps with a floating-key design are compatible with Redragon mechanical keyboards and other original mechanical keyboards which are higher than 1-2mm. They are perfect for those who love old-school typewriters and clean, simple modern design. A keycap remover comes bundled with the set so that you don't have to buy it separately.

See also:

Final Words

There is no doubt that the above mentioned Retro Mechanical Keyboards offer a great style statement while being practical. They offer an amazing typing experience, especially the ones with Cherry MX keys, and most of them are compatible with various mobile devices because of their Bluetooth connectivity support. Also, most of the mentioned retro vintage mechanical keyboards include dedicate support for Max OS and iOS too, which is a great thing. So, if want to have an enjoyable typing experience and are fed up with the regular or standard mechanical keyboards, then you should get one of these retro mechanical keyboards to add to your collection. If you have any queries or doubts then please ask me by leaving a comment below.

I recently tweeted a photo of my iPad connected to classic Apple keyboard. It seemed to strike a chord with a lot of people – it was my most popular tweet ever by a wide margin actually – so I figured I'd put together a guide explaining what I was doing, why you might want to do it, and how to go about it.

Why you would want to do this

There are reasons to use old keyboards with your iPad beyond appearances (and the geeky fascination of connecting 30-year-old technology to a 2016 iPad). The technology inside these keyboards – mechanical switches – can actually provide a much better typing experience than modern, non-mechanical keyboards.

Mechanical keyboards look similar to the clunky keyboards that were bundled with computers during the late '90s through ‘2000s, but they are fundamentally different in the technology they use and the typing feel they have. To explain why, we have to talk (briefly) about keyboard technology.

Keyboard Technology

There are three major types of keyboards: scissor-style, rubber-dome, and mechanical. These types are defined by the technologies in their key switches. Key switches are the mechanics underneath the plastic keycaps. When you press your finger down in the key, switches are the things that turn that into electronic signals your computer can read.

Everyone reading this is familiar with scissor-style switches. These are the flat, thin switches you can find on every laptop. Scissor switches get their name from tiny hinges inside the switch. These hinges control the downward pressure of the key. When the key depresses all the way, it reaches a rubber dome at the bottom of the keyboard. Pressing down on this rubber dome sends a signal to the computer, which in turn turns that signal into a letter that appears on-screen.

Before scissor switches became popular, rubber-dome keyboards ruled the world. If you purchased a computer in the ‘2000s, or used one at a school or library, you know all about rubber-domes. Unlike scissor-style keyboards, rubber-domes use big, sculpted keycaps. The keycaps fit into slots on the keyboard, and inside those slots are springs. Press down all the way and you reach a rubber dome, the same as on a scissor-style keyboard. Bottom-out this dome, and the computer reads the signal.

Although scissor switches and rubber domes look different, they're actually quite similar. Both use a rubber membrane at the bottom of the keyboard to read inputs. Because of this, both require you to fully depress the keys, bottoming-out against the base of the keyboard. Because both require rubber domes, both are dependent on the quality of those rubber domes. And because these keyboards are manufactured cheaply, the feel of the switch often suffers.

Enter Mechanical Keyboards

Mechanical keyboards look superficially similar to rubber-dome keyboards – they share the same large sculpted keycaps, and generally have full layouts with F-keys and number pads. Functionally, they are completely different.

Mechanical keyswitches come in many varieties, but generally speaking, they share a similar design. The keycap rests on a stem attached to the key switch. This stem rests on a spring. When you depress the key, it presses the stem down into the switch. When the stem is pressed about halfway down, it activates a tactile leaf. This triggers an electronic signal on the side of the switch, which is sent to the computer. Pressing this tactile leaf can also cause your finger to feel a bump or trigger a louder clicking noise, depending on switch type.

Importantly, because the switch activates about halfway from the bottom of the key's range, you don't actually have to press down on the key all the way. There's no rubber dome at the bottom – as soon as you've triggered the switch, you can let go of the key. Some people think bottoming-out keys might be bad for your fingers; the jury is still out on whether any actual damage. One thing is certain: many people – myself included – think that bottoming-out keys feels much worse than activating mechanical keyswitches. And when you're sitting down to write thousands of words at a time, feeling good helps.

Finding a Good Mechanical Keyboard

Let's get the obvious stuff out of the way: the best way to connect a mechanical keyboard to your iPad is to simply get one that already features a Bluetooth connection. The Matias Laptop Pro is my favorite, but there are a few other choices – I'm keeping a list on Amazon of everything I can find. Parametric cad software free.

Modern USB mechanical keyboards can work with the iPad, but these often use more power than the iPad is capable of supplying, requiring an additional power source – more on that later. With enough work, you can use any mechanical keyboard with the iPad. This article assumes you want to make a retro keyboard work.

Finding Old Keyboards

Mechanical keyboards were commonplace when computers were expensive. The added cost of mechanical switches was largely offset by the cost of the computer it was bundled with. As computers plummeted in cost during the '90s, most manufacturers switched to bundling cheap rubber-dome keyboards. People upgrading their PCs tended to get rid of their old keyboards and use whatever the new computer came with – great news for us, because it means we won't have to try too hard to find a great mechanical keyboard.

