# Source: https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-next-keyboard-with-arduino-micro.md

# USB NeXT Keyboard with an Arduino Micro

## Overview

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/910/medium800/microcontrollers_IMG_1419.jpg?1396788620)

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/909/medium800/microcontrollers_IMG_1430.jpg?1396788609)

Ladyada and pt had an old&nbsp;[NeXT](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NeXT "Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NeXT") keyboard with a strong desire&nbsp;to get it running on a modern computer. These keyboards are durable, super clicky, and very satisfying to use! However, they are very old designs, specifically made for NeXT hardware, pre-ADB and pre-USB! That means you can't just plug the keyboard into an ADB or PS/2 port or PS/2 to USB converter (even though it looks similar). In fact, I have no idea what the protocol or pinout is named, so we'll just call it "non-ADB NeXT Keyboard"  
  
There is no existing adapter for sale, and no code out there for getting these working, so we spent a few days and with a little research we got it working perfectly using an Arduino Micro as the go between. Now this lovely black deck works like any other USB keyboard. Sure it weighs more than our Macbook, but its worth it!

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/902/medium800/microcontrollers_opened.jpg?1396788510)

This project is for people with a little soldering and Arduino experience - we'll assume you've built some electronics before and have installed & uploaded code to an Arduino. If you haven't, check out many of the tutorials here at learn.adafruit.com for tons of ideas for practice!

- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-next-keyboard-with-arduino-micro/parts.md)

## Featured Products

### Arduino Micro without Headers - 5V 16MHz ATmega32u4 - Assembled

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Squee! It's the cutest, tiniest little Arduino yet! The Arduino Micro packs all of the power of the Arduino Leonardo in a 1.9" x 0.7" (48mm x 18mm) size. Although it may look like a stick of gum, its actually a USB-native 8-bit microcontroller, with 32K of flash, and 2.5K of RAM....

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### Arduino Micro with Headers - 5V 16MHz - (ATmega32u4 - assembled)

[Arduino Micro with Headers - 5V 16MHz - (ATmega32u4 - assembled)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1086)
_Squee_! It's the cutest, tiniest little Arduino yet! The Arduino Micro packs all of the power of the Arduino Leonardo in a 1.9" x 0.7" (48mm x 18mm) size. Although it may look like a stick of gum, its actually a USB-native 8-bit microcontroller, with 32K of flash, and...

No Longer Stocked
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[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1086/guides)
### Altoids Gum sized tin

[Altoids Gum sized tin](https://www.adafruit.com/product/16)
Ever since Altoids discontinued the Gum version, its been hard to get tins. So we went and got a whole mess of them custom made! These tins are exactly the same shape and size as the old Altoids gum tins but they are blank and we got the bottom flattened instead of rounded (so it fits things...

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### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B

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This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller

Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long

In Stock
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[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides)

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