Apple Input Devices on x86? 21
PimpBot asks: "So, after using a Apple G4 Tower, I fell in love with the Apple Pro Keyboard. Unfortunately, being a poor recent college graduate, I can't afford a shiney new QuickSilver Tower. Does anyone know a way of using the Pro keyboard on a x86 box? The keyboard is USB, which hopefully means I can just plug it on an x86, and have it work under Linux and Windows. Of course, I don't really want to blow $60 unless I know it'll work. Anyone out there know the answer?" Unfortunately, Apple's page on the keyboard doesn't address this. Anyone out there using these, or finding glitches?
Apple made good keyboards (depending on taste) before anyone thought of USB, too -- It looks like iogear.com sells hardware that will let you attach that old Extended II (search for "ADB") -- but of all the keyboard-sharing hardware and software listed at macwindows.com, nearly all of it goes the other direction (PS/2 --> Mac). The Griffin iMate claims to turn your ADB keyboard into a generic input device under USB-friendly versions of Windows. Can anyone vouch for the effectiveness of going with Mac input devices through such adapters?
A conditional yes (Score:1)
Re:Definitely works in linux (Score:1)
Might want to try out IOGear's new MiniView II KVM switchbox. It's got this odd "ghosting" technology which basically makes the system think whatever devices are plugged in are there, even when you're on another input. This translates into no delay when switching to a different input, since it doesn't have to plug 'n play the USB bus.
Unfortunately I think a side effect of this is that keyboard & mouse are represented as a keyboard & mouse INSIDE the switchbox, not the make/mfg of the connected components. Creates trouble when trying to get remap/driver software working - doesn't see the hardware, won't load the software.
YMMV of course. Probably a way aroundit, I just don't have the time to figure it out.
Will work, but no extended functionality. (Score:2)
I used an older Apple USB keyboard on my Windows 2000 machine for a while as a secondary. All the normal keys would work as expected. The left Mac option ke matched with the Windows alt key, and IIRC the Apple (command) key mapped to the left Windows key.
As I said, the HID stuff will be somewhat annoying. My main goal was to map the Mac power button to the Windows lock functionality. Most of the key remappers for Windows rely on a special Windows PS/2 subsytstem. Since USB/HID bypasses all PS/2 stuff, I found it impossible to remap the key.
So, basically, you can use the keyboard. Standard functionality will be there. Just don't expect the KB to do backflips for you.
Re:It should work. (Score:2)
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Re:It should work. (Score:2)
Well, I guess I still can, except I relly don't need it doing anything graphic right now.
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Definatly works in linux (Score:2)
of course it works (Score:1)
For the moment "plug and type"tm.
If you are using OS X you can of course use a 3 button USB mouse on your Mac too.
My experience is limited to my Vaio Picture book running RedHat 6.2 and 7.1.
Re:Definitely works in linux (Score:2)
If there's any problem it's with using a USB KVM. The Linux PC needs to be switched to 'active' when booting, and be given a chance to recognize the keyboard. Otherwise it (or any other USB device) won't be recognized.
Well... two points... (Score:2)
It's a USB keyboard. So it SHOULD work. But, as others have said, the eject, volumes, and mute keys go beyond the "basic" USB spec. So expect them to act funky. I've NO idea how command and option will map.
2)
Just buy one from Frys. Try it out. If it doesn't work, you can easily take advantage of their liberal return policy, and... uh... not too bright employees, to get your money back.
Easy enough.
cya,
john
Resistance is NOT futile!!!
Haiku:
I am not a drone.
Remove the collective if
Works just fine (Score:2)
There are only three issues I'm aware of: the first is that drivers may not be available. On Win2K, this seems to present no problem; it's just plug-and-go. I have heard that Win98 and WinMe machines need to have a NEC USB keyboard-with-hub driver selected/installed.