If you check your local thrift shops, electronics surplus stores, and garage sales, you can probably find a usable mechanical keyboard for about 5 bucks. If you take to eBay, you won't need to spend more than $40 (including shipping) for a top-quality keyboard. In fact, you (or your parents, or your uncle, or your grandparents) might already have one of these keyboards in your basement somewhere (I found a mint condition Apple Extended Keyboard II I stashed away in a drawer when I got a Bondi iMac).

There are way too many different mechanical keyboards out there for me to cover in this article – get lost in Deskthority Wiki sometime if you want to go down that rabbit hole – but I will recommend a few common ones to keep your eyes out for. The Dell AT101 line is a decent quality, common choice; they made a ton of these, and you'll probably be able to find one without too much effort. I spent $5 for one at an electronics surplus store, and they don't go for much more on eBay. The Apple Extended Keyboard II is very highly regarded, and can usually be had for around $40 on eBay. Of note, Apple's keyboard has PBT keycaps, which are thicker and higher quality than many keyboards, which use ABS plastic. IBM's classic keyboards can generally be found for $40 or so on eBay, and use well-regarded spring switches. Keep in mind, not every keyboard from these manufacturers uses mechanical switches – check online, especially at the Deskthority Wiki, before buying.

Mac Mechanical Keyboard

Connecting a Mechanical Keyboard to your iPad

Now we get to the fun part. You found a mechanical keyboard, and you want to use it with your iPad.

The good thing is, once you connect your keyboard to the iPad, iOS is fully capable of using it – the keys all work, you don't need to install any drivers, jailbreak anything, or take any special steps. The tricky part is actually connecting these keyboards to your iPad.

The first step: determine what type of connection your keyboard requires.

This is the obvious starting place: what port is your keyboard designed to connect to? Vintage Apple keyboards used something called an ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) port. (Relatively) newer PC keyboards use something called a PS/2 connector. Really old PC keyboards use a larger 5-pin DIN connector, sometimes referred to as the PC/AT interface.

Obviously none of these will connect to your iPad, so you'll need to convert them to something the iPad can understand. There aren't any cables that directly convert these ports to Lightning, so you'll first need to convert to USB. You can then use Apple's Lightning to USB Camera Adapter to convert the USB connection to Lightning.

Connecting Mac Keyboards

The easiest keyboards to convert are ones designed for Mac, which use ADB ports. If you have an ADB keyboard, converting it to USB requires the Griffin iMate. You can get a new one for $69 on Amazon, but you can probably get one for $30 if you search eBay instead.

The best part: once you connect the iMate to the iPad via the Lightning to USB cable, everything works perfectly. No configuration, no drivers, no worries.

Connecting PC keyboards

PC keyboards sometimes require a bit more work. First off, you'll need to convert your PC keyboard's connection to USB. If your keyboard originally came with a PS/2 to to USB adapter, it already has the circuitry required, and a passive PS/2-to-USB connector is all it takes. This is rare. More likely, you'll need an active PS/2 to USB adapter, which contains additional circuitry.

Active adapters draw power from USB in order to charge the circuitry required to make them function. Unfortunately, if they draw too much power, the iPad will throw up an error and refuse to work with the adapter.

Dealing with Errors

Old School Mechanical Keyboard

If you're lucky, all you'll need to do to connect a mechanical keyboard to your iPad is connect the correct legacy-to-USB adapter to the Lightning port, plug it in, and start typing.

Unfortunately, it might not be that simple. While I haven't experienced any issues with connecting ADB keyboards to the iMate, I have experienced problems getting PS/2 keyboards to work.

The problem is due to Apple's policies with the Lightning to USB Camera adapter. Apple has strict limits on the amount of power this adapter supplies to connected devices. If these devices require more power than the iPad outputs, the iPad might cut them off. Thankfully, there are workarounds to this problem.

The easiest solution: use a PS/2 to USB adapter that doesn't draw too much power. Unfortunately, the only one I havedoes require more power than the iPad will output. I'm in the process of testing others for PC keyboards, and will update this article when I find a winner. Again, for Apple keyboards, the iMate should work perfectly without drawing too much power.

Even if your adapter does draw too much power, all is not lost. First, make sure your keyboard is actually not working – sometimes it'll work with the iPad even after throwing up an error message. If it really doesn't work, you'll need to add a power supply to your adapter chain.

The easiest way you to supply additional power to your adapter is with a powered USB hub. Attach your keyboard to the hub, plug the hub into a wall socket, attach the hub to the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, then attach that to the iPad. This powers the keyboard without drawing power from the iPad, bypassing any power limitations. Any powered USB hub should work, but I can vouch for the Amazon Basics USB 3.0 hub.

Final Thoughts

Amazon Mechanical Keyboards

My goal with this guide is to describe why you might want a mechanical keyboard and how to use one with your iPad. Easiest free video editing app. This is by no means a complete guide to mechanical keyboards. Not even close. There are tens of thousands of different kinds of mechanical keyboards out there.

There are online communities where keyboard enthusiasts discuss this stuff in far more detail than I have here. If you find this type of thing interesting, you should definitely check out the Mechanical Keyboards subreddit, the Geekhack forum, and the Deskthority Forum and Wiki.

Still, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. Drop by the forums to chat if you'd like, or get in touch on Twitter; I'll be happy to help if I can.





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