Where can I find a layout that will show me how a PC keyboard compares
to an Apple Keyboard so that I can use a PC Keyboard and know (for
example) what key will eject a disk? I'm trying to help a friend use his
Mac Mini HD.
--
http://homepage.mac.com/mkatzman/

Marshall <notmkatzman@verizon.net> writes:
>
> Where can I find a layout that will show me how a PC keyboard compares
> to an Apple Keyboard so that I can use a PC Keyboard and know (for
> example) what key will eject a disk? I'm trying to help a friend use
> his Mac Mini HD.

Assuming both are USB (so we don't have to worry about interface
adapters), the differences are relatively minor.

PC keyboards do not have the volume and eject keys. You can use F12
(press-and-hold it) to eject media. You'll have to use system
preferences or the menu-bar icon to change volume settings.

PC keyboards do not have command/option keys. If you have a 104-key
keyboard on your PC (what almost all new PC keyboards are) The windows
key will do what the command key does. The alt key will do what the
option key does. If you have an old PC keyboard without the windows
keys, don't try using it on a Mac - you won't have a command-key
equivalent.

It is my understanding (I haven't personally confirmed this) that the
print-screen, scroll-lock and pause/break keys on a PC keyboard are the
same as the F13, F14 and F15 keys on Mac keyboards.

I don't think there's a PC equivalent to the mac's F16 key.

-- David

Marshall <notmkatzman@verizon.net> wrote:

> Where can I find a layout that will show me how a PC keyboard compares
> to an Apple Keyboard so that I can use a PC Keyboard and know (for
> example) what key will eject a disk? I'm trying to help a friend use his
> Mac Mini HD.

Kan you see the PC keyboard in the Keyboard Viewer pallete, in the Input
Menu? You enable the Input Menu - and Keyboard Viewer too - in the
International pane of System preferences.

In article <m2k6n513lx.fsf@qqqq.invalid>, shamino@techie.com (David C.)
wrote:

> Marshall <notmkatzman@verizon.net> writes:
> >
> > Where can I find a layout that will show me how a PC keyboard compares
> > to an Apple Keyboard so that I can use a PC Keyboard and know (for
> > example) what key will eject a disk? I'm trying to help a friend use
> > his Mac Mini HD.
>
> Assuming both are USB (so we don't have to worry about interface
> adapters), the differences are relatively minor.
>
> PC keyboards do not have the volume and eject keys. You can use F12
> (press-and-hold it) to eject media. You'll have to use system
> preferences or the menu-bar icon to change volume settings.
>
> PC keyboards do not have command/option keys. If you have a 104-key
> keyboard on your PC (what almost all new PC keyboards are) The windows
> key will do what the command key does. The alt key will do what the
> option key does. If you have an old PC keyboard without the windows
> keys, don't try using it on a Mac - you won't have a command-key
> equivalent.
>
> It is my understanding (I haven't personally confirmed this) that the
> print-screen, scroll-lock and pause/break keys on a PC keyboard are the
> same as the F13, F14 and F15 keys on Mac keyboards.
>
> I don't think there's a PC equivalent to the mac's F16 key.
>
> -- David

and uControl an be used to swap the Windows Key with the Alt key so that
the physical layout will be similar to a Mac keyboard. Just in case you
are already finger trained.

Bob Harris