USB Keyboard Opinions?

[trag]

So now that I have an MDD and am moving out of the mid-90s hardware-wise, I need a keyboard for the thing. I like the old ADB Extended Keyboard II. Are there any USB keyboards available which offer a similar experience?

My actual favorite keyboard is the black NeXT ADB keyboard, but I figure so few folks are familiar with that one that there's no point in asking for an equivalent USB version.

Hmmmm. Didn't Keyspan make a USB to ADB adapter? Anyone know how well that worked out?

Jeff

 

[Scott Baret]

I know there's a Mac keyboard out there that is supposed to feel like the ADB Extended II. I also believe the company that now makes the Model M makes a USB version--if you like the ADB Extended you'll probably also like this one, it's the one that IBM used to make (until they sold the design to Lexmark and then this company, I think it's called Unicomp).

There are adapters, yes, that can go from ADB-USB and PS/2-USB. I'd check compatibility with whatever hardware you're using, I'm assuming you're upgrading to OS X?

 

[LCGuy]

Yep, there is a USB keyboard thats supposed to have the same keyswitches as the Apple Extended II. The Matias TactilePro, IIRC.

I personally have a very nice DEC keyboard connected to my iMac via a PS/2 -> USB adaptor. Its dated 1994, and its a membrane keyboard, but its actually very very nice to type on.

 

[dbraverman88]

I have tried various keyboards. Right now I am primarily using a keyboard from a CRT iMac with my G4 DA. It works pretty wellm, though is a bit small. The keyboard that came with my Acer 386sx (circa 1990) was the best I have ever used. Some of the ergonomic Microsoft Keyboards are quite nice and can be placed in various positions to reduce the stress of typing. I have one here at home.

David

 

[trag]

Thanks for the information, guys.

I took a look at the Griffin iMate. It states that its OS requirements are a version of OSX earlier than 10.3.9. Can anyone confirm that the ADB-USB adapter stops working with Tiger? They're easily available on Ebay for under $30 shipped. I might check the bins at the local Goodwill too...

The Matias keyboard looks interesting, but pricey. I might give it a try. Ouch. I'm used to picking up the Extended Keyboards for under $10.

The model M keyboards mentioned above are available here http://www.clickykeyboards.com/

 

[register]

Hi,

I recommend use of the Griffin iMate ADB to USB adaptor. For several years I use some of these to connect the beloved ADB Keyboard II (extended as well) to any new computer. The adaptor works well with OS X and Windows, even in combination with a KVM switch I use in the office to share the peripheral equipment between a mac mini and a PC.

The most important benefit for me is the tactile feedback of the capitals lock key, an extremely rare feature in recent keyboards. Btw.: some Macally MK96 ADB keyboards can be found cheap on ebay. Form factor of the small Keyboard II plus a set of function keys.

There are two bad points about the iMate:

1. some kind of dysfunction for one or two keys I do not need too often (no characters). On my layout this are "°", "^", "<" and ">". Griffin tech support says this behaviour comes from a lack of recent ADB drivers inside OS X. PopChar helps.

2. the start button seems not to work for any machine.

Kind regards, register

 

[Mac128]

I am typing this right now using my Extended Keyboard and an iMate on my MacBook running OS X 10.4.11.

I've heard Leopard dropped ADB support along with Classic (I mean why use one without the other, right?), but no problems with Tiger.

Then again, you could always just use this. I've been using it for a few days now and swear my flat, mushy MacBook keys feel like my old MacPlus keyboard. There's something really satisfying about that sound.

http://yllan.org/mac/RetroKeyboard/

It sounds just like the old 512K hollow-click keyboards. Keydown and up. It's really pretty cool. The MacBook volume is almost perfect for being exactly the right sound.

 

[Scott Baret]

I can't read Japanese...but does that program make a Mac Plus keyboard echo-click sound when a key is pressed?

 

[Cory5412]

I've been using the white thin-frame Apple Keyboard, the one included with the white iMacs. It may not be an AEK-II, but it's certainly not a bad keyboard either, it's currently tied with the ThinkPad keyboard (which you can get as a usb keyboard for desktops) as my favorite.

I have considered getting an iMate and an AEK-II for my iMac, but if it's no longer really possible to use them (with Leopard), I may not do that. I've also considered grabbing a ps/2 adapter and finding a Model M.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I'm a big fan of the old clicky keyboards (I use an IBM Model M and an Apple Extended keyboard in my 'lab',) but I have fallen in love with the new Apple Aluminum keyboards. I like the new wireless one so much, that I don't miss the missing numeric keypad and navigation keys any more.

I have even noticed that my typing speed is a good 25% faster on the Aluminum keyboard than either my MacBook Pro's built-in keyboard, or my older white Apple Wireless Keyboard.

My only complaint is that the 'fn' key seems to get stuck 'on' every once in a while. It's not that it's physically stuck, as no amount of smacking the key or keyboard fixes it; and turning the keyboard off then back on DOES fix it, even if I don't touch the 'fn' key at all when doing that.

 

[Mac128]

FYI, register indicates above that the start (power) key does not seem to work on any keyboard. Mine actually works quite well in case anyone is interested. I can startup and shutdown my MacBook from the adb Extended Keybaord II.