Re: One keyboard for 2 computers

[jhs@ipsa.reuter.com (Henri Schueler)]

In article <1993Jan5.184359.18595@src.honeywell.com> shankar@src.honeywell.com (Subash Shankar) writes:
>
>I have a Mac IIci and an Apple IIGS (please, no computer flames), which both
>use ADB keyboards.  To clear up desk space, is there any way of using the
>same keyboard for both computers?  Surely, somebody else has a similar
>problem?
>
I haven't had to do this with a MAC, but I have done it with a PC.

For the PC it was relatively easy. The PC keyboard has a 5 pin DIN connector.
I bought an AB switchbox (that had 3 of those DIN connectors, one 'input' and
two 'output'), plus 2 male-male DIN cables from my local
general purpose electronics store. I connect the keyboard to the input
port of the AB box, and connect each computer to the output ports using
the male-male cables.

The same technique should work for a MAC, except that you have a different
connector for the keyboards. I've not seen any AB boxes with ADB connectors,
but perhaps there are some, or perhaps some conversion cable exists.

It is important to note that this works because the PC doesn't care if
for example, you repeatedly unplug and plug back in its keyboard -- on some
computers this may not be acceptable. I'm not sure about the MAC. 

For what its worth, the reverse of what you want is possibly more
common (one computer usable from one of two keyboards, much like a shared
printer). You might ask in terms of this.

Oh yeah, one more thing: If you use any of num-lock, caps-lock, scroll-lock,
be prepared for problems. The reason is that this info is shared between
the keyboard and the computer -- if you flip your keyboard to the other
computer, you can expect inconsistencies and general weirdness.

/jhs



-- 
J. Henri Schueler, H&h Software, Toronto	+1 416 698 9075