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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: vivalarevolución on Wed, 16 January 2013, 06:12:20

Title: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: vivalarevolución on Wed, 16 January 2013, 06:12:20

Thinking of picking up an old Apple IIgs keyboard for sentimental reasons.  Does anybody know if these things can still work on a modern Mac with the right adapter? The original connection seems to be an Apple Desktop Bus, and there seems to be a few ADB to USB adapters floating around. 

Here is a picture of the keyboard:
http://thumb.egloos.net/fastimg/http://pds2.egloos.com/pds/1/200604/20/06/c0025306_1045582.jpg

Title: Re: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 16 January 2013, 07:05:17

These worked well for me, and this is about the best going price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Griffin-iMate-ADB-to-USB-adapter-BRAND-NEW-/221176353783?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337f2353f7 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Griffin-iMate-ADB-to-USB-adapter-BRAND-NEW-/221176353783?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337f2353f7)


I have also had one of these which is handy, with 2 connections:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ADB-to-USB-adapter-dual-ADB-ports-CompuCable-TWO-PORTS-Macintosh-ADB-to-USB-/251212050650?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7d67b0da (http://www.ebay.com/itm/ADB-to-USB-adapter-dual-ADB-ports-CompuCable-TWO-PORTS-Macintosh-ADB-to-USB-/251212050650?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7d67b0da)

Title: Re: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: 1391406 on Wed, 16 January 2013, 09:41:46

Also this:

http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=87365

Title: Re: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: vivalarevolución on Wed, 16 January 2013, 10:00:32

Thanks. You can verify that these work on the current Mac operating systems?

Title: Re: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 16 January 2013, 10:16:55

Don't know about that. Works fine with Windows and Linux.

One of the many aspects of Apple's extraordinary evil is the way they orphan their own products.

Title: Re: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: 1391406 on Wed, 16 January 2013, 11:33:29

One bullet item under the features list for the Belkin states "Compatible with Mac OS 8.1 or higher", however I can't personally confirm that it works with OS X.

Title: Re: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: rootwyrm on Wed, 16 January 2013, 13:37:10

Most any ADB adapter which presents ADB -> USB as a USB HID keyboard will work with any version of OS X. Or a PC if you'd rather, with a bit of tweaking.
I use the Belkins - I've had the best luck with them.

Title: Re: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: vivalarevolución on Wed, 16 January 2013, 15:21:42

Thanks for the help. I guess all I can do now is get the proper adapters and take the keyboard for a spin.

Title: Re: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: Wildcard on Wed, 16 January 2013, 15:47:49

I use a Griffin iMate (ADB to USB) adapter with my Macbook and can confirm that it works with newer versions of OSX

Source: Typing on an Apple Extended keyboard right now :)

Title: Re: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: 1391406 on Wed, 16 January 2013, 19:16:04

Anyone know what switches the Apple IIGS boards use?

Title: Re: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: vivalarevolución on Wed, 16 January 2013, 20:28:09

Quote from: dante on Wed, 16 January 2013, 19:20:14

curious .. how would you handle home/end/pageup/pagedown on this?  I don't see a numlock key so not sure you could use the keypad...

Would you have to autohotkey shortcuts?

I was assuming the keyboard didn't have those functions, and the number pad always is functional, so it doesn't need a numlock key.

My question is the lack of function keys.  Guess I won't be using those with this keyboard.

Title: Re: Apple IIgs Keyboard adapter help
Post by: vivalarevolución on Mon, 28 January 2013, 17:26:39

Quote from: 1391406 on Wed, 16 January 2013, 19:16:04

Anyone know what switches the Apple IIGS boards use?

I picked mine up from the post office today and it has some sort of white alps.  Not clicky.  I thought it was rubber dome, so this is a nice surprise, and it explains why I liked the keyboard so much as a youth.