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Mac USB & FireWire

Guide to USB Keyboards

Last updated December 7, 1999 and no longer being updated.

This is as complete listing of USB keyboards as possible. Every known USB keyboard is listed.

All USB keyboards are not created equal. Some are beige, while others come in one or more colors to complement current Macs. Some have a lot of extra programmable buttons. One even has a volume knob. I was unable to find pricing on many of these. In some cases, these keyboards may not be available in your market.

They should all work with the Mac or USB-equipped PCs, but you'll want to verify that before buying.

Note that many of these have PC layouts which do not match the standard Macintosh Extended Keyboard layout. The biggest issues: the Alt and Cmd (or Windows) keys are reversed, and there may not be a power key. Keyboards with Mac layout are marked with bold type.

If you know of a utility that can remap the Alt/Option and Cmd/Windows keys, please email Dan Knight . I'm testing some Windows keyboards on the Mac, and such a utility would be a life saver.

USB: Using a Windows USB keyboard on a Mac, ResExcellence, 12/27 [No Beige]. Swaps Opt and Windows keys for Cmd and Opt. Warning: this involves manually modifying your System file.

Note that not all keyboards have additional USB ports. Specifications subject to change, so be sure to visit the manufacturer's site for more details before buying.

The world's worst keyboard, ZDNet, 12/17. No, it's not Apple's; it's Microsoft's line of "natural" keyboards.

Brand: Product Name	Comments	US Price	Outpost.com
Acer: Aspire USB Keyboard	two ports, beige, PC layout (but looks close to Mac layout), volume control, review	$19	no
Adesso: NuForm USB	ergonomic, four ports, bondi, PC layout, wrist rest, review		no
Ariston: USB Keyboard	two ports, beige, PC layout	$30
Belkin: MediaBoard	two ports, beige, PC layout, extra buttons, quiet, wrist rest	$50	yes
Belkin: UltraBoard 98	two ports, beige, PC layout, quiet	$20	yes
Belkin: USB Classic Keyboard	two ports, beige, PC layout, wrist rest, quiet	$40	no
Behavior Tech: 7700U Keyboard	two ports, beige, PC layout		no
Behavior Tech: 7932M Keyboard	no USB ports, one PS/2 mouse port, beige, PC layout		no
Behavior Tech: 8112 Keyboard	ergonomic, two ports, beige, unique layout		no
Behavior Tech: 8113W Keyboard	no USB ports, one PS/2 mouse port, beige, unique layout		no
Cherry: G80-3000 Keyboard	three ports, beige, PC layout	$80	no
Macally: iKey	two ports, ice, Mac layout, review	$69	yes
Macally: iMediaKey Keyboard	two ports, ice, wrist rest, Mac layout, extra buttons	$89	no
Macally: NewWave Extended Keyboard	two ports, beige, wrist rest, PC layout, extra buttons	$35	no
Micro Connectors: USB Keyboard	two ports, all iMac colors plus graphite, Mac layout, compact	$60	blueberry, graphite, grape, strawberry, lime, tangerine
Microsoft: Natural Keyboard Elite	ergonomic, two ports, beige, wrist rest, PC layout		no
Microsoft: Natural Keyboard Pro	ergonomic, two ports, beige, wrist rest, PC layout, extra buttons	$80	yes
Qtronix: Scorpius 980N Plus	PS/2 mouse port, beige and all iMac colors plus ice, PC layout (but appears very close to Mac layout), wrist rest, extra buttons		no
Qtronix: Scorpius 980NH Plus	two ports, beige, PC layout (but appears very close to Mac layout), wrist rest, extra buttons		no
Qtronix: Scorpius 980A	beige and all iMac colors plus ice, PC layout (but appears very close to Mac layout)		no
Qtronix: Scorpius 980H	two ports, beige, PC layout (but appears very close to Mac layout)		no
Qtronix: Scorpius 990PW	beige, PC layout, no numeric keypad, trackball, compact, extra buttons		no
Qtronix: AppleGrace 105i	two ports, all iMac colors plus ice, PC layout		no
Samsung: USB Keyboard	four ports, beige, PC layout, wrist rest		no
iMaccessories: iBoard	ergonomic, two ports, ice, PC layout, wrist rest	$80	no

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Mac of the Day: Lisa, Jan. 1983 - The ancestor of the Macintosh had a mouse, a graphical interface, and a $10,000 price tag.
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