Who uses a mechanical keyboard with their PowerPC?

[Alexis Trinquet]

View attachment 939556
This beauty is a Leading Edge DC-3014 with Alps SKCM Blue switches. And the only reason I use it with any of my Macs is because it's connected to a kvm switch between, currently, my MDD and my Windows Ryzen desktop. I love to have matching displays if I can, but I'll take the best keyboard and mouse I can find, no matter the design.

I actually found this keyboard in a garage 15 years ago for free, if you can believe it. Now they go for stupid amounts on ebay.

Ha ! Ironically I have a Dell keeb that has SKCM switches as well (the fabled Dell AT10xx series), if I could I would've used it with my G4

That particular keyboard, I got it brand new in box from a UK seller (how did a Dell AZERTY keyboard wind somehow up in England..? Well I guess life, uh, finds a way as usual....), it wasn't cheap (80 euros) but it's the most sturdiest keyboard I have ever used.

Oh and I like the feel of the stock black SKCM Alps switches, really, I tried once MX cherries switches, and they weren't my cup of tea (or my glass of wine, because I'm French after all lol).



Edit: it is cleaner than it looks on the picture, I never used it, so it's a tad bit dusty.

 

[1042686]

Yes but none with my modern macs. My c64 is mechanical as are my Mac+ & SE Keyboards. All my daily’s are membranes.

I figure I’ll pick up a mechanical keyboard at some point for my gaming box but that’s it. As much as I’d like a model M for example, it’s not worth it to me to pay what they command these days.

 

[timidpimpin]

I really want a Durgod Fusion.

 

[1042686]

I really want a Durgod Fusion.

View attachment 941732

I like the middle one but I need a number pad.

 

[mectojic]

Reviving an old thread here, but I thought this may be a place to seek help.

I'd like to use a PS/2 mouse / keyboard with my PowerPC Macs. I bought a cheap PS/2 to USB adapter online, but it doesn't work with any Mac, new or old.

Is there a specific PS/2 to USB adapter that will work for Macs?

 

[salamanderjuice]

Reviving an old thread here, but I thought this may be a place to seek help.

I'd like to use a PS/2 mouse / keyboard with my PowerPC Macs. I bought a cheap PS/2 to USB adapter online, but it doesn't work with any Mac, new or old.

Is there a specific PS/2 to USB adapter that will work for Macs?

Have you tested it on a random PC to see if that works? You probably need an active PS/2 to USB adapter. Some of the cheap ones are basically just pin adapters for keyboards/mice that support both PS/2 and USB modes. It should just show up as a USB keyboard and mouse if it works and so no driver needed.

 

[mectojic]

Have you tested it on a random PC to see if that works? You probably need an active PS/2 to USB adapter. Some of the cheap ones are basically just pin adapters for keyboards/mice that support both PS/2 and USB modes. It should just show up as a USB keyboard and mouse if it works and so no driver needed.

Well it was unopened new in box, so I think it must work, but I don't have a PC to test on.

 

[reddrag0n]

i would like to get one of these and use it on my MDD for X & 9 hooked up to my iMate adapter

 

[for this]

Reviving an old thread here, but I thought this may be a place to seek help.

I'd like to use a PS/2 mouse / keyboard with my PowerPC Macs. I bought a cheap PS/2 to USB adapter online, but it doesn't work with any Mac, new or old.

Is there a specific PS/2 to USB adapter that will work for Macs?

#0

Don't buy one like this if your mouse and keyboard don't support both PS/2 and USB. It is a passive adapter which means all it does is rewiring. There is no circuit doing protocol conversion inside. It only works with some mice and keyboards that support both PS/2 and USB (they will select which protocol to operate with at power-on). Most of them are originally shipped with one of these adapters.


The ones that work with pure PS/2 devices are active adapters. They have a circuit inside to converse protocol. I've tried three of them and they are not equal.

All this is based on using a Logitech PS/2 mouse. I don't have a PS/2 keyboard.


#1

This one is fussy about which USB port it is plugged into. I think it wants ones that have more direct path to USB controllers in the Mac. It is not hot-swappable which, by the book, means if you unplug it while you're working, you will need to restart the Mac to get it work again. But in real life, it rarely comes back after restart. I often have to turn off the Mac, unplug it and everything connected to it from the wall and wait for the electricity to drain off before turning them back on (perhaps to reset USB bus), to make it work again.

By the way you can't go by the look alone. I mean some adapters with the same external appearance as #1 have the gut of #3 inside, which is very good. So I think I should include its System Profiler's info which is more reliable.

Shows up as "Generic USB K/B"
Product ID: 0x0017
Vendor ID: 0x13ba
Version: 0.01


#2

Much better than #1, works with every USB port of my Mac, hot-swappable. But there is no mouse acceleration after cold-boot (which means when the Mac is turned on after it hasn't received power from the wall for a while). I have to unplug the adapter and re-insert it to fix that.

Shows up as "PS2toUSB Adapter"
Product ID: 0x98d2
Vendor ID: 0x0826 (Data Transit)
Version: 2.80


#3

Best all-around, has similar features of #2 without the mouse acceleration problem. However, there is a quirk which is neglectable for me, i.e., the mouse can move in vertical direction only in Boot Manager (which is when you boot the Mac with Option key pressed to select a boot drive). It is neglectable because I can use arrow keys on keyboard to select it instead.

Shows up as "Barcode Reader"
Product ID: 0x0018
Vendor ID: 0x13ba
Version: 0.01

*Some #3 adapters have the same external appearance as #1

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Update: Well, I am embarrassed to say that all the tests were done on an Intel Mac mini. I've just found out that all of mine don't work with my MDD. I searched for more info and found that the ones I have probably support Intel Macs only.

