laurentio
30th April 2009, 12:55 AM
Can I use a PC keyboard on my Mac?
You can use any USB-based keyboard on a Mac. Nearly all keyboards sold these days are USB, but if yours is PS/2 then it won't plug directly into the Mac, since they don't have PS/2 ports.
You can buy a simple adapter to use PS/2 peripherals on a Mac
Here are some key mappings for how the special PC keyboard keys translate into special Apple keys:
http://support.bicestercomputers.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=200&stc=1&d=1241052890
Note: The Command (or "cmd") key is identified on the Apple keyboard by the cloverleaf (sometimes called the "splat" key, looks like http://support.bicestercomputers.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=198&stc=1&d=1241052617 or http://support.bicestercomputers.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=199&stc=1&d=1241052617).
While any USB keyboard will function on Mac in terms of basic usage, a given keyboard (e.g. from Logitech or Microsoft) might require driver software from the keyboard's manufacturer to enable the use of special media keys, or other features that go beyond basic usage, so check before you buy. This caveat also applies to mice.
You can use any USB-based keyboard on a Mac. Nearly all keyboards sold these days are USB, but if yours is PS/2 then it won't plug directly into the Mac, since they don't have PS/2 ports.
You can buy a simple adapter to use PS/2 peripherals on a Mac
Here are some key mappings for how the special PC keyboard keys translate into special Apple keys:
http://support.bicestercomputers.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=200&stc=1&d=1241052890
Note: The Command (or "cmd") key is identified on the Apple keyboard by the cloverleaf (sometimes called the "splat" key, looks like http://support.bicestercomputers.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=198&stc=1&d=1241052617 or http://support.bicestercomputers.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=199&stc=1&d=1241052617).
While any USB keyboard will function on Mac in terms of basic usage, a given keyboard (e.g. from Logitech or Microsoft) might require driver software from the keyboard's manufacturer to enable the use of special media keys, or other features that go beyond basic usage, so check before you buy. This caveat also applies to mice.