Mac Keyboard Layout For Windows

Comparing Mac and Windows Keyboards Apple’s keyboard layouts look very much like standard Windows keyboards. The biggest difference is in the two keys on either side of the spacebar. Instead of the friendly ⌃, ⌥, and ⌘ keys, I was presented with Control, Windows, and Alt keys. All of the modifier keys on a Windows keyboard map 1:1 with the keys on a Mac from a.

The Apple Mac keyboard is one of the best that you can buy. Its flat responsive keys make it quick to type on, while its slim and attractive finish means it looks great and doesn't need a lot of room.

The downside is that the keyboard isn't officially supported in Windows and Apple only provides drivers if you use Bootcamp to install Windows on a Mac. Fortunately, you can work around the problems and get the keyboard working in no time on any version of Windows.

Download and install driver Download the unofficial Zip file. Extract the files on to your hard disk and run the Setup file. This will automatically install the keyboard file and configure your PC to use the correct layout. It also introduces some special shortcuts - CTRL-ALT-2 gives the € symbol, while CTRL-ALT-3 give the # symbol. Fix other applications The only bit of software we've had problems with is Word, which uses CTRL-ALT-2 and CTRL-ALT-3 to select, respectively, the Heading 2 and Heading 3 styles. To remove these shortcuts, or reassign them, click on the Office button and select Options. Click Customize Ribbon, then click Keyboard shortcuts.

In the Categories tab select All Commands, then scroll down to ApplyHeading2 in the Commands window. Select the Current keys shortcut and click Remove. If you want to add a new shortcut, click the Press new shortcut key box and enter your key combination - you'll be shown if your chosen selection is already assigned to something else - and click Assign. Otherwise, move on to ApplyHeading3 and repeat. Click Close when you're done.

If you've long been a Windows user, then you're likely very used to the keyboard layout, and your muscle memory is incredibly strong, so that your pinky always lands perfectly on the shift key, and you don't even have to look to hit ctrl-alt-del. If you've just switched to Mac, then the layout is going to be a bit different and you'll have to retrain that muscle memory (I switch back and forth on a daily basis and now the only thing my muscles remember is how to be puny). Fear not, for the two are not so different after all, once you know the subtle differences.