Will Mac Keybaord work on Hack n Tosh?

[retroz]

First, as long as the keyboard works, and the USB ports, fine, I bought a cheap laptop like keyboard made for the MAC and it works fine on the Hack N Tosh, just wondering if a REAL MAC keyboard would work and if so, what about the other functions, volume, etc.

 

In addition, can you use the MAC keyboard on a PC?

 

I would think so.

 

Thanks for what is probably a dumb question.

 

Cheers.

 

retroz

[brewno]

Yes, the Mac Keyboard works perfectly, all functions, the usb ports, etc. And yes, you can use the Mac keyboard on a PC... but some functions won't work (the eject button for instance).

[Zulu.Walker]

Everything works except Eject (only ejects mounted disk images, doesn't eject my USB2.0-attached DVD-RW - I knew it wouldn't work). Using Apple Wired Keyboard, shortcuts are much easier to do now, and it is detected in Windows XP. I found out how convenient the Volume Buttons are compared to the volume knob on my 5.1 speakers controller, Mute on the keyboard will probably be worn out within 6months The extra Function keys are useful too for customized shortcuts.

 

This is the only Apple product I have (except for the ol' iPod), and it really made a difference for me usage-wise. My Logitech KB just wasn't cutting it, even with all the extra gaudy buttons on top

 

It'll work on any OS that supports USB keyboards, some keys might have to be reassigned though for them to be completely functional.

[Shimms]

I've got the a wired Apple keyboard and mighty mouse with my hack, and both work flawlessly. Mighty mouse plugged into the right hand USB port on the back of the keyboard.

 

Apple cinema display also works, btw, with keyboard plugged into USB hub in the back of it. One big daisy chain

[zenchicken]

Works fine here, even eject

[blackturtleneck]

Both the new white and the old black keyboards work. Everything including eject. If you use it with windows, use the Apple keyboard driver from the boot camp disk for the white one, or the shareware "AppleK Pro" driver for the black.

[retroz]

Both the new white and the old black keyboards work. Everything including eject. If you use it with windows, use the Apple keyboard driver from the boot camp disk for the white one, or the shareware "AppleK Pro" driver for the black.

 

 

Thanks all, picked one up, everything works, volume, eject, everything.

 

Funny thing is, at $29.99, thats a mid price point for generic keyboard, yet, it has a nice made in USA feel, (I know, probably china) but still, its very high quality..........nice strong USB cord, with extention included for say desktop vs iMAC......

 

Thanks all.

 

 

Kind of makes me want to get a MAC sooner, but with all the revamps coming soon, its best to wait as it seems the whole line all the way to the mini's are about to be updated.

[emmab2k6]

far as i know it works perfectly , well works here lol ....

[bwhsh8r]

yea ittl work, its just like anyother keyboard except it has a apple key i think.... and no windows key, but yea, ittl work ehter way.

[prspectiv2]

I'm using an Apple USB keyboard, but the eject key on the Apple doesn't do ANYTHING for my USB dvd-drive, even when a disc appears on the desktop. Normally I wouldn't care much but if I have a bad disc in the drive I have to reboot to pop it out since OS X locks the drive button.

 

So, two questions: Is there a way to get my PS/2 keyboard functional? And if not can I somehow map the Apple keyboard's eject button to my USB optical drive?

 

Edit: Oops, I guess this thread is in the wrong forum. I'll try elsewhere. But any help is appreciated :censored2: Found a good thread for my previous PS/2 problem

[zapro]

I'm using an Apple USB keyboard, but the eject key on the Apple doesn't do ANYTHING for my USB dvd-drive, even when a disc appears on the desktop. Normally I wouldn't care much but if I have a bad disc in the drive I have to reboot to pop it out since OS X locks the drive button.

 

So, two questions: Is there a way to get my PS/2 keyboard functional? And if not can I somehow map the Apple keyboard's eject button to my USB optical drive?

 

Edit: Oops, I guess this thread is in the wrong forum. I'll try elsewhere. But any help is appreciated Found a good thread for my previous PS/2 problem

 

Try pressing F12 for a moment, else Alternate + F12, that should do the trick. Anyway, if OSX locks your drive, cycle the power to it or disconnect USB and reconnect. OSX is plug and play.

 

Regards, Per.

[Onetrack]

Yep - I have an iRocks slim white keyboard, its got a really nice silver band around it and the numlock/caps lock and power keys on it are the same white led's you'd find in the front of a real mac.

 

The power button on it does nothing, but all the keys work - its a mac keyboard so it has all the extra keys.. - works great.

 

Have used it in windows - windows doesn't know what to do with the extra control keys..

[prspectiv2]

Try pressing F12 for a moment, else Alternate + F12, that should do the trick. Anyway, if OSX locks your drive, cycle the power to it or disconnect USB and reconnect. OSX is plug and play.

 

Regards, Per.

 

Thanks for replying. Unfortunately F12, command + f12, option + f12 all do nothing. And of course ctrl+f12 displays the shutdown dialog. I've since read in another place that external drives don't function via the eject key even in Apple's OS X. Can anyone verify this?

 

Until then I'll just cycle the drive as you suggest.

[Zulu.Walker]

USB DVDs simply won't eject with the eject button, if it does on a Mac then that's because it is a Mac. You could always try the command:

 

drutil eject cd

in terminal.

 

Works most of the time until it goes to "sleep", which happens to my generic USB controller after a day or two of uptime. Mac issue, it doesn't have this quirk in WinOS.

 

You could always use ^+Eject to power off your system. At least I found a use for the damn button