The Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard does not have loud switches, but feels much better than the Magic Keyboard. Only the function keys are not great.
Microsoft has released consistently good hardware for over 20 years now. There have been a few duds over the years but by and large their input devices have been stellar.
The ergonomic/natural/arc keyboards are, by far, the best products Microsoft ever sold. I do love the Apple trackpads, however. There is no better way to work on a Mac.
As for my Linuxing, I have a Unicomp "Battleship" (PC122 keyboard) that's loud as hell, but has the best feel since the beam spring keyboards God added to the IBM 3270's when it made them in the 6th day.
I'm still rockin' the original Microsoft Natural on my workstation. My current motherboard has a PS2 keyboard connector, but I have a USB-PS2 adapter if/when the day comes to upgrade.
I originally bought three of them, and two are still working good.
I also recently bought one of the new Microsoft keyboards, and the feel on it is still pretty good.
Trackball is way better than any trackpad for me. I have three Microsoft Ergonomic keyboards. Two of the Surface ones and one of their cheaper ones which is about $20 at a BestBuy.
The thing with the trackpad on Macs is the gesture thing. Swiping desktops, zooming out on all windows, the "3D" click... The fluid way it allows me to work is priceless.
+1 for the sculpt ergonomic, the older black version (with external numpad) and newer surface version are both great.
The newer surface version is mostly better because it has an Fn key instead of a physical switch to go between media keys and F1, F2, etc.. plus real home/insert/end/arrow keys. I do wish they left the numberpad separate though, as it increase the distance to my mouse/trackpad and I preferred to just get rid of it, as personally I never use it. But many people also like to have it...
Newer version is also bluetooth which is great on mac, but less great on windows/linux as you don't get bootloader support.
+1, the sculpt keyboard and even mouse are my daily drivers at both desks and very well priced.
After a quick key remap on MacOS and a bit of muscle memory adjustment on finger placement that was well with it, my typing speed hasn't suffered and hands are happy. I do wish MS made Mac drivers. No Mac keyboard can hold a candle to this kbd.
I tried the my much more expensive kinesis freestyle with the trimmings - it was nice but too slow to type on because of the keys.
The dream keyboard would be a MS sculpt cut in half like a kinesis freestyle 3, maybe with apple keys that work, and wireless halves.
