tinkerBOY ADB Keyboard/Mouse to USB Converter with QMK Firmware and Via support

29 reviews for tinkerBOY ADB Keyboard/Mouse to USB Converter with QMK Firmware and Via support

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   Clint – September 21, 2018

   I cannot believe I’m using my Apple Extended keyboard with my iMac. Thanks there buddy!

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   Jeester – September 24, 2018

   Works perfect with my old AEK!

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   Patrick – July 18, 2019

   I am typing this review from my circa 1988 Apple Extended Keyboard on my 2015 iMac – a 3-decade difference. Thank you so much for your ingenuity with the electronics, and the simple, clean design of the device! Takes a while to ship to New York, but worth it.

   • tinkerBOY – July 18, 2019

     I’m glad you liked it. You’re welcome!

4. Rated 5 out of 5

   Chris – February 21, 2020

   Can I use this to connect my IIgs keyboard and mouse to a kvm
   I have on my desk?

   • tinkerBOY – February 22, 2020

     I have not really tested it with a KVM so I’m not sure if it works or not.

5. Rated 5 out of 5

   Jared – March 22, 2020

   Worked first time with my Apple adjustable keyboard on my 2018 Mac Mini. I did have to widen the square hole slightly as you mentioned, but worked perfectly after that! Thanks for the awesome product.

   • tinkerBOY – March 22, 2020

     Thank you! Newer adapters don’t have that issue anymore and the female ADB connector already molded.

6. Rated 5 out of 5

   Luca – March 27, 2020

   Well done! I received this ADB-USB converter today, in Italy 19 days from order, its works.
   The only problem is that my Apple extended keyboard II is QZERTY and the mapping is QWERTY. Probably I will exchange key fiscally, nobody have other suggestions? Thanks

7. Rated 5 out of 5

   ysj – June 12, 2020

   Legit! The converter works. I bought an AEKII and I’m using it with my iMac!
   Dude is super prompt to reply and the shipment arrived despite the pandemic.

8. Rated 5 out of 5

   Krzysztof – June 17, 2020

   I haven’t bought it yet so my rating right now makes no sense (but I cannot add this query without choosing it). Judging from what other buyers have written, it’s an excellent converter.

   Before I buy it, though, I would like to ask Luca (who commented on 27 March 2020) if he added in the Keyboard system preference “Italian – Typewriter” (which has the QZERTY layout) to Input Sources and if he chooses it while typing with his Apple Extended Keyboard II the resulting spelling still isn’t correct.

   The answer to these questions is important to me because I also have a non-English physical AEK II.

9. Rated 5 out of 5

   Carlo Munguia – July 3, 2020

   I’m writing this review with an Apple IIgs keyboard after just receiving this converter.
   This is AMAZING.

   THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THESE!!!!!!

10. Rated 3 out of 5

    sal – August 23, 2020

    will this work with PC?

    • tinkerBOY – August 23, 2020

      Yes.

11. Rated 5 out of 5

    Christian – September 24, 2020

    No issues connecting my german layout AEK to a 16″ MacBook.

    Cost me 80 EUR incl. shipping to Germany and customs but worth every cent!

12. Rated 5 out of 5

    Evan – September 29, 2020

    I’m in disbelief with how fast it arrived and how well it works- if I ever need replacement parts and controllers, I’m coming back to you first. Thank you so much!

13. Rated 5 out of 5

    Tack_Tau – November 2, 2020

    Can we have another color option? (like beige/light grey to match the color of the origin apple ADB cable)

    • tinkerBOY – November 3, 2020

      Sorry, only black for now.

14. Rated 5 out of 5

    John Pritchard – December 1, 2020

    Will this work with a Gravis Joystick (ADB) on Mac G4 & OS9?

15. Rated 3 out of 5

    Gus – January 1, 2021

    ***NOT ACTUAL RATING – REVIEW ***
    I don’t have the product yet but could not find this in the documentation, is it bi-directional? Can I use it to plug a USB keyboard/mouse to my old mac?

    • tinkerBOY – January 23, 2021

      It’s just meant for an ADB keyboard to be plugged in computer’s USB port.

