Connectors,
Devices,
Cables, and
Vocabulary….
technologies in the Mac world as
well as in the PC world has lead to
plethora of new vocabulary for
internal and external aspects that
are not only a challengefor the
experts but leaveend users in
manycases veryconfused.
deal with the new words and the
new technologies, because moving
data, backingup data, and
connectingperipherals like
diskette drives, hard drives,
scanners, and more depends on
understanding the compatibility
issues. Wetry our best to stay on
top of these issues, but be
call the experts for advice!
owner of an iBook, an iMac, or a
bondi-blue or graphite“tower”
you may have alreadyrealized that
the connections on the back look
verydifferent from your old Macs
and that some connectors are no fit
there.Let’s go through it item by
item.
(Apple Desktop Bus) bus for its
keyboards for the last 13 years or
so. The iMac was changed to the
so-called USB (Universal Serial
Bus) bus only,the first bondi-blue
G3 towers had the original ADB
bus as well as the USB bus. Since
early1999 all Apple computers
come with the USB bus only. In
other words, none of the old
keyboards (as well as mice) work
with the new computers.
keyboards applies to the old mice
as well.None of the old mice work
with the new computers.
to the computer via standard USB
cables. These are somewhat flimsy
looking cables that can go into the
two USB ports on the back of all
the new computers. Once the
keyboard is connected to one of
the ports, the mouse can either be
has two additional USB ports) or
to the other USB port on the back
of the machine. The USB concept is
veryflexible and it does not make
anydifference where things are
pluggedin or in which order.
Extension cables are OK, too. So-
called “hubs” somewhat similar to
powerstrips in the electric world,
will allow you to connect
additional “USB devices” (see
below) if you need more than two
ports.
keyboardsand mice?
that allows you to connect your
old keyboard and mouse to one of
the new computers! Our
recommendation is to live with the
new keyboardand perform
ergonomic surgery on the new
mouse by adding a $10.00 piece of
plastic (or buyinga new mouse) to
makeit feel better in your hand.
printer via the network,thereis no
need to read this paragraph.
Howeverif you have an old “serial
printer” you need to buy a retrofit
adaptor to make these dinosaurs
work in the 21st
century.But before
you invest in any of these adaptors
you should consider takingthe tax
write-off for the old printer and
donating it to Goodwill and
buyinga new USB printer.This
may bethe cheaper and less
painful solution in the long run.