Second, if you're switching (which it sounds like you're not), some USB drivers may not follow peripherals plugged into the keyboard. I, for example, have a Palm USB cradle which works perfectly, but my Logitech TrackMan Marble becomes unrecognizable after switching (or even just un-plugging and re-plugging). It is still usable, but it is treated as a two-button device, and all button assignments are lost.
Third, the keys are not all where you explect them to be. The 'Logo' key and Alt keys are reversed on Mac keyboards, and the Context key, Scroll Lock, Print Screen, and Pause/Break buttons are missing entirely (no, the F13-F15 keys do not function as Scroll Lock, etc.) I have yet to locate a keyboard mapping utility that can compensate for this.
Here's a better link for the keyboard... (Score:2)
keyboard photos (Score:2)
URLs Presented In Plain Text For Your Protection!
It should work. (Score:2)
Re:It should work. (Score:2)
I've used a Blade 100 in this manner too (hell of alot easier to swap a wireless keyboard)
Maybe I haven't rebooted, but I'm pretty sure that I have.
Maybe there is an openboot setting to force it to boot in keyboard mode.
It May Work / How to Remap (Score:3)
I did find a reference to an old key remapper. ZDNet actually made one a while ago called ZDKeyMap [zdnet.com] thet you can download at CNET [cnet.com]. It says it only works with Windows 95 and on standard keys. You'd have to try it in Win98 and see if it still worked.
A better option may be JRkey [lummoxjr.com]. This project's goal is to create a generic, open-source, freeware multimedia keyboard driver for Windows 98. It looks promising, though it is still in Alpha.
Also, the Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit has a utility called Reymapkey.exe [microsoft.com] which is supposed to let you remap scancodes.
It DOES work with Win98 (Score:1)
It does work on Windows 98. Only the standard keys, though. The advanced keys (Fkeys, PgUp, PgDown etc.) would probably have to be mapped via some sort of universal customizable driver.
a little more info on this dead-horse topic (Score:1)
0. There's a slight flaw in the design of the whole keyboard. It's not obvious at first... I generally get a few crumbs in my keyboards (just a few - it's not a buffet in there) and guess what happens with a clear case? The crumbs sink to the bottom and you can see them through the back. Gross.
1. Setting the bios to use the usb keyboard works fine -- until you reflash the bios and it loses the setting and you have to dig up your iopener keyboard to get back into the bios to change it back (doh!)
2. Under linux, the extra keys look like they are being lost at a rather low level. X doesn't see the difference in keys, and the kernel seems to map a bunch of undefined keys to 0. I didn't look into the USB HID spec, and wasn't ambitous enough to mod it to print out the pre-looked up raw codes.
3. The "help" key is the insert key, right where it should be. I don't think anyone mentioned that.
4. The keyboard is really well made, feels solid, and is just a joy to use. However, this is a drawback when trying to open it (perhaps to change the green LEDs out for some k-rad white LEDs) -- the bottom edge of the keyboard seems to clip the top half on both sides, so you it's impossible to push it one way and have it snap apart. It looks like a special tool is needed if it's at all possible. Fortuantly, since the case was clear I could see the damage to the top half (the holes were stretching out) before I tore it all to pieces.
5. I was able to listen to CD's with my usb cd-rw through the keyboard's hub. I thought this was supposed to be a no-no, (because a low-rate keyboard may only include a low-rate hub) but it worked. Didn't feel ambitious enough to try burning.
One Caveat (Score:4)
The Apple "Command" Key (The one with the cloverleaf design on it) becomes the Windows "Start" Key and Option becomes Alt. This is reversed from their orientation on a PC keyboard. I suspect you can remap them, but I'm not sure. My only experience is with a PC USB keyboard on a Mac.
I have no idea what Linux would map to the "Command" Key, but a USB keyboard is a USB keyboard, pretty much.
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Re:Apple Mice with Linux (Score:1)
Oh well. At least someone noticed me.
It works fine - mostly (Score:1)
Works Excelent (Score:1)
I would be using one too if I didn't love my M$ keyboard so much. The apple keyboard is also very sexy.