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PS/2 USB Converter; Will it Work with iMac G3?

I bought two PS/2 USB converters for my imac for an old Mouse and Keyboard since i dont have any USB Mice or keyboards. I plugged them into the Computer and the mouse and keyboard wont work. How can i get the iMac to Recognize them and make it work?

iMac G3, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier, Its A Computer

Posted on Apr 19, 2009 4:20 PM

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Posted on Apr 19, 2009 9:44 PM

Adapters that make USB keyboards work with PS/2 ports are simple and common; they are just wired to change the shape of the connector. The USB keyboard just needs to be designed so it can work with those older ports (through that adapter). However, for PS/2 keyboards that were made before USB ports, they are not designed to work with USB. So I don't think it will work unless you have a more complex adapter... one that may need a driver. If it needs a driver, you will probably not get Mac compatibility, because Macs never used PS/2 ports. The older Mac serial ports were called ADB ports, and to use an older Mac (non-USB) keyboard on a Mac USB port, you have to get a special (non-simple) adapter called the Griffin iMate. So you would need something equivalent to the the iMate, except for PS/2 keyboards, that works on a Mac (with maybe a need for a Mac driver).

If would be far easier to get a USB keyboard and USB mouse. Generic ones cost less that $10 for each, which is probably less than the cost of a Griffin iMate -type device.

However, using Google, I did find devices like this one that claims Mac compatibility.

http://www.usbgear.com/USBTO_PS2CONVERTER/

This is obviously not a simple $5 adapter, but this one adapter does connect both the PS/2 mouse and keyboard to one USB port, which will save you a port (just like with a REAL Mac USB keyboard and mouse).
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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 19, 2009 9:44 PM in response to Nihongoking123

Adapters that make USB keyboards work with PS/2 ports are simple and common; they are just wired to change the shape of the connector. The USB keyboard just needs to be designed so it can work with those older ports (through that adapter). However, for PS/2 keyboards that were made before USB ports, they are not designed to work with USB. So I don't think it will work unless you have a more complex adapter... one that may need a driver. If it needs a driver, you will probably not get Mac compatibility, because Macs never used PS/2 ports. The older Mac serial ports were called ADB ports, and to use an older Mac (non-USB) keyboard on a Mac USB port, you have to get a special (non-simple) adapter called the Griffin iMate. So you would need something equivalent to the the iMate, except for PS/2 keyboards, that works on a Mac (with maybe a need for a Mac driver).

If would be far easier to get a USB keyboard and USB mouse. Generic ones cost less that $10 for each, which is probably less than the cost of a Griffin iMate -type device.

However, using Google, I did find devices like this one that claims Mac compatibility.

http://www.usbgear.com/USBTO_PS2CONVERTER/

This is obviously not a simple $5 adapter, but this one adapter does connect both the PS/2 mouse and keyboard to one USB port, which will save you a port (just like with a REAL Mac USB keyboard and mouse).

Apr 20, 2009 1:19 PM in response to Nihongoking123

Well, that product I linked to above says no driver is required. If the product you have needs a driver (it came with a disk meant for Windows), you are probably out-of-luck. As I mentioned, Macs never use PS/2 ports, so there would not be a big demand for any product that converted PS/2 keyboards for use on Macs. Therefore, there would not be any drivers.

So what I'm saying is, the adapter you have is either going to be plug-and-play, or its not going to work.

Apr 20, 2009 5:20 PM in response to Nihongoking123

I don't know. I've never had a need to use PS/2 keyboards or mice with a Mac. I'm just saying that if it does not work just by plugging it in, then there is a good chance that particular adapter will not work with a Mac (whether a driver is needed or not). If the manufacturer has a web site, you should check to see if they say anything about use with a Mac.

The consumer need for +PS/2 to USB adapter for use with a Mac+ is very limited. I can see the need on the Windows side. So I would NOT expect it to work, unless the company specifically says it does work with a Mac.

Apr 20, 2009 5:47 PM in response to Shake 'n' Bake

If it was so simple, why does it not work? Nihongoking123 has TWO of the adapters, and both a PS/2 MOUSE and KEYBOARD. It is unlikely that both adapters are defective and both PS/2 devices are defective.

Adapters that connect USB devices to PS/2 ports are simple. They are just changing the shape of the connectors, and USB keyboards and mice (at least the non-Apple ones) were designed to be backward compatible with PS/2 ports through a simple adapter. However, I don't think it's quite so simple in the other direction. Most PS/2 devices were designed before USB ports existed.

Just look at the Griffin iMate, designed to connect old Apple ADB (serial) devices to USB ports. That's the equivalent of an PS/2 to USB adapter for the Mac world. That thing has a circuit board inside and a small battery. Although it works without a driver for basic connections (such as keyboard and mouse), Griffin has a driver that can be used for more complex devices.

Apr 21, 2009 12:17 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

http://cgi.ebay.com/PS2-female-to-USB-male-mouse-adapter-converter W0QQitemZ170313189566QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Cables_Adapters?hash=item17031318956 6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1309|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

This is what i bought except not in a 4 pack. I sure hope that i can get this to work somehow.

PS/2 USB Converter; Will it Work with iMac G3?

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