Filed under: Accessories, Bad Apple, Apple
Apple's new keyboards not working for some
When I saw the new Apple keyboards I knew one had to be mine. I'm a huge fan of my MacBook's keyboard, and the new Apple keyboard is a MacBook keyboard you can attach to any number of Macs, what could go wrong?
TUAW reader shak forwarded a link to this Apple Support Discussion in which several other people are encountering the same problem. Do not be fooled by this discussion's 'Solved' status, as reading through the discussion makes it clear that this problem is being encountered by many folks.
TUAW readers, is anyone else out there seeing this behavior? As I wait for Apple to fix this issue I'll be reading the comments here hoping someone has a solution.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
zetasmack said 1:08PM on 8-21-2007
i am experiencing the same thing on my mac pro. it's annoying. i also kind of miss having the volume adjustment keys above the number pad.
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Fin said 1:11PM on 8-21-2007
I'd this problem too, on my Core Duo MacBook... Used Pacifist to manually install the update, and somehow managed to completely screw my OS X install... Had to do an Archive & Install to fix it...
F3 and F4 worked then though!
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bob said 1:12PM on 8-21-2007
yep, on an imac c2d, archive install is probably the way to, but i use the mouse for expose mostly so ill wait till leopard for an install and spring clean, that or a software update fix.
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Christopher Kalanderopoulos said 1:15PM on 8-21-2007
I went to the Apple store and those two keys didn't work either. Perhaps they're only leopard compatible?? Although that wouldn't make much sense, now would it...
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Apple Discounts said 1:26PM on 8-21-2007
Seems to work fine on a new iMac -- it appears the problem is related to the new keyboard being used with an older Mac.
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Geoff Pado said 1:27PM on 8-21-2007
My guess would be that you have to change the key bindings in System Preferences, either by going to "Dashboard and Expose" and changing it there, or "Keyboard and Mouse > Keyboard Shortcuts". I don't actually own one of these keyboards, though, so I'm not sure if this works.
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tim said 1:30PM on 8-21-2007
after the initial software update, my expose/dashboard keys stayed at f9-f12, i just have to hold the function key to use them.
i too miss the volume over the keypad, i hate having to hold function to get around the new volume stuff.
i DO however, love the multimedia keys.
but a question for parallels users, does your keypad not work in parallels with the new keyboard?
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Josh H. said 1:31PM on 8-21-2007
Weird. I just got a new iMac with the keyboard like 2 days ago, plugged it in, installed the updates, and bam... it works fine. Seems that a lot of the new problems for the new software, etc only shows up on some peoples computers.
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M Harmon said 1:34PM on 8-21-2007
No problems for me. I plugged it into my G4 (digital audio, circa 2001, running 10.4.10), downloaded the keyboard software from Apple, rebooted. Nothing to it. The special keys all do exactly what their key symbols indicate - brightness, Expose, Dashboard, volume, eject, etc. Love the touch of the keyboard, too. It's the best Apple keyboard I've ever typed on.
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Brandon said 1:38PM on 8-21-2007
And I thought something was wrong with my computer!
I bought 2 keyboards - one for my MP at work and another for my MP at home. Although the configurations are pretty much identical (home has AirPort/Bluetooth chips, work doesn't), the dashboard & expose keys work fine at work, but they do nothing at home. Good to know I'm not the only one.
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Apple Discounts said 1:40PM on 8-21-2007
"Love the touch of the keyboard, too. It's the best Apple keyboard I've ever typed on."
Agree! The keyboard is incredible and brilliant to look at. It took much less time to get used to than I thought.
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Jettyboy said 1:47PM on 8-21-2007
I ordered one because the ad implied the usb2 hubs would let you plug in an iPod or camera etc. I was skeptical about unpowered usb2 hub on a keyboard, but giving Apple the benefit of a doubt I went for it. The hubs do not allow iPod use, hell they won't even allow a card reader. Big disappointment, not just because they don't work, but because the ads imply they do.
Here's the quote from the Apple page
"Two USB 2.0 ports provide high-speed connectivity for your iPod, Mighty Mouse, digital camera, and other USB-based electronic devices. Yes, we did think of disappointment."
Unless I'm somehow reading it wrong, assuming my iPod would work wasn't a stretch, but it doesn't. Maybe I'm being to touchy here, but that ad is simply a marketing ploy by Apple.
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Ryant7 said 1:50PM on 8-21-2007
Same problem here, I'm on a MacBook. Although they do work if I assign dashboard and all windows to f3 and f4 in system prefs and then use the fn key with them.
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Jettyboy said 1:52PM on 8-21-2007
Sorry for extra post, but the quote should read:
Two USB 2.0 ports provide high-speed connectivity for your iPod, Mighty Mouse, digital camera, and other USB-based electronic devices. Yes, we did think of everything.
http://www.apple.com/keyboard/
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Sam said 1:54PM on 8-21-2007
I wonder whether, seeing as it always seems to work on brand new Macs, if you have ever changed your Exposé or Dashboard keys, the Update will respect those custom settings. Haven't read the thread on the Apple forums yet tho, it may have been mentioned.
I haven't had a chance to buy the new keyboard, or even try one unfortunately. But if they're anything like the MacBook keyboard, then I'll love it - like a previous poster said, I find it very easy to type on. I suppose some people don't like the small amount of travel that the keys have, but I'm finding it a chore now to type on anything different, I have to press the keys down so much further!
Sam
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B Crandall said 1:56PM on 8-21-2007
"I haven't had a chance to buy the new keyboard, or even try one unfortunately. But if they're anything like the MacBook keyboard, then I'll love it"
You're gonna love it -- great feel.
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Jer said 1:57PM on 8-21-2007
Yeah I have no idea why they put the volume buttons where they did. I don't know about anyone else but I was never clamoring for an F19 key. But a lot of apps make use of the F9-F12 keys, Apple's own Final Cut included, and now those keys either need to be remapped in Final Cut or we have to disable the functions entirely in the system prefs and then we can adjust the volume from the keyboard.
Could someone really smart please hack this?
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bluemonq said 1:57PM on 8-21-2007
@12 (jettyboy): that's not "implied"; it's specfically stated that iPods would work with it. false advertising.
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Eric said 2:02PM on 8-21-2007
I wonder if it is the keyboard prefs. I would bet that this is happening to people that have changed their bindings *at all* so that the updates don't take. Maybe try restoring the default bindings and go from there?
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sdfatcat said 2:05PM on 8-21-2007
Yeah. I;ve got the same issue. keys f3 and f4 work but don't do the special function coolness. MacBookPro 17" here. Other than that though, I really do like this keyboard.
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