Microsoft Keyboard Mac Compatible

  
Microsoft Keyboard Mac Compatible Average ratng: 8,1/10 5928 reviews

BestAlternatives to Apple's Magic KeyboardiMore2020

Every iMac and iMac Pro comes with a specially designed, Apple-branded Magic Keyboard, and you either love it or hate it. If you love the look of the Magic Keyboard but don't love the feel, or maybe you were hoping for a little more than what comes in the box, we've got a list of keyboards that have a very similar design but offer something a little different.

  1. Shop for mac compatible keyboards at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up.
  2. If you’re a long-time Mac user transitioning to a Windows keyboard, the Windows key, which is equivalent to the Mac's Command key, occupies the physical position of the Option key on a Mac keyboard. Likewise, the Windows keyboard's Alt key is where you expect to find the Mac's Command key.
  3. 2019-5-20  Just noticed this thread and I also have that keyboard. OP, make sure you unplug your USB HUB from the Mac. I also have the problem with missing keystrokes whenever I add my usb hub. I often time think that the battery might be on the low end and therefore am looking for software from microsoft to install on the mac but there is none.

Easy multi-pairing: Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard

Staff pick

Apple touts the Mac mini as being compatible with any USB keyboard, but there’s a catch: If your keyboard was designed for use with a Windows computer, it doesn’t have the Mac’s familiar. Rechargeable Bluetooth Keyboard for Mac OS, Jelly Comb Ultra Compact Mini Wireless Keyboard Compatible for MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and iMac Pro - Aluminum Black. 2020-4-4  The All-in-One Media Keyboard is the perfect device for your living room or home office. With an integrated multi-touch trackpad, customizable media hotkeys that put the web and your favorite music, photos, and movies at your fingertips. The All-in-One Media Keyboard is all you need for comfortable typing and effortless navigation.

This little ditty is my personal favorite. It's a compact keyboard perfect for your Mac that has plenty of useful additional features. It has the added benefit of being specially designed to control features on your iPhone or iPad, like navigating to the Home screen or switching apps. With one button, you can switch between three different devices, including Windows and Android products.

$30 at Amazon

Comes with Numeric Keypad: Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

If you love everything about the Magic Keyboard, but you really want a numerical pad, this model's nearly identical to the Magic Keyboard except that it has a 10-key number pad, a couple of additional function keys, and dedicated control keys. It's the perfect solution for Mac users that need more keyboard functionality.

From $112 at Amazon

Trackpad intact: Twelve South MagicBridge

If you already have a Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad and want to keep it in a tidy unit, the MagicBridge is the perfect setup for you. It's not a keyboard, but a case for your keyboard and trackpad. It fits both perfectly, and you can switch the trackpad to either side. All ports and switches are exposed for convenient access.

$30 at Amazon

Mouse included: FENIFOX Wireless Keyboard and Mouse

FENIFOX's keyboard looks very similar to the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, but it comes with a mouse as well. The set is available in the Pink color shown here as well as Silver. The sloped angle makes typing more comfortable.

$30 at Amazon

Solar charged: Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750

The K750 is a hugely popular alternative to Apple's Magic Keyboard because it's a full-sized keyboard, complete with a very similar spacing pattern. Though it's called 'solar,' it actually charges up using any light, including a desk lamp in your hotel room.

$50 at Amazon

Budget friendly: Anker Ultra Slim keyboard

Best Mac Compatible Keyboard

For a low-cost alternative to Apple's Magic Keyboard, you'll be happy with Anker's universal Bluetooth keyboard. It uses the Magic Keyboard's scissor mechanism keys, so your typing experience will be very familiar. It doesn't come with a lot of bells and whistles, but for the price, it's the perfect alternative.

$22 at Amazon

Which one should you choose?

There are lots of third-party keyboards for Mac on the market. These are specifically for those of you that like the Magic Keyboard's design but are looking for something slightly different. My personal favorite is the Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard. I love being able to switch between my Mac, iPhone, and iPad quickly.

However, if you want something inexpensive that you can toss into your bag when you're on the go, then pick up an Anker Ultra Slim Keyboard. It's compact, just two thirds the size of a traditional keyboard. The battery will go six months between charges with typical use and takes only 2.5 hours to charge fully.

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Every Mac you can buy from Apple in 2020

Apple's Mac laptop and desktop lineup is more versatile than you may realize.

By David Röthlisberger. Comments welcome at david@rothlis.net.

Last updated 4 Oct 2011. This article is Creative Commons licensed.

The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 doesn’t feel very “Mac-like”, at least not out-of-the-box. Read on for helpful settings to improve the experience, and a brief review of the keyboard at the end.

If your kernel panics, upgrade the drivers

OS X kernel panic

On Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6), the IntelliType Pro 8.0 drivers caused me kernel panics at least once a day.

The recent 8.2 driversdon’t cause kernel panics on Lion (OS X 10.7). I haven’t tested them on Snow Leopard, but I assume it is the new drivers, rather than the new Operating System, that contain the fix. Readers have reported that the older 7.1 drivers work well with Snow Leopard (note that the 7.1 drivers say they are for the older Natural Keyboard Pro, but they also work for this newer keyboard). Let me know if you have tested other combinations of driver/OS versions.

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Or don't use the Microsoft drivers at all

Ironically, the Microsoft drivers stop OS X from recognising the keyboard for what it is! Without the drivers, OS X reports “Natural® Ergonomic Keyboard 4000”; with the IntelliType drivers, it’s a mere “Keyboard”.

