• Keyboards For Mac Computers
• Wireless Keyboard Mac And Pc

Consisting of keys that act as electrical switches, keyboards play an important role in the function of computers and other devices. When connected to a computer or device, a keyboard serves as a peripheral for input. You can perform commands on the computer by pressing the keys. While all keyboards serve this same basic function, though, there are many different types available, including mechanical and optical. So, what’s the difference between a mechanical keyboard and an optical keyboard?

What Is a Mechanical Keyboard?

1. The Difference Between Membrane and Mechanical Keyboards. To your average computer user, this may make no difference, but to someone who is around computers and uses them daily, the right type of.
2. There are many types of keyboards available in the market like Flexible keyboard, Gaming keyboard, Wireless keyboard, Membrane keyboard, Mechanical Keyboard, Virtual Keyboard etc. In this topic, we will see what are Membrane and Mechanical Keyboards.
3. In the case of keyboards, latency or response time is the time it takes from a key is pressed until the result shows up on the screen. For most computer users this delay is so small they don’t even notice it, but for competitive and professional gamers that small delay can mean the difference between.

Another main difference between the PC keyboard and the Apple keyboard is the layout. The majority of the keys are placed in the same or similar places, but there are a few noticable differences.

Mechanical keyboards are characterized by the use of individual moving parts for their electric switches. Each key features an electrical switch — and these switches are comprised of individual moving parts. In a typical mechanical keyboard, each switch consists of a housing unit, a stem and a spring. When you press a key, the electrical contact underneath the key will push into a separate electrical contact below it, thereby completing the circuit. Releasing the key, on the other hand, causes it to spring back up, thereby breaking the circuit.

Keyboards For Mac Computers

Although they are somewhat complex, mechanical switches have a long lifespan. They typically last longer than both membrane and dome-switch keyboards. Some mechanical keyboards, in fact, last for over 40 million clicks. Mechanical switches are also easy to repair. If a component breaks, you can replace it.

What Is an Optical Keyboard?

Also referred to as a photo-optical keyboard, an optical keyboard is a type of keyboard that’s characterized by the use of light. Optical keyboards are distinguished from all other types of keyboards, including mechanical keyboards, by utilizing light to detect keystrokes

Optical keyboards emit light below the surface of the keys. When you press a key on an optical keyboard, the light below the respective key will become obstructed. The optical keyboard will then detect this blockage as a keystroke.

Optical keyboards offer several benefits, one of which is resistance to moisture. Mechanical keyboards, unfortunately, are susceptible to moisture damage. If water or other liquids enters a mechanical keyboard, it may damage the individual switches below its keys. Thankfully, this isn’t an issue with optical keyboards. They are typically designed to protect against the intrusion of moisture. Optical keyboards also feature a slimmer design, making them ideal for small spaces.

Some people assume that optical keyboards are a modern invention, but this isn’t necessarily true. The technology was pioneered during the 1960s by American engineer Harley Kechner as a substitute for typewriter keys.

What you can read next

/en/macosbasics/troubleshooting-common-problems/content/

Using a Windows keyboard with a Mac

If you want to use a Windows keyboard on your Mac, the good news is it's pretty simple. You can use almost any Windows keyboard as long as it has either a USB or Bluetooth connection.

Why use a Windows keyboard?

One of the main reasons you might choose to use a Windows keyboard on a Mac is that it's more readily available. In most stores, you'll find that there are more Windows keyboards than there are Mac keyboards. You may also have one lying around the house from an older computer.

Some people simply prefer to use Windows keyboards. Perhaps you recently switched from a Windows computer to a Mac and you prefer the feel of your old keyboard. There's also a variety of custom keyboards available, with most of them made for Windows machines.

What are the main differences?

Although Windows and Mac keyboards feature most of the same keys, there are a few that differ. When using a Windows keyboard on a Mac, the Windows key is used instead of the Command key, and the Alt key is used in place of the Option key. For example, the Undo shortcut would use Windows+Z instead of Command+Z. It's also worth noting that their positions are reversed on the two types of keyboards.

Setting up a Windows keyboard

To use a Windows keyboard, simply connect it to your Mac (if it's a Bluetooth keyboard, your Mac should recognize it when you turn on the keyboard). You should be able to use it as soon as it's connected. You may be greeted with a Keyboard Setup Assistant prompt like the one in the image below. This is just the computer's way of identifying the keyboard; simply follow the onscreen directions. This only takes a minute or two, and then you'll be all set!

Remapping the keys

If you've recently switched keyboards, using shortcuts can be frustrating. Some modifier keys are arranged differently, which can be difficult to get used to. For example, if you're used to pressingCommand+Z, this same typing movement would be Alt+Z on a Windows keyboard.

Luckily, Macs allow you to remap your keys. This means you can change the function of the keys so when you press one key, it's actually performing the action of another. For example, you can set it so that the Alt key will act like the Command key when pressed. To learn how to remap your keys, read this article from 9to5Mac.

Wireless Keyboard Mac And Pc

/en/macosbasics/running-windows-on-a-mac/content/