OK, moving on from an argument I was having here about Mac vs PC, I do
appreciate that I am the blind leading the blind.

I've been trying to help this friend who has bought an iMac with a 3.06
i3 processor, 4 usb ports and 2 Thunderbolt ports. It was sold to him as
refurbished and came with what he describes as a cheap and nasty
keyboard, which he has replaced.

I've linked up with him via Teamviewer a few times and we now seem to
have got the keyboard into the correct country mode and working, and set
things up so that he can work on his writing etc and his emails work.

I have no idea why he has moved from his well sorted out, fast and
reliable W10 machine with SSD plus internal 2TB HD to this much older
and slower iMac with just a 500GB HD, and he has only said that he
always wanted one.

He has now started to move his various external drives across and has
run out of usb ports. His external usb hub works, but he keeps asking me
whether he can get Thunderbolt to usb adapters to reduce the clutter on
the desk. He bought one, but says it "doesn't fit". I have advised
caution and told him not to try to get a firewire to usb adapter.

He thinks the machine is a 2011, I suspect from the spec it might be
2010. He can't find a model number, just a serial number. I assume it
might be Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2, not Thunderbolt 3. He has asked
the supplier who has just told him to plug his external drive into a usb
port.

As I understand it, KB and mouse use 2 usb, his 4TB and 2TB external
backup and source drives use the other two, and he wants to be able to
leave another video drive connected, and plug usb sticks in.

How does one find out whether or not the Thunderbolt port can be adapted
to usb?
--
Bill

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In message , Tim Streater
writes
In article , Bill
wrote:

Dear oh dear, you should really be asking these questions on a Mac ng
such as uk.comp.sys.mac.

He thinks the machine is a 2011, I suspect from the spec it might be
2010. He can't find a model number, just a serial number.

It's all easy enough to find out. Click on the Apple Menu, choose the
first item "About this Mac ...". Among the info there is a model
description e.g. mine says "Mac mini (late 2012)". These descriptions
are complete.

The layout of "About this Mac ..." panel has changed a bit but if you
click around a bit in the panel you can find out complete info about
the computer (including a model identifier) and all installed software.

I assume it might be Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2, not Thunderbolt 3.
He has asked the supplier who has just told him to plug his external
drive into a usb port.

As I understand it, KB and mouse use 2 usb,

No, you plug the mouse into the keyboard and then the keyboard into the
machine.

his 4TB and 2TB external backup and source drives use the other two,
and he wants to be able to leave another video drive connected, and
plug usb sticks in.

How does one find out whether or not the Thunderbolt port can be
adapted to usb?

Ask on uk.comp.sys.mac. Doing it here is a fool's errand.

As far as I can tell, he has been digging a hole with keyboards. It
appears to have come with a cheap PC keyboard, and separate mouse, so he
then used a better PC keyboard that he had. Then he ordered a Mac
keyboard, rang me up and we discovered it was a US keyboard.

The two pieces of info you gave are just what I needed.

I suppose I'll have to look at a Mac newsgroup.
--
Bill

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Bill wrote:
He thinks the machine is a 2011, I suspect from the spec it might be
2010. He can't find a model number, just a serial number. I assume it
might be Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2, not Thunderbolt 3. He has asked
the supplier who has just told him to plug his external drive into a usb
port.

If it's 2011-2016, it'll have Thunderbolt 1 or 2, which use the
miniDisplayPort connector. If it's 2010 it won't have Thunderbolt at all,
only mDP video.

You can do Thunderbolt to USB, but that requires a Thunderbolt docking
station. However those are comparatively expensive. There are some TB1/2
docks, but the more recent ones are Thunderbolt 3 - those should work, but
will need Apple's TB2-3 adaptor - also expensive.

It appears USB 3.0 arrived in 2012, so a 2011 iMac will have USB 2 -
otherwise I would have suggested a USB 3 hub. In this instance a TB2
docking station with USB 3 would give best performance. I've used this one:
https://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapt...n~TB2DOCK4KDHC
Given many people are upgrading to newer machines, I'd look out for a used
bargain on ebay. Note that Thunderbolt uses its own (expensive) cables -
these are not the same as MiniDisplayPort or USB-C cables.

If it's a 2010 iMac, you have neither USB 3 nor Thunderbolt, so your only
option is a USB hub, but you'll be limited by USB 2 speeds.