With IntelliType drivers

As the last straw, if you remap your Caps Lock key to Control via Apple’s Keyboard preference pane, with the Microsoft drivers installed the remapping will be lost every time you restart.

The following table should help you decide whether you want the Microsoft drivers. More detailed explanations follow.

With Microsoft IntelliType driversWithout Microsoft drivers
Kernel panics with 8.0 drivers on Snow Leopard; fine with 8.2 drivers on Lion.No kernel panics.
Modifier key mappings..
lost every time you restart.aren't lost.
You can swap the Alt and Windows keys..
with the IntelliType software.with KeyRemap4MacBook.
You can use the Application key as a Command or Option key..
with the IntelliType software.with KeyRemap4MacBook.
Media keys all work correctly.

Only mute, volume and play/pause keys work. Web, search, mail, calculator, favourites 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5, back and forward, and the zoom slider don’t work.

How to uninstall the Microsoft drivers

The IntelliType UnInstaller is in the Utilities sub-folder of your Applications folder. (If you installed the IntelliPoint mouse drivers, which were bundled in the same installer, the corresponding UnInstaller is in the same location.)

If you don’t want to run the uninstallers, you can remove the following manually:

  • /System/Library/Extensions/MicrosoftKeyboard.kext

  • /System/Library/Extensions/MicrosoftMouse.kext (if you also installed the IntelliPoint drivers)

  • /Library/Keyboard Layouts/Microsoft Keyboards.bundle

  • and the Microsoft Keyboard preference pane (open System Preferences, and right-click the Microsoft Keyboard icon, or drag it off the window in a puff of smoke).

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Swap the Alt and Windows keys

Microsoft Keyboard Mac Compatible Windows 7

Microsoft Natural modifier keys

The Windows key is automatically treated as Command (⌘), but on Apple keyboards the Command key is next to the spacebar, with Option (Alt) the next key out. On the Microsoft keyboard this is reversed, and the IntelliType drivers helpfully have a setting to reverse these two keys; luckily OS X also has this functionality built in.

It’s under the Modifier Keys button of the Keyboard System Preferences pane.

Simply map Option to Command, and vice-versa. These settings are per-keyboard, so you won’t mess up your MacBook’s built-in keyboard.

While you’re here you can also map your Caps Lock to Control, if you so wish.

Use the Application key as a Command or Option key

Application key

To the right of the spacebar, this keyboard has an “Application” (or Context Menu) key instead of a Windows key. The IntelliType drivers include a setting to treat this key as Command, but OS X has no such setting.

Apple’s customizable XML keylayouts only allow mapping key codes to output characters, but not changing or adding modifier keys. Graphical interfaces built on top of this mechanism, such as Ukelele, have the same limitations. You’ll need the open-source KeyRemap4MacBook.

Imac Compatible Keyboards

In spite of its name, KeyRemap4MacBook works on any Mac (with OS X 10.4 or later). It doesn’t allow arbitrary key mappings, but, in the best open-source tradition, it does have zillions of settings. The one you want is under “For PC Users” » “Change PC Application Key” » “Application Key to Option_L” (i.e. left-option, not option+“L”). What you set here doesn’t seem to be affected by OS X’s own modifier keys remapping.

Media keys

The keyboard’s mute, volume and play/pause keys all work out of the box, no IntelliType required. There are no keys for previous/next song.

(Without the Microsoft drivers) None of the remaining media keys work (web/home, search, mail, calculator, “favorites” 1 through 5, back and forward, and the zoom slider).

Function keys

The Function keys (F1, etc) behave as such (as opposed to brightness, volume, etc), regardless of what you set in the Keyboard preference pane. If you press “F Lock” the F keys simply do nothing. Luckily the F Lock remembers its setting across reboots.

There is no Fn modifier key as on the Mac keyboards.

KeyRemap4MacBook allows you to map the F keys to the usual brightness, volume, etc. but then you’d lose the normal F keys.

Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down

On the Mac OS there is no such thing as an Insert/Overwrite toggle (even on Apple’s extended keyboard there is no Insert key). So unsurprisingly, the Insert key does nothing.

Delete works. Page-Up and -Down work. Home and End scroll to the top and bottom of the window instead of moving the cursor to the beginning or end of the line (but this is consistent with the behaviour of Apple keyboards) except in Microsoft Office, where Home and End behave as on the PC.

Numeric keypad

Num Lock doesn’t work, but fortunately it is stuck in the numeric mode.

Final thoughts

Microsoft Keyboard Mac Compatible Windows 7

I initially liked this keyboard: The split and tenting angles provide a comfortable resting position, it has Command, Option and Control keys for both hands, and the price is quite reasonable.

But after several months, I have stopped using this keyboard. It’s just too large! Keys like Return, Backspace, and Escape are quite far away from the home position. I don’t really need a numeric keypad (it forces the mouse that much further away). The keys are loud (especially the clunky spacebar) and the key travel distance (and the force required to press them) is more than I’d like.

These are of course quite personal opinions, and this keyboard could be just perfect for someone else. As a computer programmer I do a lot of typing, so I try to optimise for ergonomics.

Kinesis Freestyle for Mac:
No right-hand Control key

Microsoft Keyboard Mac Compatible Download

I really like having all three modifiers (Command, Option and Control) available to my left and right hands, though this may not be so important for non-programmers. I don’t think I’d buy an ergonomic keyboard without this feature. The Kinesis keyboards, and Apple’s own keyboards (except the Apple external keyboard with numeric keypad), lack the right-hand Control.