Apple Wireless Keyboard

Apple Wireless Keyboard

Second generation Apple Wireless Keyboard (2007) with US English layout
Branding Apple Inc.
Manufacturer Foxconn
Product family Apple Keyboard
Keyswitches Scissor switch
Keycaps Laser-etched chiclet keyboard
Interface Bluetooth
Introduced September 16, 2003 (2003-09-16)
Discontinued October 13, 2015 (2015-10-13)
Successor Magic Keyboard
Website Apple.com – Keyboard

The Apple Wireless Keyboard is a wireless keyboard built for Macintosh computers and compatible with iOS devices.[1] It interacts over Bluetooth wireless technology and unlike its wired version, it has no USB connectors or ports. Both generations have low-power features when not in use. It was discontinued on October 13, 2015, and was succeeded by the new Magic Keyboard.

History

First generation (A1016) M9270LL/A (4 batteries)

On September 16, 2003, the first Apple Wireless Keyboard was introduced at the Apple Expo.[2] It lacked wires and USB ports, but otherwise was cosmetically the same as the wired version with white plastic keys inside a clear plastic shell and a numeric keypad. The device required four AA batteries, and had an On/Off switch on the bottom.

Second generation (A1255) (3 batteries)

The wireless keyboard matches the Apple Keyboard's slim profile

On August 7, 2007, Apple released a redesigned model of the Apple Wireless Keyboard. Like the wired Apple Keyboard, the new model is thinner than its predecessors and has an aluminum enclosure. Another addition is the new functions added to the function keys, such as media controls and Dashboard control. Unlike the previous version, the Wireless Keyboard now has a layout similar to the MacBook. The power button has been relocated to the right side of the keyboard, and the layout does not include a numeric keypad. This model added accidental caps lock prevention: the key has to be held down for a moment for caps lock to engage. This keyboard required only three AA batteries, one fewer than its predecessor.

Third generation (A1314) MC184LL/A (2 batteries)

German Apple Wireless Keyboards 2nd generation (up) and Apple Magic keyboard (down)

In October 2009, a slightly revised third model was released. New model number A1314 replaced the A1255, two years and two months after the initial release. The new model now uses only two AA batteries instead of three originally. Additionally, Mac OS X 10.5.8 is now the minimum OS over the original Mac OS X 10.4.10. This model of keyboard became standard with new generation of iMacs introduced on the same day.

Fourth generation (A1314) MC184LL/B (2 batteries)

In July 2011, following the release of Mac OS X 10.7.0/OS X Lion, Apple updated the keyboard slightly, updating the label on the Exposé key to Mission Control and changing the Dashboard key to a Launchpad key.[3]

Languages and layouts

Keyboard layouts with a rectangular Enter key are available in American English and Korean.

Keyboard layouts with L-shaped Enter keys are available in:

  • Arabic
  • Belgian
  • Croatian
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dutch
  • English (International)
  • English (British)
  • French
  • German
  • Greek
  • Hebrew
  • Hungarian
  • Italian
  • Norwegian
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Spanish
  • Swedish
  • Swiss
  • Turkish F/Q

Boot Camp keyboard mapping in Windows

Due to the missing keys for Windows PCs (such as the PrintScreen Key), Apple has made mappings.[4]

Windows Keyboard Equivalent
PrintScreen Fn + ⇧ Shift + F11
Scroll Lock Fn + ⇧ Shift + F12
Pause/Break Fn + Escape
Home Fn + ←
End Fn + →
Page Down Fn + ↓
Page Up Fn + ↑
Forward Delete Fn + Delete
Insert Fn + ↵ Enter

Note. These keyboard mappings will work on a Mac operating under Windows 7 when running Boot Camp, but may not work if you select the Boot Camp option of "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys"

Using the keyboard on computers other than a Macintosh

Although Apple includes support solely for Macintosh computers, it can also be used on a Microsoft Windows PC providing that a Bluetooth receiver and appropriate Bluetooth stack is installed and properly configured.

The Linux kernel supports Apple Wireless Keyboards via the hid-apple module, which is present in 2.6.x+ kernels.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "iOS: Apple Wireless Keyboard compatibility" – Overview of Apple wireless keyboards in the context of iOS compatibility
  2. ↑ "Apple Introduces Wireless Keyboard & Mouse" – Apple PR Statement
  3. ↑ "iOS: Apple Wireless Keyboard compatibility" – Overview of Apple wireless keyboards in the context of iOS compatibility
  4. ↑ Apple.com – Boot Camp: Apple Wireless Keyboard keyboard mapping in Windows

External links

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