Any Apple A1243 wired keyboards working with macOS Sonoma?

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Level 1

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Any Apple A1243 wired keyboards working with macOS Sonoma?

Is anyone using a good old wired A1243 keyboard with Sonoma on an Apple Silicon Mac? Without keyboard problems, that is?

I have seen lots of reports of wired Apple keyboards not working after upgrading to Sonoma. The question is, have any wired keyboard users been unaffected?

I have been putting off upgrading from Ventura because I don't want to have to replace my trusty USB keyboard. (There's so much to be said in favor of input devices which are always connected, put a couple USB ports close to hand, and don't involve batteries.)

If it matters, my machine is an M2 Max flavor Mac Studio. Thanks!

Mac Studio, macOS 13.6

Posted on Feb 19, 2024 3:27 PM

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Answer 1

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a brody

Level 10

85,296 points

Feb 19, 2024 3:42 PM in response to CTEPE0

Most of the problems are with Bluetooth keyboards.

USB keyboards, any problems may revolve around underpowered USB ports, not using a USB hub with its own source of power, leave the USB devices plugged in after putting the Mac to sleep. Screen Saver does not have this effect. Energy Saver "put hard drive to sleep" setting when unchecked frequently prevents problems.

Other problems include the Keyboard System Preference/Settings (Settings in Ventura and Sonoma replaces Preferences)

which forces combining the FN key with the Function key. If the keyboard doesn't have an FN key it might confuse it.

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Answer 2

CTEPE0 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 19, 2024 3:55 PM in response to a brody

USB keyboards, any problems may revolve around underpowered USB ports, not using a USB hub with its own source of power, leave the USB devices plugged in after putting the Mac to sleep.

This would not apply if the USB keyboard is plugged in directly to the Mac Studio, right? I think you are saying that going through a bus-powered USB hub creates trouble. Or did I read you backwards?

Anyway, what I am looking for is success stories, if there are any, involving Sonoma, Apple's old A1243 keyboard, and a silicon Mac (ideally, a Studio Mac M2 Max, like mine).

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Answer 3

Feb 19, 2024 4:22 PM in response to CTEPE0

Absent what was described above (bad cabling, hubs, power, flaky port, etc), or a faulty USB keyboard, I’m unfamiliar with any USB keyboard that won’t work.

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