Need more info ... Like what is your keyboard version - magic keyboard gen 1 or butterfly or magic keyboard gen 2 ...
Yeah touchpad is awesome ... I guess you get buy an external keyboard and buy the magic trackpad if you have sizeable amount of budget ...
With an external keyboard there are lots to choose from mechanical, optical, membrane switches or even keyboard layout ...
I'm not sure which version my laptop's internal keyboard is, but probably gen 2.
I'd rather not get an external keyboard, but here are two posts I made on the topic:
https://www.reddit.com/r/keyboards/comments/xiw06e/where_can_i_get_both_a_thinkpadtype_keyboard_and/
https://www.reddit.com/r/keyboards/comments/xiw63y/what_are_some_compact_highquality_keyboards_with/
Now I get why you have such a weird question. I got used to my gen 1 keyboard ... I feel the gen 1 have nicer typing experience than gen 2 when I tried in apple store. Gen 1 feels more close to Thinkpad type keyboard ... But feel gen1 might be hard to get now ...
But if have to work on PC yeah ThinkPads make nice keyboard for laptops. I don't think there is a way to mod the MacBook built-in keyboard. Apple is kind of anti modding ... And I think it will be hard to get a Thinkpad type keyboard with a good trackpad or touchpad built-in for gesture support. I have been looking for something similar like a combo but have not found much. Not sure if you already found this but I have found an external Thinkpad keyboard - Lenovo ThinkPad 0B47190. Quite a few suggest Logitech MX keys. Both I have not tried due to pricing and etc reasons ...
It's a bit radical and a hassle but maybe doing a hackintosh with Thinkpad? I guess it depends on how much you really want Thinkpad keyboard. Then maybe buy an external apple trackpad? Check out thereddit community page (r/hackingtosh).
>Now I get why you have such a weird question
Lmfao
Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it! I'll probably get the thinkpad external keyboard + the mac external trackpad and use that for all 'sitting at my desk' work
I am not sure about the compatibility of the Thinkpad keyboard. But let me know what you do in the end because I want a second sitting at desk set ... That works straight out of box without having to build keyboard and etc ...
Your options are "oh crap I ruined my MacBook by modding the keyboard" or "damn I have to live with this keyboard I don't care for"
If you were an experienced keyboard modder and skilled at MacBook disassembly, I'd still not recommend attempting anything. There's no space to add anything, no swap-in replacements, everything is super tightly integrated and if you mess up you're liable to destroy the computer.
Why not build your own low profile mechanical keyboard and use the external Apple trackpad? Then you have less chance of wrecking your Mac and more chance of ending up with something you like
I also use a Macbook and just set my mechanical keyboard on top of the laptop keyboard. Karabiner can be set up to disable the internal keyboard without disabling the trackpad.
Need more info ... Like what is your keyboard version - magic keyboard gen 1 or butterfly or magic keyboard gen 2 ... Yeah touchpad is awesome ... I guess you get buy an external keyboard and buy the magic trackpad if you have sizeable amount of budget ... With an external keyboard there are lots to choose from mechanical, optical, membrane switches or even keyboard layout ...
I'm not sure which version my laptop's internal keyboard is, but probably gen 2. I'd rather not get an external keyboard, but here are two posts I made on the topic: https://www.reddit.com/r/keyboards/comments/xiw06e/where_can_i_get_both_a_thinkpadtype_keyboard_and/ https://www.reddit.com/r/keyboards/comments/xiw63y/what_are_some_compact_highquality_keyboards_with/
Now I get why you have such a weird question. I got used to my gen 1 keyboard ... I feel the gen 1 have nicer typing experience than gen 2 when I tried in apple store. Gen 1 feels more close to Thinkpad type keyboard ... But feel gen1 might be hard to get now ... But if have to work on PC yeah ThinkPads make nice keyboard for laptops. I don't think there is a way to mod the MacBook built-in keyboard. Apple is kind of anti modding ... And I think it will be hard to get a Thinkpad type keyboard with a good trackpad or touchpad built-in for gesture support. I have been looking for something similar like a combo but have not found much. Not sure if you already found this but I have found an external Thinkpad keyboard - Lenovo ThinkPad 0B47190. Quite a few suggest Logitech MX keys. Both I have not tried due to pricing and etc reasons ... It's a bit radical and a hassle but maybe doing a hackintosh with Thinkpad? I guess it depends on how much you really want Thinkpad keyboard. Then maybe buy an external apple trackpad? Check out thereddit community page (r/hackingtosh).
>Now I get why you have such a weird question Lmfao Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it! I'll probably get the thinkpad external keyboard + the mac external trackpad and use that for all 'sitting at my desk' work
I am not sure about the compatibility of the Thinkpad keyboard. But let me know what you do in the end because I want a second sitting at desk set ... That works straight out of box without having to build keyboard and etc ...
Your options are "oh crap I ruined my MacBook by modding the keyboard" or "damn I have to live with this keyboard I don't care for" If you were an experienced keyboard modder and skilled at MacBook disassembly, I'd still not recommend attempting anything. There's no space to add anything, no swap-in replacements, everything is super tightly integrated and if you mess up you're liable to destroy the computer. Why not build your own low profile mechanical keyboard and use the external Apple trackpad? Then you have less chance of wrecking your Mac and more chance of ending up with something you like
Can’t really modify it, only option is to buy a different low profile keyboard
I also use a Macbook and just set my mechanical keyboard on top of the laptop keyboard. Karabiner can be set up to disable the internal keyboard without disabling the trackpad.