In any situation, if you don't care about speeds a USB hub is the way to go.

Theo

On 24/02/2019 17:52, Bill wrote:
OK, moving on from an argument I was having here about Mac vs PC, I do
appreciate that I am the blind leading the blind.

I've been trying to help this friend who has bought an iMac with a 3.06
i3 processor, 4 usb ports and 2 Thunderbolt ports. It was sold to him as
refurbished and came with what he describes as a cheap and nasty
keyboard, which he has replaced.

I've linked up with him via Teamviewer a few times and we now seem to
have got the keyboard into the correct country mode and working, and set
things up so that he can work on his writing etc and his emails work.

I have no idea why he has moved from his well sorted out, fast and
reliable W10 machine with SSD plus internal 2TB HD to this much older
and slower iMac with just a 500GB HD, and he has only said that he
always wanted one.

He has now started to move his various external drives across and has
run out of usb ports. His external usb hub works, but he keeps asking me
whether he can get Thunderbolt to usb adapters to reduce the clutter on
the desk. He bought one, but says it "doesn't fit". I have advised
caution and told him not to try to get a firewire to usb adapter.

He thinks the machine is a 2011, I suspect from the spec it might be
2010. He can't find a model number, just a serial number. I assume it
might be Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2, not Thunderbolt 3. He has asked
the supplier who has just told him to plug his external drive into a usb
port.

As I understand it, KB and mouse use 2 usb, his 4TB and 2TB external
backup and source drives use the other two, and he wants to be able to
leave another video drive connected, and plug usb sticks in.

How does one find out whether or not the Thunderbolt port can be adapted
to usb?

Isn't thunderbolt USB type C?
So a USB C hub should allow thunderbolt to connect to USB peripherals.
Or is it only thunderbolt 3 that is compatible with USB 3?

dennis@home wrote:
Isn't thunderbolt USB type C?
So a USB C hub should allow thunderbolt to connect to USB peripherals.
Or is it only thunderbolt 3 that is compatible with USB 3?

Thunderbolt 3 on optional protocol which can be carried via USB Type C
connectors. It is not the same as USB, and a USB hub will not carry it.

Thunderbolt 1 and 2 are carried via miniDisplayPort connectors and have
nothing to do with USB. Although you can plug in a docking station that has
a TB (actually PCIe) to USB chip at the other end, which will give you more
USB ports.

Theo

"dennis@home" wrote in message
...
On 24/02/2019 17:52, Bill wrote:
OK, moving on from an argument I was having here about Mac vs PC, I do
appreciate that I am the blind leading the blind.

I've been trying to help this friend who has bought an iMac with a 3.06
i3 processor, 4 usb ports and 2 Thunderbolt ports. It was sold to him as
refurbished and came with what he describes as a cheap and nasty
keyboard, which he has replaced.

I've linked up with him via Teamviewer a few times and we now seem to
have got the keyboard into the correct country mode and working, and set
things up so that he can work on his writing etc and his emails work.

I have no idea why he has moved from his well sorted out, fast and
reliable W10 machine with SSD plus internal 2TB HD to this much older and
slower iMac with just a 500GB HD, and he has only said that he always
wanted one.

He has now started to move his various external drives across and has run
out of usb ports. His external usb hub works, but he keeps asking me
whether he can get Thunderbolt to usb adapters to reduce the clutter on
the desk. He bought one, but says it "doesn't fit". I have advised
caution and told him not to try to get a firewire to usb adapter.

He thinks the machine is a 2011, I suspect from the spec it might be
2010. He can't find a model number, just a serial number. I assume it
might be Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2, not Thunderbolt 3. He has asked
the supplier who has just told him to plug his external drive into a usb
port.

As I understand it, KB and mouse use 2 usb, his 4TB and 2TB external
backup and source drives use the other two, and he wants to be able to
leave another video drive connected, and plug usb sticks in.

How does one find out whether or not the Thunderbolt port can be adapted
to usb?

Isn't thunderbolt USB type C?

Only the physical connector, its a lot more than USB type C
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunde...#Thunderbolt_3

So a USB C hub should allow thunderbolt to connect to USB peripherals.
Or is it only thunderbolt 3 that is compatible with USB 3?

It isnt that either.

