ThinkPad bluetooth wireless keyboard with MacBook
For ThinkPad lovers, the external ThinkPad keyboard is a savior which makes possible to use non ThinkPad PC comfortable. The current generation of the external ThinkPad keyboard is compact, but key touch is not bad. Anyway, the trackpoint is necessary for us.
We can choose from two models: The USB wired model and the bluetooth wireless model. While the USB model works with MacBook without any problem basically, the bluetooth model has some problems.
One of most serious problems is F1-F12 keys work as system control keys, not function keys. It’s impossible to change this behavior even if we use Karabiner Elements which is a powerful keyboard customizer. If we want to use function keys, we have to press these keys with Fn key.
While it’s very inconvenient, there is no other way. Unfortunately, We have to give up this point to use the bluetooth model with Mac.
Another serious problem is the center button of the trackpoint works as clicking. This button is used to scroll by combination with the trackpoint normally. However if we press the center button on links or buttons, they are clicked instead of scrolling in Mac.
There is a similar problem in the USB model. But it’s not so big problem in the USB model because clicking doesn’t work if we keep pressing the center button (If we want to scroll, we need to keep pressing the center button).
In the bluetooth model, they are clicked when we press the center button immediately. So we can’t avoid unexpected clicking when we want to scroll by the combination of the center button and the trackpoint.
Fortunately, we can use Karabiner Elements to avoid this problem. We should map button3 (which is the center button in ThinkPad keyboard) to other keys. In my case, button3 is mapped to button32 to disable completely.
Any other problems would be able to be solved using Karabiner Elements.
The recent MacBook’s keyboard is extremely uncomfortable. Too shallow key stroke and harsh type sound. The bluetooth model of ThinkPad keyboard will work with MacOS if you can overcome these problems. Stable connection, good response, long-life battery and trackpoint are there anyway!
Even if you can’t accept these problems, you can still choose the USB model, of course. Enjoy a comfortable keyboard with your MacBook!
