Test report: Matias Tactile pro - the best Mac keyboard for prolific writers?

Having recently bought a keyboard for a test (see Satechi Slim Bluetooth Keyboard) had to serve, a reader's report that was made available to me a few weeks ago fits well today. My reader Jochen was no longer satisfied with Apple's Magic Keyboard and, as a frequent typist, started looking for a "reasonable" keyboard for the Mac. But I don't want to anticipate too much. Just read it yourself!

Initial Situation

I've been an avid Mac user for many years. This is due on the one hand to the quality of the Apple products and on the other hand to the impressive design of the hardware.

Now, in terms of age, I still belong to the generation who learned the ten-finger system on a manual typewriter. Back then you had to hit the keys hard to literally get your text down on paper. This is exactly where my problem lies.

On the Magic Keyboard from Apple, my typing error rate has increased immeasurably. I cannot use the 10-finger system, which is certainly not due to the keyboard, but to my typing habits. In order to get a text on the screen without errors, I have to type slowly with two fingers. It's not fun because I'm writing short stories and currently working on a novel project. Many pages are created every day.

How I longed for the old IBM keyboard, with which I could write my texts blindly without typing a thousand times. If you still remember the Apple Extended Keyboard, you might know what I mean. Unfortunately, this keyboard is no longer manufactured by Apple. I tried alternative Mac keyboards in various shops, but was never satisfied.

A few days ago I received a tip with a link to a keyboard that does exactly what I'm looking for.

Matias Tactile pro is the name. The manufacturer is the Canadian company Matias, which advertises this keyboard with the following words on its website:

“The best keyboard Apple ever made” rises again.

About this page I quickly found a German supplier who had the keyboard in stock. For getDigital based in Kiel, via Sir Apfelot also reported positively Has. Ordered on Mondays, delivered on Wednesdays.

Who thinks that Magic Keyboard from Apple is expensive, the price of the Tactile pro groan loudly. Proud 179,95 Euros costs this keyboard, and it's worth every penny.

Unboxing

The keyboard came in a sturdy, neutral box. The actual packaging immediately made a positive impression.

The keyboard was once again protected with thin foam in the packaging.

Test

The first thing I noticed when I took out the keyboard was the weight. Truly not a lightweight at 1220 grams. The Apple Magic Keyboard weighs just 386 grams.

Since I don't have to lug the Tactile pro around with me, the higher weight is a clear advantage for me. It stands firmly on my desk and does not slip even when typing fast and hectically.

Visually, it can compete with the Apple keyboard. I chose mine in white. But there is also black.

The label on the buttons is lasered so that no wear is visible even after prolonged use.

The connection is made via a USB cable. 2 cables are included for this purpose. One is 1 meter long and the other is 2 meters long. That should be enough for any occasion. The connection to the keyboard is made with a right-angled plug so that the cable does not stick out, but runs along the housing. The keyboard offers three additional USB 2 inputs.

The first attempts on this keyboard proved that it was exactly what I was looking for. After a week of active daily use, my error rate is now back to zero.

The keys are not flat, but have a slight curvature, exactly fitting for the fingertips. This enables extremely fast typing without losing contact with the keys. Even at high typing speed, no letter is swallowed, as has often happened to me with other keyboards. That takes care of that Anti-ghosting circuitrywho brings the keyboard. No matter how fast you type, no letter will be swallowed.

Another highlight for me is the writing noise. Many prefer to type quietly, I need the sound of the keyboard, that tack-tack-tack.

keys

The key assignment of the Tactile pro is phenomenal. In addition to the German character set, many special characters can be seen on each key. The cumbersome search via Guggel is a thing of the past. If I z. If, for example, I need the copyright symbol, I can find it on the keyboard and can use it immediately with ALT-g.

There are 18 function keys, similar to the Apple keyboard, for example. B. Control the screen brightness, volume, iTunes and much more.

Conclusion

For me, the Tactile pro is the keyboard that enables me to work professionally. The price isn't exactly cheap, but given the keyboard quality and personal benefits, that's okay with me. Everyone certainly has their own pain threshold. I can recommend the keyboard to anyone who prefers high typing speed and cannot cope with the new flat keys. If you need to write quietly because your baby may be sleeping in the next room or if you are sitting in a multi-person office, you should stick to the Apple keyboard.

Source of supply

You can order the Tactile pro at getDigital.

@Jochen: Thank you for this report! It makes your mouth a little watery when it comes to decent keyboards with a lot of weight and loud keys. I'm thinking of getting myself another knockout and when the time comes, there is a good chance that it will be the Tactile pro.

A note for Mac users who have Macs with USB-C ports: You still need a USB-C adapter (here my recommendation) so that the keyboard can be plugged into the Mac.

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He acts as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with technical problems. In his spare time he rides electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with the iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions to current bugs.