From morning until most of the afternoon, I use my MacBook connected to the monitor. Once evening arrives, I usually switch to the PC, either because I have something to edit or simply because it’s time to play a few games.
Before, I only used a Mac, and when I decided to buy a PC again for heavy tasks or gaming, I realized that the Magic Keyboard wasn’t the best option for gaming, so I connected a standard keyboard I had lying around the house to be able to play better.
That’s how I ended up until today with two keyboards on my desk, one for when I use the Mac and another for when I use the PC.
Today the time came to look for a solution because I really don’t like having two keyboards on my desk, plus they take up a lot of space. I needed a keyboard that would allow me to use both setups as simply as possible.
I’m not looking for a cheap keyboard, but not a very expensive one either; I just need one that covers my needs.
With this clear, I separated the requirements based on usage: gaming on PC and working on Mac.
Requirements for gaming on the PC
First, I’ll go over the gaming part, because it’s perhaps the most complex. Normally when I play shooters, I move the mouse across a fairly large area of the desk. So I opted for more compact keyboards, specifically 60% layouts.
When I used large keyboards (with a numeric keypad), I had the problem that when moving the mouse very quickly across the desk, I would hit the keyboard on many occasions, with results you can imagine: accidental shots and things like that.
That’s why I thought a more compact keyboard would leave me more free space for movements.
Logically, for gaming, the connection must be USB or low-latency wireless to avoid lag issues.
To tell you the truth, for the PC I always ended up keeping the keyboard connected via USB to spare myself latency issues.
Requirements for working on the Mac
On the Mac, I need it to connect via Bluetooth, because the MacBook Air has limited ports and I’d prefer not to have to connect a hub.
I like having the Mac ready to unplug from power and the monitor and take it wherever I need.
So the keyboard has to be able to connect to multiple devices, allowing me to select one or the other even if both are turned on.
Often I have to do something momentary on the Mac while I have the PC running, so the ideal thing is to be able to select one device or the other right from the keyboard without having to pair it every time.
Keys and controls that actually matter
It must have multimedia controls, or rather, volume control.
Whether I’m on the Mac or the PC, music or background video is a must, so having a volume control becomes mandatory for me.
Most 60% compact keyboards don’t usually have a dedicated “Delete” (Del) key; it’s usually hidden among the function keys, and when working with files in Windows, this can be a hassle because it’s the key for deleting. On a Mac, this isn’t an issue since files are deleted differently. So another requirement is that it has a dedicated “Delete” key.
Arrow keys must also be taken into account; although I don’t use them a ton, they are necessary for many keyboard shortcuts, so it’s better to have them and avoid any surprises later.
True multi-device support
Basically, the keyboard must support at least Mac and Windows, and allow switching between them easily.
I want fewer cables and fewer gadgets, so it must have at least USB and Bluetooth to connect to both computers simultaneously.
And ideally, it should have a built-in battery, because disposable batteries usually last a blink of an eye.
Switches
I always liked the idea of a mechanical keyboard because of the possibility of replacing a key if it broke, but I had no idea about switches or brands since there are tons of options. So I started researching the topic, but I’ll tell you about that later.
I don’t want a noisy keyboard—not just when typing, but also when gaming—because if you don’t live alone, I assure you it gets very annoying.
Among all the switch brands and models, I opted for the most balanced option: Outemu Browns. They offer the tactile feel of pressing a key without making barely any noise. They don’t tire your fingers out when typing or gaming. In short, they hit the sweet spot.
What I’ve done
At first, I had chosen a keyboard just because it looked pretty, but looking at the specs, certain things didn’t add up.
My problem wasn’t really the keyboard itself, but the setup I had put together, because each keyboard individually worked fine on its own.
The problems appeared every time I looked at my desk, which looked like a war zone. Every time I switched from the Mac to the PC, I had to shove one keyboard to one side and then back.
You don’t have to be an expert to choose a keyboard well; you just need to focus on what features you actually need it to have.
Now my desk is cleaner and tidier, I’m not using up any of the Mac’s USB ports, and on top of that, this frees me from the surrounding noise. Switching from the Mac to the PC or vice versa is as simple as pressing a key to jump back and forth between computers.
Which one I chose
After testing several, I decided on the HIDITEC GM1K with Gateron PRO Red switches
Quick checklist for choosing a keyboard if you use both Mac and PC
Here is a list for you to use as a guide when choosing your keyboard.
- Suits your daily use
- A single keyboard for both systems
- Stable Bluetooth for Mac
- USB or low-latency connection for PC
- Compact size if you game with a mouse
- Physical volume control
- Dedicated Delete key
- Physical arrow keys
- Quick switching between devices
- Hot-swappable switches
- Quiet
- Built-in battery