Difference Between Apple & PC keyboards
This page discuss differences Apple Computer Keyboard and PC keyboard.
Ctrl, Alt/Option, Command, Windows keys
- ⌘ Cmd and ❖ Win both send the same key code.
- ⌥ Opt and Alt both send the same key code.
However, their behavior in Mac and Windows are different.
Control Key in Microsoft Windows
The Control Key in Windows is mostly used for keyboard shortcuts. For example, Copy is 【Ctrl+c】, Paste is 【Ctrl+v】. (On the Mac, Command key is used for keyboard shortcuts. Copy is 【⌘ Cmd+c】, Paste is 【⌘ Cmd+v】)
Control Key in Mac OS X
The Control key under Mac is rarely used. When used, it is as a modifier in combination with other modifier keys. For example, 【Ctrl+⌘ Cmd+z】 in iTunes will iconify the window.
In Mac OS X, the Control is used in text editing apps, following Emacs's keybinding. 〔➤see Emacs Key Basics〕 For example, 【Ctrl+f】 moves cursor forward in text input.
It's also used in unix terminal to send signals. See: Linux: Bash Keys, Terminal Keys, Man Page Keys ⌨
Alt/Option Key used in Microsoft Windows
The Alt key in MS Windows has 3 different uses:
- It is used to invoke graphical menus. For example, pressing (and releasing) Alt by itself will activate the graphical menu, then the user can press a alphabetic key to invoke a menu command or use arrow keys to navigate the menu.
- When pressed simultaneously with a key, it invoke a command directly. For example, 【Alt+F4】 closes the current window.
- When held down then type a number on the numeric keypad, it enters a special character. For example, hold Alt then type 0225 on numeric keypad will insert “á”. (called Alt code)
- If your Windows's keyboard layout is set to a European language, then right Alt plus a letter key inserts special characters. 〔➤see International Keyboard Layouts〕
Alt/Option Key used in Mac OS X
The ⌥ Opt key (often labeled option, ⌥, alt) is used for:
- Cursor control, with arrow keys. For example, 【⌥ Opt+→】 moves cursor by word.
- Option key is used to insert special characters, such as “• ™ ©”. For example, 【⌥+8】 will insert the bullet character “•”. 〔➤see Mac: Keyboard Viewer and Unicode〕
- Option key is used as a modifier key together with the ⌘ Cmd key. For example, in 【⌘ Cmd+⌥ Opt+h】 invokes the command 〖Hide Others〗 in all Apple applications.
Microsoft Windows Logo Key = Apple Command Key
Under Microsoft Windows, the key invokes the Start menu under Microsoft Windows. When pressed with letter key, it invokes a command that's meaningful system-wide. For example, 【❖ Win+d】 gets you the desktop. 〔➤see Windows Logo Key Keyboard Shortcuts〕
Under Mac, the Command key (labeled “⌘” or “cmd”) is used as a modifier key to invoke shortcuts. For example, 【⌘ Cmd+c】 is Copy. It is similar to MS Window's use of the Ctrl key.
Menu Key (Window only)
The ▤ Menu key, also called Application key, exists on PC keyboard only. Typically only on the right side. It is used for Context Menu. The key's function is for the same purpose as the mouse's right button, or pressing 【⇧ Shift+F10】 in most applications.
Note: press the ▤ Menu key is not equivalent to pressing the right mouse button. For example, in a browser, pressing right mouse button on a link pops up a context menu for that link. But press ▤ Menu doesn't show the same context menu. You need first to put focus on the link, then press ▤ Menu.
Main Return/Enter Key
On PC keyboard, the main enter key is labeled “Enter ↵”.
On Apple's keyboards, the main enter key is usually labeled “return” or just by a symbol “↩”.
The difference between Apple & PC keyboards here is just key labeling. (they send the same key signal.)
Note: this key is different from the Enter ↵ on numberic keypad. (it sends a different key signal.)
Return/Enter key-action's Convention on Mac
On the Mac, the Return ↩ key and the numeric keypad Enter ↵ key usually serve the same purpose, but sometimes different. For example, in Mathematica since at least version 2 (early 1990s), the Return ↩ key is used to insert a line break, but the numeric keypad Enter is used to execute the code in the current cell (【⇧ Shift+Return ↩】 does the same). On many chat clients such as Adium and Colloquy (IRC client), user can set it up in so that the Return will insert a line break while the Enter key will send out the message.
Backspace Key
On PC keyboards, there is a ⌫ Backspace key on the main section.
On Apple keyboards, this key labeled “delete” or “⟵” (LONG LEFTWARDS ARROW).
Backspace Key Conventions
When in text editing, the ⌫ Backspace is used the same way in both OS X and Windows. It delete texts to the left of the cursor.
In browser, Windows use ⌫ Backspace key to “go back” to a previous visited page. For some time around 2005 to 2013, Mac OS X's Safari browser also started to do the same, but removed this shortcut again when gesture with touchpad becomes popular.
Delete/Del Key
The ⌦ Delete key is located in the ↖ Home/↘ End key cluster. This key sometimes labeled “Del”.
On Mac, this key is labeled “delete” or ⌦.
On Windows, ⌦ Delete is often used to delete things. For example, on desktop, select a file, pressing ⌦ Delete will put the file to the “Recycle Bin”. In a text editor, the key will delete to the right of the cursor.
On the Mac, from early 1990s to 2006, the ⌦ Delete key is almost never used, even in text editors. When there is a function assigned to it, it is used to delete to the right of the cursor.
Insert vs Help
On PC keyboards, there is the Insert key (sometimes labeled Ins). Apple keyboards doesn't have this key. But, in the same location, it has a key labeled Help.
They send different key signals, but the OS or keyboard driver software may interpret them so to user it's the same.
PrtScn ScrLk Break vs F13 F14 F15
The PC has these keys: PrtScn/SysRq, Scroll Lock, Pause/Pause.
These keys have old history back to the 1980's (or earlier) and in general are not used since 1990, except on Windows the PrtScn key is for screenshot.
〔➤see What Does SysRq/ScrLk, Pause/Break Keys do?〕
Apple's keyboards do not have these keys. On some Apple keyboards, they have F13, F14, F15 instead. “Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad” of 2009, has F16 to F19.
The {PrtScn ScrLk Break} are different keys than {F13 F14 F15}. They do not send the same signals. In any case, when either PC keyboard or Apple keyboard is plugged in on a Mac running Mac OS X 10.4, these keys have the same behavior (could be due to operating system).
Numeric Keypad Keys
- The arrangement of plus minus multiply divide keys are different.
- Apple's Numeric keypad has a equal = key.
- PC keyboard has Num Lock key.
- Apple keyboard has clear key.
Apple keyboard does not have Number Lock toggle. Does the “number lock” and “clear” send the same key signal?
- Apple Keyboards ⌨
- Mac: How to Create Keyboard Layout and Keybinding
- Microsoft Windows Keyboard Software Guide