Any gotcha's using Apple keyboards with Windows or Linux?

ShadowBlade · 09-18-2009, 09:08 PM

I used one of the aluminum Apple keyboards in a computer lab today and really liked it, and really want one, I just want to know if there are any issues that would arise when not using them with OSX.

A couple big questions:
1. Does the "delete" key (the one where a standard backspace key is) function as backspace, and the other delete key function as a normal delete key in windows?
2. Does the Apple key work as a Windows key in Windows? I know it will work as a super key in most linux distros.

mpilchfamily · 09-19-2009, 09:26 PM

Yes it will fuction just like any other PC KB. And yes the Apple key should fuction like that Windows key.

skriefal · 09-20-2009, 01:41 AM

The Windows/Alt keys will be swapped. But otherwise it'll be fine.

MyLeftNut · 09-20-2009, 04:20 PM

Yes to both questions.

ChAoTiCpInOy · 09-20-2009, 06:23 PM

You may have to do some key mapping because the Alt key will not be in the right place.

575 · 09-21-2009, 11:41 PM

The Apple keyboard is missing several keys. IIRC, printscreen and possibly scroll or numlock. Whichever one is normally used by budget KVMs, because getting a KVM to work with an Apple keyboard can be a pain.

Aluvus · 11-07-2009, 12:55 AM

http://techreport.com/articles.x/17687

Excerpt:

Quote:

Specifically, there are no Windows keys, the control and alt keys sit side by side with an Apple-specific "command" key, several special keys (like print screen and insert) are missing, the F-keys go all the way up to F19 as they extend over the numeric keypad, and the numpad itself is arranged a little differently, with the * symbol in the corner with both - and + below it.

alizee · 11-07-2009, 09:03 AM

The "gotchas" I've experienced with my boot camped iMac has been that it doesn't work before the OS is loaded. If I need to skip a disk check, or boot into safe mode, I have a little trouble.

Num Lock is the Clear key on the num pad, so it's located in exactly the same place, just no light to tell you it's working. The Option key is the alt key and the Command key is the windows key. I prefer the arrangement, but that's the way I've been using Windows for a long time (KVM with my powermac back in the day). It's nice because what you're used to with Alt-Tab becomes Win-Tab and does the pretty little scroll thing in vista or 7.

I think the print screen and scroll lock are just the F-keys that are in the same spot as those keys on a PC keyboard. I don't know for sure because I never use them

Hope that helps!