Can You Use an IBM Keyboard on a Mac Computer?

Apple keyboards are a little different physically than those designed for PCs, usually making the two incompatible. They differ most obviously in the symbol and character set, and also in the physical plug that connects to the computer. With the right adapter, though, you can plug an IBM-compatible keyboard into an Apple computer.

Apple keyboards

Apple keyboards contain many others characters in addition to the standard alphabet, number and symbol set. Because of this difference, Apple keyboards have a different way of communicating with a computer.

PC keyboards

All PC keyboards are standard for any PC. They are able to relay basic keyboard information to a computer through the same plug, regardless of the model you have.

The input jack

Apple and PC keyboards have different input jacks, making them physically incompatible with each other as originally sold.

Adapters

To connect an IBM keyboard to a Mac, you can use a PS/2 to USB adapter. This will convert the physical end of the keyboard jack to USB. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, and components with this interface will work on any computer that also is USB-compatible.

USB is universal

If your PC keyboard has a USB connection in the first place, you can just plug it into a Mac's USB port and use it right away.

References

• History of keyboard design: Apple

Resources

• PS/2 to USB adapter