Retro USB is available for sale now – visit the BMOW shop to be the first kid on your block to get one! Retro USB is an input converter for USB and ADB keyboards and mice. It works in two directions, connecting modern USB peripherals to a classic ADB-based Macintosh or Apple IIgs computer, or ADB peripherals to a USB-based computer running Windows, OSX, or Linux. The foreign keyboards and mice behave exactly like native peripherals, requiring no special software or drivers – just plug it in and go.

Now you can finally use an optical mouse with your vintage Macintosh, or amaze your coworkers with an antique Apple Extended Keyboard on your work machine.

The last month of development has been a marathon, but I’m very excited to finally release this product whose first concept was outlined here over a year ago. Aside from a very long period of hibernation between concept and implementation, the final result turned out very similar to how I imagined it in those first concept posts.



Compatibility

The Retro USB hardware is compatible with all Apple computers, keyboards, and mice using a mini DIN 4-pin ADB connector, including most early Macintosh computers and the Apple IIgs. It is also compatible with standard USB keyboards and mice with a USB-A connector. When in ADB-to-USB conversion mode, it works under Windows, OSX, Linux, or any other operating system that supports USB HID input peripherals.