Does any USB keyboard work on any Mac computer?

[Arcadio]

Also, can I use a ps/2 mouse on a mac by using a ps/2 to usb adapter?

 

[purple_minion]

Have you given it a shot?

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Also, can I use a ps/2 mouse on a mac by using a ps/2 to usb adapter?

Any mouse will work. I prefer using a PC mouse on an Apple keyboard myself so I can right click. You can use a PC keyboard with a Mac and the letter and number keys will work, but you will lose a lot of functionality, such as not having a command key which is hugely important with Macs (comparable to missing a control key on a Windows keyboard functionality wise). Plus no eject key or none of the F# keys will work to control sound, screen brightness, etc..As far as a ps/2 mouse with a ps/2 to usb adapter, it should work. But why bother when you can get a wired optical usb mouse for next to nothing?

But I would highly recommend using an Apple keyboard.

 

[iladelf]

That's why I purchased a Microsoft Digital Media Pro keyboard some years ago. Is USB, but can be PS/2 (which I use with a KVM switch). But the best thing; it's both a Windows OR Mac keyboard (can do all the keystrokes for both).

Handy, indeed.

 

[angry_geek]

I use a MS wireless KB/Mouse with my macbook. It cracks me up that the MS KB's work the best with Mac.

 

[MrUnknown]

... none of the F# keys will work to control sound, screen brightness, etc..

Is there any particular reason as to why a F# key wouldn't or shouldn't work under a Mac?

Seems to me that Apple should map Ctrl to the command key so that would work just fine. Doesn't make much sense not to.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Is there any particular reason as to why a F# key wouldn't or shouldn't work under a Mac?

Seems to me that Apple should map Ctrl to the command key so that would work just fine. Doesn't make much sense not to.

Even with the older Apple keyboards on the newer Macs the F# keys won't control most of the sound/brightness settings except for sometimes you can substitute F12 for eject because F12 was eject before the eject key came along. As a matter of fact some of the older keyboards on newer Macs will make some weird things happen.

There is an argument for mapping the Ctrl key to the command key, but then what happens in regards to the Ctrl key functions? Do those functions move to another key?

 

[Bryce W]

My sister is using the basic Microsoft Wireless Keyboard and Mouse and it works fine under OSX. However, the mouse doesnt work out in Bootcamp where you select the OSX or Windows partition, she has to use the keyboard to choose. Other than that, it works fine.

 

[MrUnknown]

There is an argument for mapping the Ctrl key to the command key, but then what happens in regards to the Ctrl key functions? Do those functions move to another key?

Sorry, I was meaning the Windows key, not sure why I said Ctrl. This key would obviously have no use under Mac and is pretty standard now with Windows keyboards.

I still don't understand why the Mac can't interpret the F# keys. I guess their standard evolved different. Either way, the same concept of keyboard mapping can apply, there is no real reason as to why they couldn't make their OS respond to the F# keys for Windows keyboards.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

My sister is using the basic Microsoft Wireless Keyboard and Mouse and it works fine under OSX. However, the mouse doesnt work out in Bootcamp where you select the OSX or Windows partition, she has to use the keyboard to choose. Other than that, it works fine.

Did she or you install the boot camp drivers off the OSX disk after installing Windows? I would assume that should take care of that considering it works under OSX. Unless you are referring to the boot mgr where you select which system to boot?

Can she do all of the command + key functions in OSX(i.e. command + i = get info, command + option + esc = force quit apps, command + c = copy, etc..)?

 

[nj_computer_repair]

I've been using mac k/b and mouse on windows machines and ms k/b and mouse on mac machines for years. Although the keys are not the same, for example the windows key on an ms k/b or the apple key on a mac k/b, there are ways around it so in a pinch, sure both input devices are compatible on both platforms.

I never tried to use a ps/2 k/b adapter on a mac but it should work just fine.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

I've been using mac k/b and mouse on windows machines and ms k/b and mouse on mac machines for years. Although the keys are not the same, for example the windows key on an ms k/b or the apple key on a mac k/b, there are ways around it so in a pinch, sure both input devices are compatible on both platforms.

Its just like any machine. There are 3 ways to everything you want to get to. So if you are using a Windows keyboard for troubleshooting a Mac machine in a pinch it should work because you can still do what you need to do with a little more digging through preferences and mousing as opposed to keyboard shortcuts.. I'm mainly referring to actually owning a Mac with a Windows keyboard. That also would work but for me, I love my keyboard shortcuts which I wouldn't have using a M$ keyboard. Plus the F# keys would still be useless which come in very handy with a Apple keyboard.