Some are close, but they all have drawbacks.

I want a wired backlit keyboard without the numeric key section on the right. I want the key on the bottom left to be the Control key, not the Function key. I want it backlit, if possible.

The latest one I've tried is a Macally model. I like a lot about it, but it still has the Fn key at the bottom left and the arrow keys are tiny little nubs. I use the arrow keys a lot, and I need them to be normal sized keys.

I'm using a backlit Matias right now. It has the control key where I like it, and normal-size arrow keys, but it has the numeric keypad portion which eats up too much work space and the keyboard itself has serious quality control issues: keys repeat randomly, etc.

The one that comes closest is a 10keyless Satechi keyboard, but it has the function key where I am hard wired to expect the Control key.

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My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals

Yeah, a lot of us are pretty particular in what we want in a keyboard.

What if you drop the backlit requirement? Do you really not have enough light, even coming from your screen, to see the keys?

It helps a lot to have the backlighting, more so on keyboards with dark keys.

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My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals

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ka jowct
I like a lot about it, but it still has the Fn key at the bottom left and the arrow keys are tiny little nubs.

I may be the only one, but "Fn key" always comes across as abbreviated profanity to me.

As in...
The Fn key is in the wrong place. I'm always hitting the Fn key by mistake!

I hear you.

I just want a re-issue of the Apple Aluminum USB full size keyboard. Was the perfect keyboard for my needs for 10+ years. Absolutely nothing needs to change about it. Just need to have it be available new from Apple again.

I ended up going with a Logitech wireless keyboard a few years back that gets pretty close to what I want, and other than the wireless aspect (I don't really care about wireless vs wired for desktop use), and is close to what you want also: [www.logitech.com]

Bit speedy and hasn't been proven for the long-term yet in my case, but from a day-to-day standpoint, it has been trouble free for me.

My current favorite of 10keyless keyboards is the "FILCO Majestouch Ninja TKL (Cherry MX Blue) Keyboard".

[www.amazon.com]

It doesn't have any backlighting.

I prefer the Cherry MX Blue switches, but this comes in other switch configurations, I think.
I chose the "Ninja" variant so that the lettering would never wear away with use since it is on the front of the keycaps. This turned out to be good in the long run for me since this is currently serving as a second keyboard on my desk (to a second computer) and elevated in front of where the key lettering is more visible.

My primary keyboard is a Das Keyboard with the keypad.

There’s a whole community around people who are super specific about their keyboard. They probably know how to find what you’re looking for

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Ka jowct,

You need a mechanical keyboard whose keys are easily customizable. I'm betting you'll find the correct model at [www.mechanicalkeyboards.com]. Wired keyboard? Easy. Model without a numeric keypad? Easy. Backlit keyboard? Easy. Customize the keys of the keyboard to suit your preference? Easy. Choose the switches to suit your preference? Easy. Spend big buck on the keyboard? Easy (unfortunately).

Robert

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clay
I hear you.

I just want a re-issue of the Apple Aluminum USB full size keyboard. Was the perfect keyboard for my needs for 10+ years. Absolutely nothing needs to change about it. Just need to have it be available new from Apple again.

Agreed... Last I looked, lots on ebay, and I think at OWC.

Apples newest keyboards are close... not quite as tall, but didn't take long to adjust.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Backlit, no 10-key. Have no idea if it works with Mac (says PC).
[www.amazon.com]

Not a fan of tall keys, either. My favorite for ages was a Kensington keyboard for Mac. No backlight, but a good fit for my work space, with the key travel and feel I like. I guess I should dig it out again and test it. I recall there being a problem with one or more keys back when I last used it.

OK, I dug one out. Testing, testing…

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My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/2023 04:34PM by ka jowct.

Does the old Apple Keyboard A1048 come close to meeting your needs? That's what I use. It's not backlit, but.....

Ka Jowct,

I believe the is the 10 keyless current version of the full-size keyboard I bought several years ago:

[mechanicalkeyboards.com]

Robert

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iaJim
Does the old Apple Keyboard A1048 come close to meeting your needs? That's what I use. It's not backlit, but.....

Not sure which one that is. I have an Apple keyboard with the flatter keys that may have come with my Mac Pro stashed away here.

This old Kensington has a keyfeel that I really like and seems to be working OK. It isn't backlit, but that's to be expected since it's at least 10 years old, if not more. It's been ages since Kensington made a Mac-specific keyboard. I can try it in another work area that has a bit more light.

The Kensington's length is about an inch less than the Matias backlit keyboard, even though they both have the numeric keypad. And it's about an inch wider: function keys at the top plus some media keys above those,

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My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/2023 04:48PM by ka jowct.

$285 this looks about what like you're asking for:

[arstechnica.com]

$180 or less for similar:

[arstechnica.com]

Or $100 for a more playful style:

[arstechnica.com]

Me I'd go with the $36 one someone else suggested.

