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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Ando0o0 on Fri, 30 March 2018, 16:36:44

Title: Mac Boot Key Board
Post by: Ando0o0 on Fri, 30 March 2018, 16:36:44
Hey Everyone,

I work in IT at an office that uses a Mac environment. I am constantly needing to boot computers into target hard drive mode which is holding down the "T" key upon boot up. I was about to tear a keyboard apart and utilize just the "T" key, however I looked online and found six key keyboards. I wanted to know before I start investing in some direction - if anyone was familiar with a Mac boot command key board. In my ideal world the keyboard would have all the boot command key combos as single key choices but a command key with S, T, R, ECT would be cool to. Just wondering what is involved as I am very new to this type of mod diy. 

Note: I think it would be cool for the keys to lock as boot time can take awhile on older comps so holding down combos is a time killer.
Title: Re: Mac Boot Key Board
Post by: Tactile on Fri, 30 March 2018, 20:38:49
There are quite a number of programmable keypads (http://www.maxkeyboard.com/max-falcon-8-rgb-custom-programmable-mini-macropad-mechanical-keyboard-assembled.html). In this use, "programmable" means you can assign any keystroke to any key.

Here's a one key board (https://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/onekeyboard) like you were considering.

More keys on this one (https://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/sixkeyboard).

If you can solder you can make this one (https://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/techkeys-keyboard-business-card) or this one (https://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/techkeys-programmable-keyboard-business-card).

These are just a few examples. However, I know nothing about Macs or OSX. I can't tell you how hard or easy it might be to program these under OSX or how well any of them work with a Mac.