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Can any USB keyboard be used with a Mac?

D

Deslock

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 18, 2004
89
0
Will a Mac work with any USB keyboard? If it has a Windows-key, does it map it to the Apple-key? What about the print and backspace keys? If there is no Windows-key, how do you get Apple-key functionality?

Thanks!
 
Deslock said:
Will a Mac work with any USB keyboard? If it has a Windows-key, does it map it to the Apple-key? What about the print and backspace keys? If there is no Windows-key, how do you get Apple-key functionality?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

As it clearly states on the Mac mini page, you can use your favorite USB keyboard. As for key mapping, I can't comment as I have not done it.
 
The windows key becomes the Apple key. Not sure about the others...

Edit: thinking about this it might be the Alt key that becomes the Apple key?
 
mcmav37 said:
As it clearly states on the Mac mini page, you can use your favorite USB keyboard. As for key mapping, I can't comment as I have not done it.
Click to expand...
Right, but what I want to know is how non-Apple USB keyboards handle the Apple-key functionality.
 
On the same topic, I'm using a Logitec keyboard that's for windows. When I first used it the windows key worked as the Apple Key, but I wanted to map the other keys to do certain things, like have one of the extra buttons open the CD drive. I installed the Loigtec software for OS X and now the Alt key works as the Apple key, no idea why but I've gotten used to it now and I was able to map all the extra buttons to do some fun things.
 
FYI for anyone else who comes across this thread... I found this info at maccentral
The Dell display worked flawlessly, as did the keyboard and mouse, although I had to remember that the Alt key was equivalent to the Mac’s Option key, and that the Windows key was used as Command. (I plan on installing the excellent uControl, which lets you swap the Alt and Windows keys so that they reside in the same relative positions on a Windows PC keyboard as the Option and Command keys do on a Mac keyboard.) Holding the F12 key down even ejects CDs/DVDs, just like it does on Apple keyboards, and, as with any Mac, the Dell mouse’s scroll/click wheel and right button function as expected.
Click to expand...
 
I've used my Apple keyboard on an HP laptop and the Apple key worked as the Windows key, and it works the other way around if you use a PC keyboard on a Mac. If it's a USB keyboard, it most likely has a Windows key.
 
I never use Apple keyboard, i play lots of games on my mac so i am used to one kind on keyboard (microsoft :( ya i know), i have had no problems what so ever just make sure you map one of your keys to be the eject (f12 for me) and try to remmber you keys.
 
Here's a question for one of you... the Windows key is (generally speaking) just a shortcut to Ctrl-Esc (which does the same thing if you do it manually). If you plug in a non-Apple keyb and Ctrl-Esc, does it do the same thing as the Apple key?

Just general curiosity.

Rob
 
mrgreen4242 said:
Here's a question for one of you... the Windows key is (generally speaking) just a shortcut to Ctrl-Esc (which does the same thing if you do it manually). If you plug in a non-Apple keyb and Ctrl-Esc, does it do the same thing as the Apple key?

Just general curiosity.

Rob
Click to expand...
I highly doubt this will work since you need to hold down the Command key while hitting the next key. Using Ctrl-Esc wouldn't allow for this
 
Bear said:
I highly doubt this will work since you need to hold down the Command key while hitting the next key. Using Ctrl-Esc wouldn't allow for this
Click to expand...

Well, for example if you press Command-V to paste, will Ctrl-Esc-V paste as well? Lots of keyboard shortcuts use 3 keys, so I don't see why this would inherently NOT work. (just for references, on some Windows keyboards at least, hitting the Windows key literally sends the same electrical signal as if you had pressed ctrl-esc. I don't know if all work liek that or not, though).

Rob
 
mrgreen4242 said:
Well, for example if you press Command-V to paste, will Ctrl-Esc-V paste as well? Lots of keyboard shortcuts use 3 keys, so I don't see why this would inherently NOT work. (just for references, on some Windows keyboards at least, hitting the Windows key literally sends the same electrical signal as if you had pressed ctrl-esc. I don't know if all work liek that or not, though).

Rob
Click to expand...
The issue is ESC (escape) is a character and not a modifier key like Command/Option/Control/Shift. So Ctrl-Esc-V will not paste.
 
Bear said:
The issue is ESC (escape) is a character and not a modifier key like Command/Option/Control/Shift. So Ctrl-Esc-V will not paste.
Click to expand...

Ah, ok, I see. Interesting... It may be that only older PS2 keybs used the 'just send ctrl-esc' system for Windows keys...

Rob

EDIT: I just checked on my Linux desktop with a PS2 (wireless, tho, not a standard) keyboard, and while the windows key launches the application menu, ctrl-esc brings up a proccess list. So it seems it can tell the difference.
 
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