On Mon, 25 Feb 2019 09:36:33 +1100, cantankerous trolling senile geezer Rot
Speed blabbered, again:

Only the physical connector, it¢s a lot more than USB type C
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunde...#Thunderbolt_3

So a USB C hub should allow thunderbolt to connect to USB peripherals.
Or is it only thunderbolt 3 that is compatible with USB 3?

It isnt that either.

You're on Windows, right, senile Rot? So you looked it up quickly, just so
you can continue with your notorious smartassing, you pathological senile
asshole! LOL

--
"Anonymous" to trolling senile Rot Speed:
"You can **** off as you know less than pig **** you sad
little ignorant ****."
MID:

I think he needs to actually ask himself why am I even bothering with an out
of date heap of rubbish in the first place for my main work machine?
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Tim Streater" wrote in message
.. .
In article , Bill
wrote:

Dear oh dear, you should really be asking these questions on a Mac ng
such as uk.comp.sys.mac.

He thinks the machine is a 2011, I suspect from the spec it might be 2010.
He can't find a model number, just a serial number.

It's all easy enough to find out. Click on the Apple Menu, choose the
first item "About this Mac ...". Among the info there is a model
description e.g. mine says "Mac mini (late 2012)". These descriptions
are complete.

The layout of "About this Mac ..." panel has changed a bit but if you
click around a bit in the panel you can find out complete info about
the computer (including a model identifier) and all installed software.

I assume it might be Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2, not Thunderbolt 3. He
has asked the supplier who has just told him to plug his external drive
into a usb port.

As I understand it, KB and mouse use 2 usb,

No, you plug the mouse into the keyboard and then the keyboard into the
machine.

his 4TB and 2TB external backup and source drives use the other two, and
he wants to be able to leave another video drive connected, and plug usb
sticks in.

How does one find out whether or not the Thunderbolt port can be adapted
to usb?

Ask on uk.comp.sys.mac. Doing it here is a fool's errand.

--
Socialism: For people who lack the charisma to be train spotters.

Ann Sheridan

In message , Brian Gaff
writes
I think he needs to actually ask himself why am I even bothering with
an out of date heap of rubbish in the first place for my main work
machine? Brian

Well, I can't ask him because he is a really good friend and we chat on
the phone about all sorts of interesting things while I Teamviewer in
and work with him on trying to sort out what he is doing.
He is by far the most interesting of the ex-colleagues and contacts that
I "support" technically as a friend.

I believe one of his publishers is a Mac fanatic and has been lobbying.
I've probably contributed by moaning about Windows 10, particularly in
its early days when it kept blowing my carefully set up specialist
drivers away and replacing them by non-working "updates".
He is still at the stage of loving his "new" Mac and telling me how
marvellous it is that he can load his old Windows writings on to it and
edit them. He says it looks so much better than his Windows machine when
they are both switched off. His work, at his age, is just a paid
enjoyable hobby. Sadly, we are both too old to chase girls.

I'm quite happy about dipping a toe in the Mac water and getting a bit
of hands on experience with it without spending any money but, of
course, as I'm not at the machine, I haven't seen what a Thunderbolt
port looks like.

I do notice that Teamviewer, when used Windows to Windows lets us
"share" the mouse cursor, so that he or I can wiggle the cursor to say
"look at this". With Windows to Mac, I see my cursor on his screen, but
I can't see his cursor when he moves it.
--
Bill

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On Sun, 24 Feb 2019 17:52:42 +0000
Bill wrote:

As I understand it, KB and mouse use 2 usb

That's pointless - either use a hub to run them both from one port, or
get something like the Logitech wireless devices that share a dongle,
or a keyboard that has an internal hub for the mouse.

On Sunday, 24 February 2019 17:53:29 UTC, Bill wrote:
OK, moving on from an argument I was having here about Mac vs PC, I do
appreciate that I am the blind leading the blind.

To ID which Mac he has :-

from the Apple icon at the top left hand side of the screen do about this Mac.

Mine's a mid 2011 .

That will give you most of the info on hardware and software on that mac.

There's a useful util called mactracker.

http://mactracker.ca/

That can give even more info and compare models.

It might not have thunderbolt but it might be a mini display port on earlier versions upto 2011.

In message 20190225155348.4e691482@Mars, Rob Morley
writes
On Sun, 24 Feb 2019 17:52:42 +0000
Bill wrote:

As I understand it, KB and mouse use 2 usb

That's pointless - either use a hub to run them both from one port, or
get something like the Logitech wireless devices that share a dongle,
or a keyboard that has an internal hub for the mouse.