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g=

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ka jowct
I'm using a backlit Matias right now. It has the control key where I like it, and normal-size arrow keys, but it has the numeric keypad portion which eats up too much work space and the keyboard itself has serious quality control issues: keys repeat randomly, etc.

Matias also has "compact" keyboards that look like they'd fit your requirements:
Mini Tactile Pro (Mac keycaps) [matias.ca]
Mini Quiet Pro (Windows keycaps) [matias.ca].

But I hear you on the repeating keys... I've got multiple Matias keyboards that do that (and no amount of software adjustment for key repeat will fix it). At least the one I'm currently using, it's the ; key, so not used super often. I thought, hmm... Matias also sells key switches, maybe if I swap out the key switch, that'll fix it. Well, it "did" but I also broke the keyboard. Turns out the key switches on the pre-built keyboards (at least mine) are soldered in, so after I totally destroyed the switch pulling it out, I had no real way to re-install a new switch, but I managed to push it in enough for touch contact with the old leads, and it works correctly now, but it'll probably pull out if I ever try removing the key cap again.

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Gareth

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ka jowct
I'm using a backlit Matias right now. It has the control key where I like it, and normal-size arrow keys, but it has the numeric keypad portion which eats up too much work space and the keyboard itself has serious quality control issues: keys repeat randomly, etc.

Matias also has "compact" keyboards that look like they'd fit your requirements:
Mini Tactile Pro (Mac keycaps) [matias.ca]
Mini Quiet Pro (Windows keycaps) [matias.ca].

But I hear you on the repeating keys... I've got multiple Matias keyboards that do that (and no amount of software adjustment for key repeat will fix it). At least the one I'm currently using, it's the ; key, so not used super often. I thought, hmm... Matias also sells key switches, maybe if I swap out the key switch, that'll fix it. Well, it "did" but I also broke the keyboard. Turns out the key switches on the pre-built keyboards (at least mine) are soldered in, so after I totally destroyed the switch pulling it out, I had no real way to re-install a new switch, but I managed to push it in enough for touch contact with the old leads, and it works correctly now, but it'll probably pull out if I ever try removing the key cap again.

None of that sounds like fun.

I strongly prefer flatter keys, so that Tactile Pro would not be my first preference. For my Matias backlit keyboard, I ended up turning off key repeat completely in System Prefs, and it helps a bit but the random repeats still occur. Check out the reviews on this one. It seems to be a very common problem, and it's hard to believe that they have not fixed it:

Tenkeyless Matias

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My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals

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It is what it is.

Matias has one?

        

==

my son built a few custom keyboards. Let me check with him when I get home

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Buzz
Matias has one?

        

==

Yeah, that one looks exactly like the one I am using at the moment, minus the numeric section, and is pretty much exactly what I want. I will get it in a heartbeat if it turns out that they have fixed the key-repeat issue that has afflicted several Matias models. So far only one review of that model has been posted at B&H, and no mention was made of keys repeating, but the review was mostly annoyed by how the backlighting looked. I hope others chime in about the key-repeat problem, but it could be a while.

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My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/2023 09:02AM by ka jowct.

Ka,

Look at the Varmilo in the link I provided in a previous post. It meets your requirements though it's a white keyboard with black lettering.

FWIW, I've used various versions of the Matias Tactile Pro keyboard and never had a key repeat issue. Maybe it only affects other models from them and even then, just a limited number of them?

Robert

Robert, I did look at it, and it's a possibility, although I like flatter keys. The key-repeat thing only seems to affect certain Matias keyboard types, and was a surprise to me, given their reputation. But I have seen enough reports of it to feel a bit leery. I would hope that they have solved the problem by now.

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My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals

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Robert M
FWIW, I've used various versions of the Matias Tactile Pro keyboard and never had a key repeat issue. Maybe it only affects other models from them and even then, just a limited number of them?

All of my key repeating Matias keyboards are Quiet Pro's, so it seems they at least have issues with both scissor-switch and mechanical-switch keyboards...

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Gareth

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Robert M
FWIW, I've used various versions of the Matias Tactile Pro keyboard and never had a key repeat issue. Maybe it only affects other models from them and even then, just a limited number of them?

All of my key repeating Matias keyboards are Quiet Pro's, so it seems they at least have issues with both scissor-switch and mechanical-switch keyboards...

Oh, that is NOT good news.

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My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals

take a full-size keyboard and saw off the right side with the number pad.

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TheTominator

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ka jowct
I like a lot about it, but it still has the Fn key at the bottom left and the arrow keys are tiny little nubs.

I may be the only one, but "Fn key" always comes across as abbreviated profanity to me.

As in...
The Fn key is in the wrong place. I'm always hitting the Fn key by mistake!

Amen.

My hand and brain just expect the end key to be the Control key, which I use all the time for contextual menus. I won't waste a mouse button on contextual menus, I need those mouse buttons for other tasks.

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My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals