ADB == Mini-DIN?

Amad3U5 · Jan 19, 2013

I want to buy an Apple Extended Keyboard to use with my MacBook Pro. Naturally, this means that I must purchase an ADB to USB adapter. However, no manufacturer seems to make these anymore, and the scarce units on eBay are incredibly expensive. So I discovered that ADB is simply Apple's version of Mini-DIN, and found Mini-DIN to USB adapters for significantly cheaper.

So my question is: can I use a generic 4-pin Mini-DIN to USB adapter for use with my Mac, or must I opt for the more expensive ADB to USB?

Intell · Jan 19, 2013

While they share the same connector, they do not share the same electrical signals. It'll fit, but not work.

David Schmidt · Jan 19, 2013

Not only that, but you're confusing the connectors. The ADB port is NOT the 8-pin mini-DIN serial port you're finding adapters for. ADB is a 4-pin mini-DIN connector that shares the physical characteristics (but not the electrical ones, obviously) with S-video.

Here's an adapter that looks like it'll do ADB:

But these serial adapters won't:

blesscheese · Feb 9, 2013

Dave Schmidt is correct in his pictures...the top one is the Griffin iMate ADB to USB adaptor, which will work, but is now very rare:

Newegg page

The bottom pictures are of a serial to usb converter, which has a differing number of pins.

Following up on Dave's comment, I have regularly used S-Video cables with my ADB Mac Keyboards and old Mac's, and have never had a problem.

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ADB == Mini-DIN?

Amad3U5

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Intell

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David Schmidt

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blesscheese

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