16. Rated 5 out of 5

    Rob Lewis – January 31, 2021

    Maybe a dumb question, but does the keyboard’s Power On key do anything with modern Macs? What about the CD Eject key? (doing this from memory, so I’m not 100% sure my old AEK has these keys).
    This is plug-and-play with U.S.-spec keyboards, right?

    • tinkerBOY – February 2, 2021

      The Power Key does not do anything but it is used in combination with another key to go in to “bootloader” mode for remapping.

17. Rated 5 out of 5

    Jesper – March 1, 2021

    I want buy it but first I do have a question, does this also work if you add a usb to usb c adapter? My Macbook only has usb C ports. So I add a usb c adapter to this converter. Thanks!

    • tinkerBOY – March 1, 2021

      Yes absolutely. In fact, I use an usb to usb c adapter on my Mac mini.

18. Rated 5 out of 5

    John – March 9, 2021

    Ordered on Feb. 19 2021, received on March 5 2021, Northeastern US address. This adapter does exactly what it says – ADB to USB now allowing me to use my old Apple keyboard with the clacky keys (658-4081). Shipping was fast, and Tinkerboy emailed me confirmation for the order and spelled out the possible shipping delays coming from the Philippines, but is still came pretty quickly.

19. Rated 5 out of 5

    JDW – May 1, 2021

    If I attach an ADB keyboard (i.e., the IIgs keyboard) to my modern Intel Mac, when I put the Mac to SLEEP and then type any key, will the Mac wake from sleep?

    • tinkerBOY – May 2, 2021

      Yes of course.

20. Rated 5 out of 5

    Joshua L – May 4, 2021

    Very nice converter. My M0116 keyboard functions perfectly on Windows 10.

21. Rated 5 out of 5

    Valentin – June 18, 2021

    Can I use this to connect my m0487 to a windows PC?

    • tinkerBOY – June 18, 2021

      Yes it’s compatible.

22. Rated 5 out of 5

    Tom Jackson – July 13, 2021

    Not a review…yet..just a couple of questions.
    I am currently running a G3 with some software that uses a security dongle connecting inline through the keyboard cable via the ADB port. This computer has stopped working and has forced me to to switch over to a G4 that no longer has the ADB port.
    Can you think of any reason why this converter might not work for me?

23. Rated 5 out of 5

    Bill – August 12, 2021

    Hi – I’ m looking to use an AEK with my Windows PC. I see here that the converter is compatible with the PC and that’s great! Will I be able to plug the USB into a USB hub?

    • tinkerBOY – August 12, 2021

      Yes it will work the same as plugging to a regular USB port on your computer.

24. Rated 5 out of 5

    Eric – September 27, 2021

    Just a question— I have an older two ADB port converter but my AEK seems to drop keystrokes. Do you have any idea whether I will have the same issue with this adapter? If not, I’m totally in!

    • tinkerBOY – September 27, 2021

      If your AEK keyboard is not faulty then yes it should work without issues with my adapter.

25. Rated 5 out of 5

    Daniele Arcomano – September 28, 2021

    Hi, just a question: do you know if the adapter works with the mac mini M1 Apple Silicon?

    • tinkerBOY – January 26, 2022

      I have not tested yet but i think it’s gonna work.

26. Rated 5 out of 5

    Diogo Ferreira – October 5, 2021

    *NOT A RATING, JUST A QUESTION*

    I’m thinking about buying a AEK2 but, as I’m portuguese it’s with portuguese layout.
    Is it possible to change the layout configuration?
    If so, do you ship to Portugal?

    Thanks and best regards,

27. Rated 5 out of 5

    Andrew – November 5, 2021

    Just a question:
    I have an Adesso AEK-503T keyboard with integrated trackpad. The keyboard comes a min-DIN 4 pin cable and two ADB feedthru ports. Do you think tinkerBOY converter can make BOTH keyboard and trackpad work on a Window machine? Thanks

    • tinkerBOY – August 26, 2022

      Yes i believe it should work.

28. Rated 5 out of 5

    Edoardo – December 20, 2021

    Just received and it works great with my Apple Keyboard II !! well done!

29. Rated 5 out of 5

    jo – September 13, 2022

    Works on my 16’inch m1pro. Amazing to use such a good laptop with an old apple desktop mouse. (press option on keyboard to open the left-click menu).
    Was worried it wouldn’t work on m1 but it’s perfect.
    Took 3 weeks of shipping to Canada.