Maybe this is new to you, but it really doesn’t matter whether you print an @ on the L or the Q key. This is a software related problem, it’s called keymapping. While I used the Logitech I for example swapped the command (Windows) and option key, because on a Mac keyboard the command key is next to the spacebar, on Windows keyboards there’s the option/alt key in between.

C’mon, I was talking about frickin keyboards. This isn’t about different types of cables and so on‚Äîeach cable may have its advantages or not. Your example with monitors unfortunately doesn’t work: In ancient times someone invented VGA‚Äîbut to transfer higher quality signals (for example to my Apple Cinema Display) a better cable is needed because the VGA cable doesn’t have enough capacity for that much data. This is why we have DVI or, in my case, even dual-link DVI.

It’s the same with Firewire and USB‚Äîtwo standards, each of them is adapted to a special need.

This post is not intended to blame either Apple or Microsoft. It’s not their fault that I returned this really great keyboard‚Äîit’s Logitech’s decision not to support a growing community of Mac users that are, in my eyes at least, an important target group for a company that wants to sell exclusive designer devices.

And keyboard styles are not really compatible. Windows has a context key and doesn’t need the extra buttons to enject etc.
And you cant print 2 @s fpr Q and L key. So you can’t use one keyboard perfectly for both Os.

There are some standards. But most hardware isn’t standart. “Mac only”: You can use iPods only with Apple. (OK, some geeks wrote some code to use it without Aplle, but you can’t call this standard). And MTP-Players are Windows only. These are Software problems. As with your Keyboard. But you cant plug screens that easily to different machines, because there are 3 “standard” plugs. Same thing with firewire&USB. iPods don’t even use standart USB-cables. Most of the times you don’t have the right adapter when you need it.

Of course Apple computers aren’t locked to their own enviroment. But most hardware isn’t really compatible tho macs (yeah, some 3rd party apps solve problems after hours of research but you cant call this compatible)
And its not easy to use Hardware for Macs with a PC. Downloading iTunes and Quicktime is realy to much () to call iPods Windows compatible. (Windows Media Player has around 12 megs)

Even Apple produced Hardware that isn’t open to standards and did this mistake in the past. It was, standard to install Windows on a Computer and Macs couldn’t. And it seems that most hardware manufracturers don’t keep up with the “standard”
because apples are the only computers that run Windows and Mac. So why don’t they use their business opportunities?

I think Apple, Microsoft and others use their so called “stadards” to make money. If “standards” help to gain us compatibility they’ll only do this if they help them to gain money.

You can use joysticks with a Mac as well as every other USB or bluetooth keyboard (and I can plug my Apple keyboard into a Windows machine and control it without any problems). Keyboard “styles” are are compatible‚Äîthe Logitech’s Windows-logo key did just the same that Apple’s command key does. Don’t be fooled by the icons printed on the keys

If you go into a store with a big fat Microsoft logo over the entrance, you can be sure there’s no Apple keyboard in there. But many devices you can buy there have both a Windows Certified and a Mac OS compatible sticker on them‚Äîmost of them need no special software, because they’re standard USB, FireWire or Bluetooth devices. Some devices might need special software because they offer more than standard functionality‚Äîthe diNovo Edge is one example.

There is no “Windows only”, “Mac only” or “Linux only” hardware world. Input devices like keyboards are generally interoperable, it’s the same with output devices as well. I don’t need to buy an Apple stereo to listen to music, I can simply hook my Mac up with a SONY stereo‚Äîeverything works, because there’s a standard. Instead of my Apple Cinema Display I could’ve bought a Dell display as well‚Äîit would’ve worked the same, I just didn’t because I like the ACD better.

Reading through your comment I’ve got the impression that you try to say that Apple computers are locked up in their own environment, uncompatible and unable to work with devices that are manufactured outside of Apple’s factories. They aren’t. Every hardware manufacturer who isn’t open to standards is missing business opportunities‚ÄîApple is too clever to make such a mistake.

And I hadn’t tried the diNovo Edge at all if Macs only worked with Apple keyboards.

Most keyboards work with every computer-like device you are able to connect them to and that are intended to be used with some kind of keyboard. They work together because there’s a standard that should be fulfilled by every keyboard‚Äîthe diNovo Edge keyboard is just another example, since I could use it for the most part without running into any kind of problem.

But there are also device specific characteristics that aren’t part of this widely accepted and common standard. These simply cannot work in good ol’ Plug&Play style‚Äîhow should any computer know about functions that aren’t defined anywhere before?

This Logitech keyboard works the same on Mac and PC. But with Logitech’s software installed, you are able to enable even more features‚Äîbut only on a PC, since Logitech didn’t bother to write this software for the Mac as well. That’s the problem and the factor that leads to the conclusion that this is a “Windows keyboard”.

Keyboard Setup Assistant will notify you that “The keyboard cannot be identified and will not be usable until it is identified.” Pause. Thank Logitech for making this a Windows keyboard. Press ‘Continue’ and follow each step to setup the keyboard as ANSI, ISO, or JIS. Select ‘ANSI’.