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Author Topic: Looking for a Mac keyboard that works before startup -- HHKB?  (Read 2343 times)

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Offline vultureparade

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 5
Looking for a Mac keyboard that works before startup -- HHKB?
« on: Fri, 29 May 2009, 13:33:07 »
I ran a search, but I couldn't find a definite answer or list of boards.  I do apologize if this information is widely known, and I just couldn't find it.

I switch back and forth between windows and osx on my mac.  I need a keyboard that powers up before the operating system so I can hold down OPTION to choose an operating system.

I'm very interested in the Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro which is mac compatible, but I've used mac keyboards in the past that only functioned correctly once osx loaded.

Could someone with the HHKB test this out for me before I buy?

If the HHKB doesn't do what I need, are there other switch-equipped boards that function in the way I need for Mac?
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Offline chimera15

  • Posts: 1441
Looking for a Mac keyboard that works before startup -- HHKB?
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 29 May 2009, 13:48:45 »
smk-88? They have refurbs super cheap on ebay.
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Alps boards:
white real complicated: 1x modified siiig minitouch kb1903,  hhkb light2 english steampunk hack, wireless siig minitouch hack
white with rubber damper(cream)+clicky springs: 2x modified siig minitouch kb1903 1x modified siig minitouch kb1948
white fake simplified:   1x white smk-85, 1x Steampunk compact board hack
white real simplified: 1x unitek k-258
low profile: 1x mint m1242 in box
black: ultra mini wrist keyboard hack
blue: Japanese hhk2 lite hack, 1x siig minitouch pcb/doubleshot dc-2014 caps. kb1903, 1x modified kb1948 Siig minitouch
rainbow test boards:  mck-84sx

Offline patrickgeekhack

  • Posts: 1460
Looking for a Mac keyboard that works before startup -- HHKB?
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 29 May 2009, 15:24:17 »
Quote from: vultureparade;93271
I ran a search, but I couldn't find a definite answer or list of boards.  I do apologize if this information is widely known, and I just couldn't find it.

I switch back and forth between windows and osx on my mac.  I need a keyboard that powers up before the operating system so I can hold down OPTION to choose an operating system.

I'm very interested in the Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro which is mac compatible, but I've used mac keyboards in the past that only functioned correctly once osx loaded.

Could someone with the HHKB test this out for me before I buy?

If the HHKB doesn't do what I need, are there other switch-equipped boards that function in the way I need for Mac?

I'll give it a try tonight when I get home.  I don't have Windows installed on my Mac, but I do have a SuperDuper! clone on an external drive. Pressing on Option while booting usually gives me the choice of drive I want to use to boot.
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Cherry MX Blue: Cherry G80-3000, Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate
Cherry MX Brown: Filco Majestouch, Compaq MX11800
ALPS: AEK, AEK II, Northgate Omnikey Ultra, Matias Tactile Pro 4
Topre: Realforce 103UB
Buckling Spring: IBM Model M 1390120
Previous owned: Unicomp Customizer 104, IBM Model M 1390141, ABS M1

Offline bhtooefr

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Looking for a Mac keyboard that works before startup -- HHKB?
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 30 May 2009, 13:46:06 »
Just checked the two USB keyboards I had handy on my iBook G4...

Unicomp EnduraPro 104: fail (once it's into OpenFirmware, the EP works fine, but that doesn't hep you.)
Ione Scorpius M10: pass
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Offline patrickgeekhack

  • Posts: 1460
Looking for a Mac keyboard that works before startup -- HHKB?
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 30 May 2009, 13:55:08 »
Forgot to give this a try.

G80-3000 works. But, the Alt-Option key is the actual Alt key. The swapping with the Command key is done by OS X I guess.
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Cherry MX Blue: Cherry G80-3000, Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate
Cherry MX Brown: Filco Majestouch, Compaq MX11800
ALPS: AEK, AEK II, Northgate Omnikey Ultra, Matias Tactile Pro 4
Topre: Realforce 103UB
Buckling Spring: IBM Model M 1390120
Previous owned: Unicomp Customizer 104, IBM Model M 1390141, ABS M1

Offline iMav

  • geekhack creator/founder
  • Location: Valley City, ND
  • "Τα εργαλεία σας είναι σημαντικά."
Looking for a Mac keyboard that works before startup -- HHKB?
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 30 May 2009, 16:39:53 »
this works fine on my HHKB Pro 2.
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Offline DrunkenDonut

  • Posts: 94
Looking for a Mac keyboard that works before startup -- HHKB?
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 30 May 2009, 19:43:15 »
If you don't mind a software solution, you can also try rEFIt. It's a bootloader and EFI toolkit. Once you install it, it'll present you with a boot menu (with default timer) so you can choose your OS or other utilities.
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*Hang on to your wallet!*
BTC E5X5R5BTC-5339R-0 (\'90), MS Natural Keyboard Pro (\'99), Sun Type 5c, 2x 1391401, DASK3ULT (\'08), ABS M1, Dell AT101W, M4-1
FKBN87M/EB (\'09), FKBN87ML/EB (\'09), FKBN87Z/EB (\'09), FKBN87MC/NPEC (\'09), G80-3000LQCDE-2 (\'11)

Offline vultureparade

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 5
Looking for a Mac keyboard that works before startup -- HHKB?
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 31 May 2009, 09:29:08 »
Thanks a lot for the replies, everyone.

That rEFIt solution is great, DrunkenDonut. It really helps increase the range of keyboards I can choose from.

And it's good to know that the HHKB works.  Well, good because I know it works, but bad because now I'm one step closer to smashing the piggie bank.
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Offline o2dazone

  • Posts: 953
Looking for a Mac keyboard that works before startup -- HHKB?
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 31 May 2009, 13:46:54 »
Quote from: vultureparade;93507
Well, good because I know it works, but bad because now I'm one step closer to smashing the piggie bank.


I haven't regretted it (got an HHKB a few days ago)
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