Wombat Willow: A solid typing tool with some quirks

This isn't a keyboard that lets you simply plug in and go-you need to read the manual.

- ROMAN LOYOLA

The Wombat Willow keyboard (fave.co/3YEqHyl) is KSI Holding's mechanical keyboard offering for the Mac market. Overall, it's a solid keyboard, ideal for anyone who prefers the feel of mechanical keyboards over Apple's Magic Keyboard, but the Willow does have some quirks that the user will have to adjust to.

BUILD, DESIGN, AND FEEL

The Willow is a hefty 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram), which helps anchor it in place on the desk. It might be too heavy for use as a mobile keyboard-though it's not designed as one in the first place. While the weight does play a part in portraying the keyboard as a solid product, the construction overall is well done. It's put together nicely and its parts meet a standard of quality.

Measuring 14.45×6.33×1.73 inches (36.7×16.1×2.98 centimeters), the Willow is between the Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (fave.co/3A2LmmV) and the Magic Keyboard width-wise (fave.co/3A9M8hV). So if you've always found the former too wide and the latter too small and you need a keypad, the Willow is a nice compromise. The Willow does require more depth area; if you don't have much space between the keyboard and the display on your desk, the Willow's depth could be an issue.

The reason for the increased depth is the way Wombat decided to place the Function and other keys. They're not laid out in a row above the number keys but instead are in three sets of two-row, eight-key blocks at the top of the keyboard. Wombat isn't the only company to put these keys in a nonstandard placement, and since these keys aren't used when typing, it's not a problem. But if you're used to using an Apple keyboard, you'll go through a period of hunting and pecking as you learn where, say, the F3 (Mission Control) key is.