For PPC macs, I've found this adapter that says it works, quite pricey, though.
https://www.aten.com/global/en/products/kvm/kvm-modules-&-accessories/uc100kma/

"PS/2 to USB Adapter with Mac support"

"Platforms Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Linux Mac OS 8.6 or Higher SUN Solaris 8"
------

 

[for this]

i would like to get one of these and use it on my MDD for X & 9 hooked up to my iMate adapter

From the picture, it is Apple Keyboard II which is a membrane keyboard, not mechanical.

I'm OK with any keyboard that doesn't hurt my fingers. I even like the Apple Design Keyboard (M2980) which uses membranes. But this one, I had to use it at work years ago and it was a bad experience. It was connected to an LC III for text typing. The keys were very hard to press. And not in a good way like a hard-to-press mechanical keyboard either, hard to describe its character, a pain to type on. It looks good, though.

 

[lepidotós]

I have this Logitech G910 I absolutely hate that I got as a hand-me-down I'm using until I can save up enough to get my own. The marketing claims it has Romer G """"""""""tactile"""""""""" switches. If there's any tactility to it, it's so miniscule that I can't honestly feel any of it. Donatello has a more tactile keyboard. I've referred to the switches as linear in the past because I honestly thought they were. Plus, the keys will every so often register twice, almost every time in the case of the numpad enter key.
And it has the gamer look to it, which I've never been a fan of. I'll always prefer a more conventional appearance to my computers. I won't feel too bad about recycling it. Especially since you can still buy one new.

This is what I want to get. MX Blues (Zealio 67g are my favorites but not for $50 -- at least, not yet) and no sound dampening. Keycaps are Mac Retro. I really love the classy look of the pre-Myriad era keycaps, although I acknowledge that this makes them somewhat more gaudy. I also have an alternate keycap set in mind once these keys wear away that have black keys and Apple-colored lettering.

Spoiler

One day I'd love to try out an Input Club Keystone, since apparently typing on a beamspring keyboard kind of feels like typing on a typewriter, and I love my typewriter. And a Model M is of course on the to-get list as well.​

 

[reddrag0n]

From the picture, it is Apple Keyboard II which is a membrane keyboard, not mechanical.

I'm OK with any keyboard that doesn't hurt my fingers. I even like the Apple Design Keyboard (M2980) which uses membranes. But this one, I had to use it at work years ago and it was a bad experience. It was connected to an LC III for text typing. The keys were very hard to press. And not in a good way like a hard-to-press mechanical keyboard either, hard to describe its character, a pain to type on. It looks good, though.

i noticed that there were 2 styles of that keyboard. not too sure which one is which, but one has regular keys and the other has short keys.

 

[salamanderjuice]

i noticed that there were 2 styles of that keyboard. not too sure which one is which, but one has regular keys and the other has short keys.

View attachment 1983435View attachment 1983443

The one on the left is the Apple Keyboard II, the one on the right is the Apple Desktop Bus keyboard or Apple IIGS keyboard as it came with the IIGS. The ADB keyboard uses some kind of mechanical Alps mount switch. Which switch depends on the revision you get.

 

[reddrag0n]

that pic is a keyboard from Europe. I would be finding a keyboard with a regular return key as in this style...

 

[for this]

i noticed that there were 2 styles of that keyboard. not too sure which one is which, but one has regular keys and the other has short keys.

View attachment 1983435View attachment 1983443

They look similar but are two different models. The left one is Apple Keyboard II (M0847), a membrane keyboard.

Apple Keyboard II - Deskthority wiki

deskthority.net

The right is Apple IIgs' keyboard, a mechanical keyboard, which is more sought after and more expensive in used market. I think all IIgs' keyboards have L-shaped return key.

Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard - Deskthority wiki

deskthority.net

 

[salamanderjuice]

that pic is a keyboard from Europe. I would be finding a keyboard with a regular return key as in this style...
View attachment 1983505

It's still an Apple Keyboard II and it's still membrane. It's just ANSI instead of ISO layout.

 

[reddrag0n]

so model A9M0330 is what i'm after? there are a few out there for cheap. and if they are mechanical keys, shouldn't be that hard to fix keys that don't work if the problem arises

 

[Nhwhazup]

My favorite is my 10 keyless Filco with cherry reds.

 

[for this]

so model A9M0330 is what i'm after? there are a few out there for cheap. and if they are mechanical keys, shouldn't be that hard to fix keys that don't work if the problem arises

Yes and yes.

They are generally harder to find and more expensive compared to the M0847.

 

[for this]

A wired 75% keyboard would be perfect for me since I would like a short one with F keys. The AEKIIs I have are full size which I think is unsuitable to use with a mouse. The numpad area pushes the typing area which is the most used area towards the left. And if I want the typing area centered to the monitor, the mouse will be too far to the right.

And a wired keyboard is much easier to do special things on booting than a wireless one.

 

[cellularmitosis]

I have an Datacomp with white Alps switches, with a tinkerBOY ADB to USB dongle.

tinkerBOY ADB Keyboard/Mouse to USB Converter with QMK Firmware and Via support - tinkerBOY

The tinkerBOY ADB to USB Keyboard/Mouse Converter now features QMK Firmware with the VIA functionality for real-time remapping. This means you can connect your vintage Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) keyboards and mice, such as the AEK and AEK II Apple Extended Keyboards, to modern computers. It’s...

www.tinkerboy.xyz

 

[reddrag0n]

I tore my Apple Design keyboard apart to clean it, from the outside under the caps, it looked like gray switches, but when i took it apart further, it turned out to be a membrane keyboard.