Matias Tactile Pro 2.0

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Matias Tactile Pro 2.0

Posted 07/31/2007 at 2:00:36pm | by Zack Stern

It looks like the old Apple keyboard. It definitely doesn’t sound like it.

Some old-school geeks love the clattering chaos of mechanical-switch keyboards, and the Tactile Pro 2.0 gives us those good vibrations. Each press of the Tactile Pro 2.0’s keys takes us back to a time before squishy rubber membrane keyboards. Unlike the vast majority of other keyboards - nearly all keyboards, aside from those on laptops, use that rubber membrane style - the Tactile Pro 2.0 has a spring inside each key and physical feedback for each press. You can distinctly feel each click and release. Granted, you might find the keyboard too noisy with its clickity-clack action, but it’s music to many a longtime computer user’s ears.

While the Tactile Pro 2.0 is worth considering for its great feel alone, its other features are a mixed bag. Best are the symbols printed on each key - a boon for finding ¥, ©, or other characters. On the other hand, the keyboard hogs up two USB ports on your Mac. One USB connection is for the keyboard itself, while the other acts as an extension for the single USB 2.0 port on the keyboard, to which you can connect a mouse, flash drive, or other peripheral. At this price, we’d expect two or three USB ports.

The bottom line. USB 2.0 design flaw aside, old-school typists won’t go back to cheap rubber membrane keyboards.

COMPANY: Matias

CONTACT: www.matias.ca

PRICE: $149.95

REQUIREMENTS: Two USB ports

Feels great. Audible, physical feedback that a key has been pressed. Includes volume, Eject, and Power keys. Special characters printed on keys.

Nearly useless USB 2.0 design takes two ports and gives back only one. Makes a racket.

COMMENTS: 6

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COMMENTS

Caps Lock on - or not?
Submitted by Rik (not verified) on Tue, 2007-07-31 13:16

I love my Tactile Pro 2.0 (and its easily accessible USB 2.0 port), except for one pain in the proverbial glutes that you didn't mention: Its lack of any indication - light or otherwise - that the Caps Lock key is engaged or not.

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Not so good
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2007-09-17 01:19

I anxiously waited for this keyboard to arrive, after having pre-ordered it. I had borrowed a friend's Tactile Pro (first version) and loved the mechanical keys. Unfortunately, this keyboard has way too many "ghost" or "shadow" letters when I type. What happens is that you get an extra letter in your word if you type to fast.

It's too bad b/c this is one of the better feeling keyboards out there.

Hopefully version 3.0 will solve this.

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CapsOn light
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2007-09-20 20:33

The Mtias USB2 keyboard I have has three lights just to the right of the F15 key. The middle one lights up with the CapsLock is presses. a "more pressing" problem for me is that the space bar does not always create a space, and I wish there were some way to improve its function. The good news is that, unlike the recent iMac keyboards, which are sealed so as to trap dirt and moisture but cannot be cleaned readily, the Matias can be popped open underneath by removing three screws and debris blown air with a pressurized can of air. It's a huge improvemnt over the cramped Microsoft "Mac-Compatible" keyboards, which have small-pitch keys that make operation uncomfortable, and the boards by Mac Ally, which are very cheap "Clunkers. Having the foreign accent keys-combos marked is a bonus, as I use them frequently. I'm glad I bought it after having had two original iMac keyboards become so gummed up after 4-5 months that I refused to to use another one, even under warranty. $30 was well spent!

I strongly disagree with the snide comment about giving up two USB2 ports. The trade-off is well worth it. The dock is handily located for thumb drives and transfering photo images. There are two USB1 docks to the rear of the keyboard, as with the iMac board.

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My review --
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2007-10-21 07:53

Contrary to this reviewer, I didn't like the TTP 2, particularly compared to the TTP 1.

Was the review unit provided by Matias? I ask because many of the keyboards described in the wild seem to have problems like the ones I describe.

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I didn't care much for the MTP 2.0
Submitted by Jake (not verified) on Thu, 2008-01-31 15:09

I wrote an unfavorable review of the MTP 2.0, saying it "combined a fat price ($150) with poor build quality (loose keys, a malformed edge, and a continuing shadow key problem)."

I consider the clicky sound a benefit; it's the rest of the package that is bothersome.

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