+1
you will probably save money buying a PC usb keyboard over buying one
for a mac, even if you buy a non-apple branded mac keyboard.
as jack said, the option and command ("apple") key positions are
reversed on a PC keyboard. to fix that, open system preferences--
>keyboard. click on Modifier Keys.... in the lower right corner.
click on the pulldown menu next to Option Key and select Command, and
on the pulldown menu next to Command Key and select Option.
then if you want, you can use some paint or fingernail polish on the
keys to change the artwork!
all this advice may be moot if you already have a working keyboard,
and you just want to put a rescued piece of Apple gear back into
service--i know the words to that song!
On Jan 5, 11:17 pm, Jack Countryman <[email protected]> wrote:
> There were several usb to adb adapters made when the switch from adb to
> usb happened. I've had several different ones, made by Belkin (eGo),
> Momentum (uConnect), KeySpan, and Griffin (iMate). It seemed that
> different ones worked with different devices. Though most, if not all,
> would handle a keyboard or mouse, the Palm Pilots liked a different one
> than the UPS devices liked and other adb devices worked better with
> still other adapters. I think at one time I had three or so different
> ones on my g4 tower to keep various old devices working. (I'm not sure
> anymore which worked with what devices.) It seems to me that several of
> these needed or benefited from software drivers. Those may be even more
> difficult to find than the hardware. Even with the software, they may
> not work correctly until after the software loads. So keypresses that
> need to be there at startup become very difficult to do.
>
> A quick search on eBay finds two new Griffin iMates for sale there. A
> search there for KeySpan there shows up several of their adapters. A
> search for Belkin finds a number of their usb to DB9 adapters, and a few
> of their serial modular adapter units that have both DB9 and ADB. A
> search for Momentum finds one of their adapters. So, the devices are
> still out there...some of them (the Griffin units) still new in the package.
>
> At one time, there was also a device called a 'stealth serial port'
> sold, that put an adb serial port on the b&w g3 and some g4 towers in
> the space where a modem port would otherwise go. A search on eBay shows
> one of those for sale for $25. That actually gives you the female DIN8
> port to plug your adb keyboard into...if you have one of the models of
> Mac it works with. The ad lists it for a Mac mini, and the picture
> shows a printed circuit board, while the one I have that worked on my
> Blue & White g3 Mac is only a ribbon cable with the female port...no
> printed circuit board. Maybe the Mac mini needs the board? If so, does
> that one really work with the g4? Caveat Emptor!
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/GEETHREE-G4-STEALTH-SERIAL-PORT-MAC-G4-MINI-D...
>
> Note that the same issue exists with mice...the old ones for your g4 are
> adb models. the new ones are usb. Perhaps a single usb to adb adapter
> would handle both a keyboard and mouse if they were daisy chained?
>
> However, prices on any of these devices are as high or higher than what
> you would pay for used or even new usb Mac or mac compatible keyboards.
> So, for practical purposes, the earlier poster probably has the right
> idea. It will be easiest to find a cheap usb keyboard. There's a
> university surplus outlet I sometimes get to that routinely has used
> keyboard (windows and Mac varieties) for $5 each plus tax. (Note that
> those keyboards intended for use with windows machines are rumored to
> work also with option=alt, and command=windows keys.
>
> On the other hand, if you are one who insists on keeping his old
> extended keyboard I or II going because of the way it feels...so be
> it...but its going to cost you. Good luck.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Kris Tilford <mailto:[email protected]>
> > January 5, 2012 10:28 PM
> > On Jan 5, 2012, at 6:58 PM, Reggie wrote:
>
> > None of the G4 PowerMacs are compatible with ADB keyboards. The best
> > solution is to sell the ADB keyboard and get an Apple USB keyboard.
> > ADB adapters are rare & expensive, the Griffin iMate is $75 retail,
> > $25 on eBay <http://compare.ebay.com/like/220925051610> I don't think
> > Mac keyboard commands work with an adapted ADB-to-USB keyboard, so
> > this is a substantial drawback if you have problems.
>
> > USB keyboards are cheap and plentiful. You might be able to buy 5
> > keyboards for the same price as one if you find the right seller?
> > Older USB keyboards that came with colored iMacs or early PowerMacs
> > often sell for $5 or so each, a stack for $15-20 shipped.
>
> > Reggie <mailto:[email protected]>
> > January 5, 2012 7:58 PM
> > I have an older G4 powerpc, Mac OS X 10.5.8. I found an apple
> > keyboard but it has the 4 way mini DIN socket and I am having a heck
> > of a time finding an USB adaptor for it. Does anyone know where i can
> > find one? Thanks for your help! I am new at this so I may not use
> > the correct terms, please feel free to correct me!
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