Using an Apple Extended Keyboard on PC

[Special K]

I want to get an Apple Extended Keyboard for use with a PC.  My understanding is that I will need an ADB to USB adapter such as this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-2001-ADB-iMate-Universal-adapter/dp/B000067V8L/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425569392&sr=8-1&keywords=adb+to+usb

Here are my questions:

1. Will the above ADB/USB adapter work fine for using an AEK on a PC?  I only ask because I know some adapters can be finicky - the Model M's work best with the "blue cube" PS/2 to USB adapter and not at all with some other adapters, for instance.

2. Can I remap buttons on the AEK to standard PC buttons?  Here is what I want to do:

apple => alt
option => win

If so, how do I accomplish this?

3. I see some keys have the functions you would normally associate with them listed in a smaller font, which would suggest they are secondary functions.  For example, "ins" is listed in a smaller font on the "help" key, which is located where "insert" would normally be located on a PC keyboard.  Will I need to do anything special to have that key behave as a standard insert key as it does on a PC keyboard?  The same goes for the F13-F15 buttons, where the PC keyboard functions "print screen", "scroll lock", and "pause" are listed as secondary functions.

[mougrim]

I want to get an Apple Extended Keyboard for use with a PC.  My understanding is that I will need an ADB to USB adapter such as this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-2001-ADB-iMate-Universal-adapter/dp/B000067V8L/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425569392&sr=8-1&keywords=adb+to+usb

Here are my questions:

1. Will the above ADB/USB adapter work fine for using an AEK on a PC?  I only ask because I know some adapters can be finicky - the Model M's work best with the "blue cube" PS/2 to USB adapter and not at all with some other adapters, for instance.

2. Can I remap buttons on the AEK to standard PC buttons?  Here is what I want to do:

apple => alt
option => win

If so, how do I accomplish this?

3. I see some keys have the functions you would normally associate with them listed in a smaller font, which would suggest they are secondary functions.  For example, "ins" is listed in a smaller font on the "help" key, which is located where "insert" would normally be located on a PC keyboard.  Will I need to do anything special to have that key behave as a standard insert key as it does on a PC keyboard?  The same goes for the F13-F15 buttons, where the PC keyboard functions "print screen", "scroll lock", and "pause" are listed as secondary functions.

Hmm... If you want to be able to do your remapping as you want and know how to solder, I'd recommended yo to made your own adapter. It will cost you about 6 bucks for chinese copy of Arduino Pro Micro, 1 or 2 bucks for S-Video socket and 3-5 for USB cable.

Here instruction and code, thanks to hasu:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=14290.0

But if you don't want to bother and just want plug and play solution, I heard this Griffin adapter works pretty good.

[1391406]

I can verify  that the Griffin adapter works with Apple Extended Keyboards in Windows 7.

[Special K]

I can verify  that the Griffin adapter works with Apple Extended Keyboards in Windows 7.

So if I just plug an AEK/AEK2 into the Griffin adapter and plug that into my PC, what do the apple and option keys do by default?  Can these keys be remapped as I described above in my first post?  What about the keys that have a secondary function listed?  For example, do the keys F13-F15 function as "print screen", "scroll lock" and "pause" respectively by default?

[mougrim]

I can verify  that the Griffin adapter works with Apple Extended Keyboards in Windows 7.

So if I just plug an AEK/AEK2 into the Griffin adapter and plug that into my PC, what do the apple and option keys do by default?  Can these keys be remapped as I described above in my first post?  What about the keys that have a secondary function listed?  For example, do the keys F13-F15 function as "print screen", "scroll lock" and "pause" respectively by default?

They do. And you'd get Alt and Win keys by default with Griffinm if I not mistaken.

[Special K]

I can verify  that the Griffin adapter works with Apple Extended Keyboards in Windows 7.

So if I just plug an AEK/AEK2 into the Griffin adapter and plug that into my PC, what do the apple and option keys do by default?  Can these keys be remapped as I described above in my first post?  What about the keys that have a secondary function listed?  For example, do the keys F13-F15 function as "print screen", "scroll lock" and "pause" respectively by default?

They do. And you'd get Alt and Win keys by default with Griffinm if I not mistaken.

Can keys be remapped in software or is that a hardware function?

[fohat.digs]

Pretty sure that you can use software if you want to swap those Apple/Windows keys.

iMates are much cheaper on ebay from Alvin Smith Beard

[mougrim]

I can verify  that the Griffin adapter works with Apple Extended Keyboards in Windows 7.

So if I just plug an AEK/AEK2 into the Griffin adapter and plug that into my PC, what do the apple and option keys do by default?  Can these keys be remapped as I described above in my first post?  What about the keys that have a secondary function listed?  For example, do the keys F13-F15 function as "print screen", "scroll lock" and "pause" respectively by default?

They do. And you'd get Alt and Win keys by default with Griffinm if I not mistaken.

Can keys be remapped in software or is that a hardware function?

Nah, no hardware remapping with Griffin. if you want hardware remapping, you'll need to solder custom adapter youself. Or make soneone to do it

[Magna224]

That's a lot to pay for an imate if you do decide to get one I would suggest ebay. I bought one from this guy and if you offer $20 (with free shipping) it will auto accept.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Griffin-iMate-ADB-to-USB-adapter-BRAND-NEW-/321684895304?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae5e9f648

[Special K]

That's a lot to pay for an imate if you do decide to get one I would suggest ebay. I bought one from this guy and if you offer $20 (with free shipping) it will auto accept.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Griffin-iMate-ADB-to-USB-adapter-BRAND-NEW-/321684895304?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae5e9f648

Thanks for the tip.  I wonder why that ebay seller can sell them so much cheaper than Amazon.

[fohat.digs]

I wonder why that ebay seller can sell them so much cheaper than Amazon.

He probably bought a pallet of them as scrap when they became obsolete in the 1990s.

He has been selling them on ebay for years, I bought mine probably 3 years ago at the same price.

What I wonder is why everybody else tries to sell used ones for more money.

[Special K]

Pretty sure that you can use software if you want to swap those Apple/Windows keys.

iMates are much cheaper on ebay from Alvin Smith Beard

Is there a preferred software program that recommended for remapping keys?