I saw a mention recently that it's possible to use a Windows keyboard with my eMac. Well, I just bought a PC to USB adapter which does NOT fit on the end of my Mac (non-USB) keyboard. The pins are different from a PC board. The adapter fits the PC plug but when I plug it into the Mac, nothing happens. No lights come on and no letters show up on the screen. Is there some way I can tell the Mac that I'm using a Win keyboard? Yes, again, the plug I just got does fit the plug on the Win, but not on the older Mac keyboard. The pin structure is different. Any ideas out there??? - Thanks
Using Win keyboard with an eMac. How???
- Thread starter Brumby
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And that mention is absolutely right. I have an Excel Win USB keyboard hooked to my eMac and am using it right now. No adaptors required. OS Tiger just accepted it right away. A few keystrokes are different so post again if you need help with those.
However I think you may be referring to a Win PS2 keyboard, which requires a PS2-USB adaptor. I bought a Belkin brand adaptor and have used it with my other Mac, a G3 with OS Panther, and a Genius PS2 k/b. Keyboard plugs via PS2 to adaptor, which plugs to Mac with USB. There's a spare PS2 socket for a Win mouse if required.
Can you stick a pic in your next post? I don't know how to do that, must investigate.
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USB is USB.
Most USB keyboards are just plug and play on a Mac, but not with PS2 fittings without a green colored adaptor as hugh points out.
Most USB keyboards are just plug and play on a Mac, but not with PS2 fittings without a green colored adaptor as hugh points out.
Keyboard dilemma.
Thanks, Hugh for your quick answer. Read my post again to get the picture of my trouble. To add to it: The Mac k/b I have came with an old 6100 Mac years ago. That's the board I like to use. Of course it is pre-USB vintage. Ordered a converter plug which does not fit this k/b, but will a PC (HP/DELL etc.) k/b. So, with the new plug I can get the USB portion to the PC one but when I plug it into my eMac, nothing happens. As I said, no lights on the k/b and no keystrokes show up on screen. In other words, the thing looks stone dead. So, what are the keystrokes you mention? Must be something like my CD EJECT problem I had the other day. Alycin fixed that one for me. There must be a way where I can tel the Mac that I have a PC k/b for it.
BTW, been to Auckland a couple of times. Used to live in Oz. - Thanks
Thanks, Hugh for your quick answer. Read my post again to get the picture of my trouble. To add to it: The Mac k/b I have came with an old 6100 Mac years ago. That's the board I like to use. Of course it is pre-USB vintage. Ordered a converter plug which does not fit this k/b, but will a PC (HP/DELL etc.) k/b. So, with the new plug I can get the USB portion to the PC one but when I plug it into my eMac, nothing happens. As I said, no lights on the k/b and no keystrokes show up on screen. In other words, the thing looks stone dead. So, what are the keystrokes you mention? Must be something like my CD EJECT problem I had the other day. Alycin fixed that one for me. There must be a way where I can tel the Mac that I have a PC k/b for it.
BTW, been to Auckland a couple of times. Used to live in Oz. - Thanks
Reply to Harry in Nambucca Head.
Harry, I do have the green colored adapter and that way can plug the PC k/b into the eMac. However, as you can see by my post, nothing happens. The thing acts dead.
BTW, been to Nambucca many times when I was driving coaches for Pioneer and Greyhound years ago. (Played the pokies at the RSL club) Lived in Brisbane and drove the Sydney express.
Hans
Harry, I do have the green colored adapter and that way can plug the PC k/b into the eMac. However, as you can see by my post, nothing happens. The thing acts dead.
BTW, been to Nambucca many times when I was driving coaches for Pioneer and Greyhound years ago. (Played the pokies at the RSL club) Lived in Brisbane and drove the Sydney express.
Hans
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Well Hans first the bad news. The RSL Club has just opened $5m extension so the pokies do not pay. Do not see as many coaches these days. Guess air fares being cheap with price cutting between Qantaslink, Jetstar and Virgin Blue.
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Ah, it's an ADB connection then, which means pre-OS X, and I think that means drivers. ADB goes back as far as OS 7 (maybe 6), and even with OS 9 there were always driver issues. Have you got the iMate (Griffin Technologies http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imate ) adaptor? Note that it will work only as far as 10.3.9 (Panther).
Things like F12 (held) for disk eject, and the wavy windows symbol instead of Command. Otherwise, things are fairly much the same.
There is, but it may mean sacrificing that old ADB keyboard. I know what you're saying about keeping it going, I use a Macally ADB to my b/w G3, I also have a spare Apple ADB k/b on standby.
I recommend you buy a cheap Win USB keyboard, assuming you have Tiger (or later) installed on that eMac.
JAFA Land we call it, down here in the true heartland of NZ
I'm much further south. Do you and/or Harry follow rugby? We've just sent our No 1 provincial rugby coach over to Oz to take over the Oz national team! A tragedy - for us 
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