I've been quite curious to know how other people deal with using a PC keyboard in Mac OS X.

Personally, I used Ukulele to create my custom keyboard layout, there's only a few problems with it :
-Can't modify the modifier keys (mainly swap Start and Alt so they're in the correct place)
-Mac OS X won't remember the selection of my keylayout and everytime I reboot will choose the default layout (if someone knows how to deal with that I'd like to know)
-I messed with a few dead keys, now they ain't dead no more...

So, how do you guys dealt with those issues? Mainly swapping the Start and Alt keys?

Also, is there anywhere you can find something to use a PC keyboard properly on a Mac? It must have been since the replacement of ADB keyboards by USB keyboards in 97-98 that Mac users may have used PC keyboards, there must be an easy solution for that by now?

wait nevermind, i found how to swap the modifiers. i'd still be interested to know how you people deal with the rest of the layout differences

Hey,

System Preferences -> Keyboard & Mouse -> Keyboard

Yeah, the only problem with that is that everytime I reboot, it's being reset, as well as the choice of the keyboard layout. I have no idea why!

Go here: http://www.gyford.com/phil/writing/2005/11...g_a_british.php

The solution I've used for my Microsoft Desktop Elite Wirelesss keyboard/mouse on my PPC PowerMac G5, w/OS X 10.4.6 was simple:

Install the Mac driver provided with your keyboard/mouse. And make sure you use the Microsoft preference panes in System Preferences to set keyboard preferences.

I also advise anyone to use the Microsoft Desktop for Mac v.6.0 software, rather than an earlier version of the software.

Now, I know this works for any Microsoft keyboard, but I don't know if installing the Mac driver from your Logitec, etc. keyboard install CD will work, since I have not tried.

NOTE: If you do have a Desktop Elite keyboard/mouse, make sure you use only the USB connector on the base-station (specifically, only the BLACK USB connector). The green PS/2 connector does not need to be connected at all. I found that using an adaptor to plug both base station connectors causes the keyboard to not function at all, while the mouse will continue to work if either (or both) connector(s) on the basestation is connected to your Mac. It is totally unrecognized if you plug the green USB connector from the base station into a PS/ to USB adaptor, then into the Apple display or another USB connector on the back or front of the Mac.

If your mouse is NOT a wireless mouse, then simply plug the base station into the Mac, and connect your wired mouse into a separate USB connector somewhere on your Mac or Apple display.

I don't know if these drivers will work on an Intel Mac, since I do not have an Intel Mac.

Donald McDaniel

Sorry, until Microsoft and Logitech (and others) get off their butts and release Intel builds of their drivers, people are stuck with what's built into the system.

logitech has unibin drivers. just released not too long ago.

hehe, yeah, if only it could be that simple. there's no mac driver for my logitech keyboard/mouse, i checked

And what's this?
http://forum.osx86project.org/index.php?showtopic=14799

On my Dell keyboard I physically swapped the Alt + Start keys

okay guys marvellous i found the HUGE TRICK!!
1) move all ur original keyboard's layout (roman etc) from System/Library/Layout to ur home/users/layout directory
2) copy ur own keyboard.layout in my case : sony.vaio.layout to both directory ie System/Library/Layout + home/users/layout
3) then change as u wish the CTRL / ALT touch into the control panels
4) reboot changes are still saved
enjoy

sounds cool, but where you got your own file from?

Leave the keyboard layout as it is. Now, Ctrl (W) is mac Control key. Windows Start Key is now Opt Key, Alt key is now Command key. But, END is not working.

Yes, I've got the same problem, and it is not just the END, the HOME is ot of order too!

END and HOME should work fine on PC keyboards. It is just that they don't do what you would expect, if you are coming from Windows. This has some interesting information about customizing keyboard layout in cocoa applications.

or you could just buy an apple keyboard, it was the best purchase i made in a long time

http://forum.osx86project.org/index.php?showtopic=19082

i just bought a mac usb keyboard at bestbuy, open box, the left control button doesnt work, other than that i love it, so comfortable.

ashgotti, u shud prob beable to send it back? how is bestbuys technical support?

well it was open box, meaning used. and i dont want to return it because it was the last open box. i dont want to pay like $56 for a keyboard when i have a fine one at home. i got this as a treat and cuz it was cheaper.

I bought one and never looked back. Amazing keyboard btw...

If you want to go to the beginning or the end of the line wihout using home or end, try command-arrow left and command-arrow right.

Hi,
I read all the posts above but sincerely I have not understand the right way to go. So I've a Toshiba M70-160 with an Italian standard keyboard layout. How should I do to enable the main special chars? E.g. the @ doesn't work at moment...



Thanks

I was able to swap using SYSTEM PREFERENCES without any problem. But after I changed my mouse to a USB Microsoft 2 button scroll mouse, my keyboard won't work.

Anyone with a suggestion or solution will be highly appreciated. Lotta Thanks in advance.

i set the command/alt/option/control as it should be on apple keyboard but i made a custom layout for french PC keyboard to get all caracters on the good keys

the layout i made was using ukelele which is pretty simple ^^

it allow easy and fast custon of keyboard, you can even add key combination to enter some usefull stuff, especially for programming (adding useful function etc )

It looks awesome! Please can you share it? French and Italian keyboard are almost equal I suppose

the layout is posted in french forum already

put this attachment : http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?act...ost&id=3922
in : /Library/Keyboardlayout

you shuld have a French Numerical into your intenational preferenc keybpard with a non french flag.

I have a Microsoft Natural 4000 and it works great, and does have unibin drivers available.

DoubleCommand (GPL'ed) is a nice System Preferences pane that lets you make a bunch of common keyboard changes including switching all of the modifiers and changing to PC-style Home and End. But I think that only fixes Home and End in edit boxes and screws up Home and End scrolling, so it might be easier to learn Cmd-Left and Cmd-Right as Home and End, instead.

Thank you but this layout doesn't work. I can't still use all the keys on my keyboard (e.g. Alt+Gr)

to use alt+gr key you need to have the option/command etc shortcut key as they should be. if you do not instead of pressing alt_gr just try alt if i remenber well alg gr send alt+ctrl key as output