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timinak
Junior Member
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 35
Location: Palmer Alaska
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 Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:37 am Post subject: Happy Hacker Keyboard - PC and Mac Mini Compat |
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FYI: I am a long-time Linux user, Web and Desktop developer comfortable
with the command line. I am totally unfamiliar with Mac issues.
I intend to get a Mac Mini later in the year. I am in the market for a keyboard now.
If I were to get a Happy Hacker keyboard for the Mac
http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Hacking-Keyboard-Lite2-White/dp/B000MTELL8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1296664440&sr=1-1
Would it be compatible with my existing PC (running ubuntu 10.04 or slackware 13~)?
Thus I could use it until I get my Mac Mini.
Any comments or URLs to existing discussions on this issue would be welcome.
thanks
tim |
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Smithcraft
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Joined: 09 Nov 2008
Posts: 3012
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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$80 seems kinda steep for a keyboard without a numeric keypad. Is it a microswitch keyboard, or just a membrane type keyboard?
Otherwise, I'd just get a USB keyboard. In OS X you can set the Keyboard control panel that the Windows key is the Command key, and you are good to go.
SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.
[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8
[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)
Make sure it has pins! |
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timinak
Junior Member
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 35
Location: Palmer Alaska
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| Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Smithcraft wrote: | $80 seems kinda steep for a keyboard without a numeric keypad. Is it a microswitch keyboard, or just a membrane type keyboard?
Otherwise, I'd just get a USB keyboard. In OS X you can set the Keyboard control panel that the Windows key is the Command key, and you are good to go.
SC |
Thanks for the reply Smithcraft, but with all due respect - my question had to do with
the Mac version of the Happy Hacker Keyboard and its compatibilty to a PC,
not what keyboard some good person like you might recommend  . $80 is nothing
compared to what I make in a year as a coder and the keyboard is my main contact
point with my computer. Besides I have a stand-alone numeric keyboard. I like to
work with a small footprint keyboard, a trackball on my right and the keypad on my
left. The mac HH keyboard has a membrane switch.
My original questions remains unanswered: On the other hand, the HH lite
for the PC has two built-in USB ports. It is unclear from the product description at
Amazon that the Mac HH has the same. From what you stated above regarding
the use of the Mac control panel to set the Windows key as the Command key,
it occurs to me that the PC version may be a better choice given that (I think)
the Mac Mini has only 4 USB ports
regards
tim |
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jb
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Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 652
Location: A large Island called Vancouver
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| Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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| the specs for the mac keyboard in the link you supplied claim that tkeyboard has 2 downstream USB ports, I would take this to mean 2 ports on the keyboard. |
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timinak
Junior Member
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 35
Location: Palmer Alaska
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| Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| jb wrote: | | the specs for the mac keyboard in the link you supplied claim that tkeyboard has 2 downstream USB ports, I would take this to mean 2 ports on the keyboard. |
You're correct. I overlooked that entry.
So the question remains: Might I expect that the Mac HH keyboard could be used
on a PC until I get a mini?
Should the Command key have to be reassigned to mod4, I wouldn't
complain. Can you think of any other issues?
thank you
tim |
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Smithcraft
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Joined: 09 Nov 2008
Posts: 3012
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 7:03 am Post subject: |
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I'm not sure anyone here can answer your question in a timely manner, timinak.
Most people use Apple oriented keyboards with Apple computers. I have yet to find a person that has bought an Apple oriented keyboard to use on a non-Apple computer. Overall, I really don't see it being an issue. I think, but I don't quite recall, that when I've had my SGI USB keyboard hooked up to my Mac, that the Alt and Windows keys were backwards. For this I might guess that those two keys might be backwards if using an Apple oriented keyboard on Windows or non-Apple OS.
However, if you can wait till the weekend when I use my peecee, I'll try it with my Apple keyboard. Unless someone else beats me to it...
SC
ps - That keyboard has a pretty nonstandard layout! Also, from doing a bit of research, in theory there are three switches on the keyboard, and one of them is a switch that appears to switch the Alt and Windows/Command key. I would guess that this would either not be on the Mac version of the keyboard or set in the Mac friendly position.
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.
[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8
[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)
Make sure it has pins! |
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timinak
Junior Member
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 35
Location: Palmer Alaska
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| Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:56 am Post subject: |
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Smithcraft, thanks very much for taking the time to reply again.
I certainly can wait until the weekend and appreciate the fact that
you are taking the time to experiment. Reassigning keys is not a
problem, should some be "out of order". I'm used to using xmodmap
for key reassignments. My current keyboard has 6 reassignments.
cheers - and for those of you experiencing inclement weather, hang in there.
tim
_________________
Programmer 25 years. Web programming 16.
Windows, linux - slackware, redhat, ubuntu. 2011 mini, lion. |
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Smithcraft
Veteran Member
Joined: 09 Nov 2008
Posts: 3012
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:39 am Post subject: |
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Ok, so this is kinda weird.
Unfortunately I didn't have the Onscreen Keyboard up before I plugged in the Apple keyboard, but this is what I was getting from the keyboard app.
When I plugged in the Apple keyboard the Alt, Ctrl, and Windows(well, Command key in this case) keys worked fine, but the SGI keyboard switched the Alt and Windows keys!
I also found out that Windows keyboard control set up is lame! It truly is What's Weak This Week!
SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.
[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8
[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)
Make sure it has pins! |
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timinak
Junior Member
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 35
Location: Palmer Alaska
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| Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for taking the time to do that testing. I have used numerous keyboards
in numerous operating systems. I've observed numerous discrepancies. In my
case I am sure that xmodmap is going to be my friend.
Cheers, and again, thanks a lot.
tim
_________________
Programmer 25 years. Web programming 16.
Windows, linux - slackware, redhat, ubuntu. 2011 mini, lion. |
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