Author Topic: mac osx compatible mech boards (Read 2647 times)

chimborazo · « **on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 03:07:19 »

hello guys

where can i find the current boards compatible with a mac? i've only found like a few here and there like das, matias, unicomp, filco and xarmor

is that it ?

Pylon · « **Reply #1 on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 07:01:46 »

Matias Tactile Pro
DSI Modular
Apple Extended II (w/ ADB-> USB adapter)
Macally MK-96 (w/ ADB-> USB adapter)

iMav · « **Reply #2 on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 07:44:46 »

Most all keyboards are compatible. As long as you don't mind using the Win key for Command and the Alt key for Option. Heck, I even use keyboards without windows keys with OS X.. Mapping Ctrl to Command and Caps Lock to Ctrl.

tjweir · « **Reply #3 on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 08:15:42 »

Quote from: iMav;275648

Most all keyboards are compatible. As long as you don't mind using the Win key for Command and the Alt key for Option. Heck, I even use keyboards without windows keys with OS X.. Mapping Ctrl to Command and Caps Lock to Ctrl.

I do the same. And currently I use a Rosewill RK-9000 and a Filco Tenkeyless Brown with my MBP.

As iMav mentions, it's only the Win key -> Command that's different really.

chimborazo · « **Reply #4 on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 08:38:35 »

hey guys thanks for the replies. pylon -i didn't know about that macally.

imav you have a great forum here. i've learned a lot just by reading a few stickies

i don't know about that, but i remember having one of those dell dome boards and never worked right w/ the mac - it was always somethin with it. the keys would not register most of the times and other times it was a total disaster. even the mouse was acting up with that board

i just found that deck ice has some issues http://www.deckkeyboards.com/macinfo.php

also, one of the reviewers for the noopoo mini i think wrote in the review that it wasn't mac compatible

take care

theferenc · « **Reply #5 on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 10:14:33 »

Those "issues" aren't really issues. Looking at my mac keyboard (old white/clear board), the number pad doesn't have navigation commands on the keys and therefore has no need for a numlock, as the numpad is JUST a numpad and there is no scroll lock at all on the keyboard.

One issue you *might* have is if you are used to the old desktop mac keyboards, that have F13-F16 and a dedicated Eject button.

If you worry about muscle memory issues, just go into system preferences and set Alt to Command, Command to Alt. That puts the keys in the proper place. And on some mechanical boards, you can even swap those two keys, so you don't get confused.

But as iMav said, it's quite easy to use even an old keyboard, such as a Model M, on a mac. As apple likes to claim so often, it just works.

My advice is just get one that you like the feel of. Don't worry about compatibility at all, because it's a non-issue. There are even some keyboards that have MORE functionality when attached to a Mac, such as the HHKB.

Edit: I'm not sure what makes the Unicomp explicitly mac compatible. It's identical in functionality to pretty much every other keyboard.

mattdurham · « **Reply #6 on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 15:10:31 »

I use a variety of keyboards on my imac with now problem, Unicomp , Filco Tenkeyless and current a Razer mechanical, never had a problem. If you want to remap some keys you can do simple customization form the Keyboard preference and for real preferences use http://pqrs.org/macosx/keyremap4macbook/ it allows deep customization. For instance capslock is Command key except when using terminal so I can use emacs without having to fudge things.

Tavisto · « **Reply #7 on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 17:59:54 »

Quote from: If you want to remap some keys you can do simple customization form the Keyboard preference and for real preferences use [url

http://pqrs.org/macosx/keyremap4macbook/[/url] it allows deep customization. For instance capslock is Command key except when using terminal so I can use emacs without having to fudge things.

I use this on both my Filco at home and my Rosewill RK-9000 at work and it allows you to map stuff like the volume keys to something like 'menu+F11'. That way I can still control all the normal Mac keyboard functions with the F1-F12 keys.

chimborazo · « **Reply #8 on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 23:19:27 »

mattdurham - thanks for the link, i'll save it

theferenc - thanks a bunch for the advice

i should've asked a month ago. now i'm stuck with cherry blue - to be exact 2 boards - one made by metadot and the other one by global marketing since i had to return a board which i didn't like and it's a long story, for the reseller i got it from only credits my account, sans shipping costs but doesn't refund- not that i mind afterward since cherries are favored by most in the last poll- by the way i loved a pic of a blonde with 2 cherries, lol i think ripster posted it once
anyhow i can't buy a unicomp now which is too bad. i learned typing on an aekii but model m was great too
take care guys

nathanscribe · « **Reply #9 on:** Mon, 10 January 2011, 05:05:53 »

I use a Filco tenkeyless with my iMac currently; previously, a Unicomp. As people have said, you can set preferences for the modifiers, and there's no num lock.

Something else I've done is remap the Print/scroll/pause keys to Mute, Volume down and Volume up. That can't be done in system prefs but I found Spark, a freebie that does the job. If you want to get crazy with remapping keys, there's Ukelele.

The link above looks good too though, might try that.

Don't forget to use the older ADB keys with a new Mac you'll need an ADB-USB box.

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Author Topic: mac osx compatible mech boards (Read 2647 times)