Alternative MAC Keyboards

dirtydogmitchell · 09-02-2010, 11:03 AM

Okay so we have purchased 20 Mac Mini's, but no Kerboards or Mice.

the MAc Keyboards and Mice are very Expensive and our Students are very destructive so im looking for a decent priced USB keybaord with USB ports on it.?

Anyone have a nice Alternative for under a tenner?

Ben123 · 09-02-2010, 11:13 AM

Any reason for needing the USB hub on the keyboard?

most mice will have a plenty long enough lead, if that is the reason

dirtydogmitchell · 09-02-2010, 11:22 AM

The Mac Mini's only have USB Ports on the Back, so Plugging in a USB Drive means the Student Pull the nice Tiday Mac Mini's all over the place.

mac_shinobi · 09-02-2010, 11:26 AM

Ben123 · 09-02-2010, 11:27 AM

cheapest i have found so far

Scan.co.uk: Colours IT 8102C Multimedia Wired Keyboard, USB with USB Hub, Silver/Black

dirtydogmitchell · 09-02-2010, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben123

cheapest i have found so far

Scan.co.uk: Colours IT 8102C Multimedia Wired Keyboard, USB with USB Hub, Silver/Black

Thanks, not to be fusy but they are ugly

Ben123 · 09-02-2010, 01:40 PM

LinITX.com - FK-380 Compact MultiMedia Keyboard with USB Hub
Techinfo
Perixx PeriBoard 402U USB MINI Multimedia Keyboard with 2 Built in USB Ports - R Digitalpromo.co.uk

few more?

seems hard pushed to get anything nice for the tenner mark

nicklec · 09-02-2010, 03:23 PM

Its pretty frustrating trying to find keyboards without the usual glut of 'windows functions' buttons; interested if you find a copy (feature wise) of the mac alu keyboard

Robbocop · 10-02-2010, 03:47 PM

Sadly, third party Mac keyboards (Macally and so on) tent to be as expensive as Apple ones. Any Windows usb keyboard and mouse will work, but you won't get Apple specialist keys, which probably also means the CD eject key! Forgive me for the plug, but we've been selling one made by Cherry, which you might also be able to source through other resellers. Not a great deal cheaper than the Apple one I'm afraid. There's a couple of useful resources I can point you at if you want to give windows keyboards a try: Doublecommand is an OSX kernel extension which lets you remap keyboard commands DoubleCommand and there's a nice article around the subject from Macworld here Mac mini, Windows Keyboard | Desktop | Mac Gems | Macworld

I hope that helps you out.

Rob

dirtydogmitchell · 10-02-2010, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbocop

Sadly, third party Mac keyboards (Macally and so on) tent to be as expensive as Apple ones. Any Windows usb keyboard and mouse will work, but you won't get Apple specialist keys, which probably also means the CD eject key! Forgive me for the plug, but we've been selling one made by Cherry, which you might also be able to source through other resellers. Not a great deal cheaper than the Apple one I'm afraid. There's a couple of useful resources I can point you at if you want to give windows keyboards a try: Doublecommand is an OSX kernel extension which lets you remap keyboard commands DoubleCommand and there's a nice article around the subject from Macworld here Mac mini, Windows Keyboard | Desktop | Mac Gems | Macworld

I hope that helps you out.

Rob

Thanks for that, Im just going to have to stick with a normal Keyboard and maybe tape a USB extension lead to the front MAc!

The other main Problem is the Power button is on the back on the MAc im hoping this can also be mapped a key?

nicklec · 11-02-2010, 12:25 PM

Wake on lan? Pretty sure F12 ejects a disc if your using a generic usb keyboard

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09-02-2010, 11:03 AM	#1
dirtydogmitchell Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sutton Coldfield Posts: 119 Thanks: 16 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Rep Power: 0	Alternative MAC Keyboards Okay so we have purchased 20 Mac Mini's, but no Kerboards or Mice. the MAc Keyboards and Mice are very Expensive and our Students are very destructive so im looking for a decent priced USB keybaord with USB ports on it.? Anyone have a nice Alternative for under a tenner?

09-02-2010, 11:13 AM	#2
Ben123 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Posts: 61 Thanks: 31 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts Rep Power: 3	Any reason for needing the USB hub on the keyboard? most mice will have a plenty long enough lead, if that is the reason Last edited by Ben123; 09-02-2010 at 11:19 AM.. Reason: nevermind!

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		EduGeek.net Forums > Technical > Mac
Alternative MAC Keyboards

09-02-2010, 11:22 AM	#3
dirtydogmitchell Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sutton Coldfield Posts: 119 Thanks: 16 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Rep Power: 0	The Mac Mini's only have USB Ports on the Back, so Plugging in a USB Drive means the Student Pull the nice Tiday Mac Mini's all over the place.

09-02-2010, 11:26 AM	#4
mac_shinobi Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,423 Thanks: 346 Thanked 331 Times in 311 Posts Rep Power: 72	Ask simon at CP LTD Computer Products Ltd \| Computer Hardware \| Desktop PCs \| Laptops \| Notebooks \| LCD \| Software \| Printers \| Servers \| Wireless Networking \| Office Supplies \| Ruckus Wireless \| Meru Wireless As long as they are USB keyboards / mice should be fine

09-02-2010, 11:27 AM	#5
Ben123 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Posts: 61 Thanks: 31 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts Rep Power: 3	cheapest i have found so far Scan.co.uk: Colours IT 8102C Multimedia Wired Keyboard, USB with USB Hub, Silver/Black

09-02-2010, 01:40 PM	#7
Ben123 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Posts: 61 Thanks: 31 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts Rep Power: 3	LinITX.com - FK-380 Compact MultiMedia Keyboard with USB Hub Techinfo Perixx PeriBoard 402U USB MINI Multimedia Keyboard with 2 Built in USB Ports - R Digitalpromo.co.uk few more? seems hard pushed to get anything nice for the tenner mark

09-02-2010, 03:23 PM	#8
nicklec Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 47 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Rep Power: 4	Its pretty frustrating trying to find keyboards without the usual glut of 'windows functions' buttons; interested if you find a copy (feature wise) of the mac alu keyboard

10-02-2010, 03:47 PM	#9
Robbocop Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Nottingham, UK Posts: 55 Thanks: 3 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts Rep Power: 1	Sadly, third party Mac keyboards (Macally and so on) tent to be as expensive as Apple ones. Any Windows usb keyboard and mouse will work, but you won't get Apple specialist keys, which probably also means the CD eject key! Forgive me for the plug, but we've been selling one made by Cherry, which you might also be able to source through other resellers. Not a great deal cheaper than the Apple one I'm afraid. There's a couple of useful resources I can point you at if you want to give windows keyboards a try: Doublecommand is an OSX kernel extension which lets you remap keyboard commands DoubleCommand and there's a nice article around the subject from Macworld here Mac mini, Windows Keyboard \| Desktop \| Mac Gems \| Macworld I hope that helps you out. Rob

11-02-2010, 12:25 PM	#11
nicklec Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 47 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Rep Power: 4	Wake on lan? Pretty sure F12 ejects a disc if your using a generic usb keyboard

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