Using PC-compatible keyboards with a IIgs and a Keystone adapter?

[bpvh@primenet.com (Bradley P. Von Haden)]

The following two messages are from MAC EvangeList mailing list and I
thought they might be of some interest:

     Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 01:08:25 -0400
     From: MacWay@aol.com
     Subject: More Macintosh Ergonomic Keyboards
     Message-ID: <960923010825_291010594@emout01.mail.aol.com>
     
     This follow-up message is from:
     
     <nda1@cornell.edu> (Nathan D. Ainspan)
     
     A recent posting mentioned that only one ergonomic keyboard is
     made for the Mac. I just wanted to correct that. The Kinesis
     Corporation not only manufactures an ergonomic keyboard but they
     also make an adapter box that allows you to plug any PC-compatible
     keyboard into one side and your ADB wire into the other.
     
     Therefore, you can use practically any type of keyboard with your
     Mac. I would also highly recommend the Kinesis keyboard itself -
     I've used it for aobut a year. It's well designed, with the two
     halves of the keys split apart by about eight inches and designed
     in a "swoop" to match the design of the fingers of the hand. I
     don't have a web page address for them, but they can be reached at
     (206) 402-8100.
     
     ________________
     Do you believe in Macintosh? Please check out
     <http://www.evangelist.macaddict.com/> and join the EvangeList
     mailing list by sending an email to <evangelist@macway.com>.
     
     
     Date: Fri, 4 Oct 1996 16:19:02 -0400
     From: MacWay@aol.com
     Subject: Follow Up to Ergonomic PC Keyboards for Mac
     Message-ID: <961004161901_536808264@emout11.mail.aol.com>
     
     This follow-up message is from:
     
     <avery@svbus.com> (Avery E. Dee)
     
     I am following Nathan D. Ainspan's posting regarding the Kinesis
     ergonomic keyboard and "adapter box" copied below.
     
     Our company, Silicon Valley Bus Co. makes the adapter box for
     Kinesis and other companies that make ergonomic keyboards. If a
     user wants to use an ergonomic keyboard that is made for PCs and
     not for ADB Macs, then they can use our device KeyStone to connect
     that keyboard to any ADB Mac.
     
     Find out more about KeyStone at <http://www.svbus.com> or call
     Silicon Valley Bus Co. directly at 1-800-775-0555.
     
     ________________
     Do you believe in Macintosh? Please check out
     <http://www.evangelist.macaddict.com/> and join the EvangeList
     mailing list by sending an email to <evangelist@macway.com>.


I did email Nathan Ainspan and asked whether any software was required to
use the adapter on a MAC and he replied that no software was needed to use
a keyboard with the adapter.

At the www site, it noted that PC keyboards and mice (and maybe
trackballs) can be used with the adapter without software.  Customizing
software does come with the product but is not necessary for keyboard and
mouse operation (other than the third button on a three button mouse).

I also found the following restriction:

     "Compatible with all MACs with ADB System 6 or 7"

Being one of the non-technical IIgs users I was wondering what this meant
for this adapter box and the IIgs.

The price of the adapter direct from Silicon Valley Bus is $119.

**** bpvh     Internet: bpvh@primenet.com      GEnie: B.VONHADEN ****
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