Apple aluminum keyboard workable on PC's?

Parasitic

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Aug 17, 2002
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So I bought one of those nice looking aluminum keyboards for my Macbook, and I was wondering if that can also be hooked up to a normal PC without drivers of sorts?

I mean, I understand that it'll work fine on a Macbook running bootcamp/XP because BC loads keyboard drivers onto, but what about a PC without the drivers?

 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
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Sep 15, 2004
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Why wouldn't it? One thing you would have to take into account is that the command key is set as the windows key... but is located differently from where it is located on your average windows box.

Also, the command key is used as the general replacement for CTRL in OS X.... so you might want to get a key remapper like SharpKeys to switch the left CTRL to Left Windows, and Left Windows to Left CTRL.
 

Parasitic

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Aug 17, 2002
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So update: the keyboard works fine, aside from the keys that are Mac specific, like the special multimedia controls, F16-19, and the optical drive eject key.

Maybe I should try digging some software for it. Pretty nice that Apple decided to include the keyboard with an USB extension cable so I can hook it up with my Macbook without a long arse wire hanging around.
 

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
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Jul 19, 2001
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i wonder if i can pair my wireless aluminum kb with my T41 :)
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
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Originally posted by: aphex
i wonder if i can pair my wireless aluminum kb with my T41 :)

Just grab the Boot Camp drivers

@ Parasitic - install some keyboard controller software. In OS X, Controllermate could be your ticket, I'm sure there's a similar app for Windows. I used to use Keyboard/Macro Express when I used XP a lot and I'm not sure if it has provisions for custom keys, but I'm sure it'd be worth checking out. Actually since those keys are just F keys, they should program just fine!
 

Parasitic

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Aug 17, 2002
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All right, I can't get the boot camp drivers to work. I found the installer file but Vista wouldn't recognize :(

Another thing: on my Macbook with bootcamp I still cannot get the extension keys working. I have Windows XP on my bootcamp partition and while it says and installs driver fine for the keyboard the special features/extension buttons don't do anything :(

Quite a shame as this keyboard is quite lovely.

Oh wells, still quite usable with Leopard.
 

IBuyUFO

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Oct 9, 1999
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Have you tried accessing the system bios in your PC? That doesn't work for me.