Keyspan has announced it is now shipping its new USB PS/2 Adapter. Supporting both PC and Macintosh computers, the USB PS/2 Adapter makes it easy to connect a PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse to a single USB port.
The Keyspan USB PS/2 Adapter solves a connectivity problem resulting from the lack of PS/2 ports on most new PC laptops and desktops, and Apple’s new Mac mini ships without a keyboard or mouse. The USB PS/2 Adapter enables users to easily connect a PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse to a Mac mini’s USB port.
On Windows there is no software to install. Users simply plug in the adapter to a USB port on the PC then plug the keyboard and mouse into the color-coded connectors on the adapter.
For Macintosh users, a software utility is provided that re-maps the PS/2 keyboard and mouse for optimal use on a Mac. This utility, HID Helper, is available as a free download from the Keyspan web site. HID Helper functions include: Swap windows/alt keys; map media keys to the pull down menu of QuickTime, DVD Player, and Safari; map volume/mute keys to OSX equivalents; map F12 to Eject, Map mouse right click to option-left click, and Map mouse middle/wheel to scroll up/down (page up/down).
“We’ve done the little things that make this adapter special,” noted Mike Ridenhour, president of Keyspan in the press release. “It features a power LED, dual color coded PS/2 connectors, and simple software that makes a PS/2 keyboard act like a Mac keyboard when connected to a Mac.”
Retailing at $19, the Keyspan USB PS/2 Adapter is available to resellers through Ingram Micro, D&H and Wynit, and is available to end users from CDW, Amazon.com, Frys, Apple Specialist Resellers and other leading computer products retailers.
More info here.
$19 will practically buy you a new mac keyboard. Any new keyboard worth doing this to is already USB. I’m VERY upset by this news.
Ok, not really, but I was hoping for a better price, like $7.99
Well, that takes care of that. Now they can’t say you HAVE to buy a new keyboard and mouse.
Sounds wonderful, ‘tho I have many extra keyboards. The latest came with my new iMac. Why doesn’t Apple give the option of eliminating the wired keyboard and mouse and substituting a wireless set? Now I have a brand new keyboard and mouse which will be tossed because I already have a wireless set. I would have rather paid a few bucks more and given away my old wireless set.
you’re gonna need that wired keyboard when the wireless stuff stops working. that’s why.
Naraa:
The problem is that, whilst $19 might buy you a new keyboard, it won’t necessarily buy you a new keyboard that you like.
An example would be Apple’s old Extended Keyboard which felt good and had great key travel and was absurdly well put together – sadly though it was ADB only (yes, I do know about the Matias retro copy – this is just for illustration).
To some people, keyboards become a very personal instrument so I can well understand where the market for this thing will come from.
Wow, cool of them to offer the key remap software for free. You would have to try it to know for sure but I’ll bet you can use a cheapo adaptor that you can get for 5 bucks and still use the software. I checked the site and they are going to be coming out with an HID pro version to support USB keyboards later. Nice bit of shareware for switchers but then you also have DoubleCommand and uControl already and they are free too. However, I have heard they don’t work under Tiger. Hope they get it fixed soon.
http://www.versiontracker.com/php/search.php?mode=basic&action=search&str=remap+key&plt;&91;&93;=macosx&x=0&y=0
>you’re gonna need that wired keyboard when the wireless stuff stops working. that’s why.>
Rubbish! So you’re saying wireless is worthless?
$19 wont really buy you a decent keyboard AND mouse, so it’ worth it. Plus, it saves you a USB port.
ron,
sometimes, batteries run empty 🙁
Also, when you have to reset parameter ram or use an external start volume, you have to configure your bluetooth stuff new. It’s kinda tough when you don’t have a keyboard because you have to type in numbers.
Got it.
Until recently, you could not work with a Mac booted from a CD without a wired keyboard/mouse. The Tiger install discs and some third party discs now allow booting from the disk using a wireless keyboard/mouse.
Since Macs can now be ordered without wired keyboards (with only wireless), this was a big problem under Panther. Now, things are coming together – though I have no doubt that wired will still be required for non-conforming/older CD’s from which some Macs might be booted.
The need for a wired keyboard is past. Those issues are gone these days. And you get plenty of on-screen battery warning.
“Map mouse right click to option-left click”
What? Macs obey a REAL right-click and have for many years–no modifier keys needed! But if you did use a modifier for right-click… it’s Control!
“Map mouse middle/wheel to scroll up/down (page up/down).”
Macs do that too, but maybe via PS/2 this takes more to make work. I’ll give them benefit of the doubt on this one…
Belkin has one out as well, but they are charging $25 for it.