Imo, the whole operation is pointless, but he is persisting because he
has been told that Macs are better. I have told him that he will run out
of space before he finishes transferring the contents of his 2TB drive
to the 500GB of the Mac, which also contains the OS.
His response to this was to ask whether I could fit a 500GB ssd plus a
big HD into the iMac. I've told him I don't know and wouldn't want to,
but he wants me to ask around about that, too.

He has been using his usb hub, but wants to remove it to keep the iMac
looking good and not surrounded by cables, he says.

Thanks to all for the replies. Tomorrow I'll talk him through all this.

He is, at least partly, a journalist. Anyone who has dealt with journos
for most of their working life will know what they are like. They
believe what they read and often get it slightly wrong.
--
Bill

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On Monday, 25 February 2019 15:53:51 UTC, Rob Morley wrote:
On Sun, 24 Feb 2019 17:52:42 +0000
Bill wrote:

As I understand it, KB and mouse use 2 usb

That's pointless - either use a hub to run them both from one port,

The wired apple keyboards have two USB ports one at each end, one can be used for the mouse (well that's what I do) so you have an extra USB port not fewer.

Of course the imacs usualy come with wireless KB & mouse which don't take up any USB ports.

get something like the Logitech wireless devices that share a dongle,
or a keyboard that has an internal hub for the mouse.

Like the Apple ones do.

In message ,
whisky-dave writes
On Monday, 25 February 2019 15:53:51 UTC, Rob Morley wrote:
On Sun, 24 Feb 2019 17:52:42 +0000
Bill wrote:

As I understand it, KB and mouse use 2 usb

That's pointless - either use a hub to run them both from one port,

The wired apple keyboards have two USB ports one at each end, one can
be used for the mouse (well that's what I do) so you have an extra USB
port not fewer.

Of course the imacs usualy come with wireless KB & mouse which don't
take up any USB ports.

get something like the Logitech wireless devices that share a dongle,
or a keyboard that has an internal hub for the mouse.

Like the Apple ones do.


Thanks, all, for the info.

I rang him yesterday and asked if his US Apple keyboard had a usb port.
He confirmed it had, he plugged the mouse in and got it working.
He then told me he is left handed and the port is at the wrong side of
the kb.

He has just emailed to say he is delighted and it's all working. I have
no idea whether he has found a second port.
--
Bill

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On Tue, 26 Feb 2019 22:28:50 +0000, Tim Streater wrote:

Me I prefer wired and I've been using the same Apple extended keyboard
for the last 10 years. It's getting a bit grody now, I must admit, but
thats because my hands are usually covered in chocolate or the filling
from Mr Kipling's Apple Pies.

We have a rule. No food or drink in the office, or the workshop. Other
computers belong to sons and they can do what they like near those.

Both sons have this really ingrained. When they learned to walk, they
knew to (and did!) leave their bottles outside the office door.

--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

In message , Tim Streater
writes
In the early 90s when still in the US of A, a friend contacted me in a
panic as she'd upended her tin of coke all over her laptop. She was a
bit surprised when I took the battery out, dismantled the rest, washed
it all in tepid water, left it in her airing cupboard to dry overnight,
remantled it and handed it back in working order.

With hot Lemsip, you have to be very quick. I speak from experience.
--
Bill

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In message , Tim Streater
writes
Me I prefer wired and I've been using the same Apple extended keyboard
for the last 10 years. It's getting a bit grody now, I must admit, but
thats because my hands are usually covered in chocolate or the filling
from Mr Kipling's Apple Pies.

With the older Lenovo keyboards, my problem is falling hairs getting
under the keys.
Luckily the source is rapidly receding.
--
Bill

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On Tue, 26 Feb 2019 23:16:19 +0000, Bill wrote:

In message , Tim Streater
writes
Me I prefer wired and I've been using the same Apple extended keyboard
for the last 10 years. It's getting a bit grody now, I must admit, but
thats because my hands are usually covered in chocolate or the filling
from Mr Kipling's Apple Pies.

With the older Lenovo keyboards, my problem is falling hairs getting
under the keys.
Luckily the source is rapidly receding.

I have some Model M keyboards. Once a year, I take them apart and clean
out all the hairs with a brush!

--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor