Comments on: Mac OS X Drivers for Microsoft Keyboards

By: Pete Jansson

Pete Jansson — Thu, 18 Apr 2002 01:05:58 +0000

If you enable full keyboard access, and your faves are in the Dock, you can activate the Dock from the keyboard, and use the arrow keys to get to your program, and then launch it. Not quite as simple as what you were looking for, but it keeps you hands off the trackpad.

By: Jim Roepcke

Jim Roepcke — Wed, 17 Apr 2002 22:10:30 +0000

The Microsoft keyboard util has that functionality. I think
there are a bunch of apps that do that though. Look on Stepwise's
Softrak and Version tracker for "function" and see what you find.

Also, Google: function key "Mac OS X"

Jim

On Wednesday, April 17, 2002, at 02:30 PM, Jodi Ivy wrote:

> Hey, I have a more simplistic OS X user-level question regarding the
> function keys... while I was using OS 9 I programmed the F7-F11 keys to
> launch (and/or bring to the front) my fave applications. So far, I
> can't find a way to do this with OS X and it's making me a bit batty. I
> can't stand having to mouse or use the trackpad any more than is
> necessary and currently the only way to bring ALL windows for a given
> application to the front is to click its icon in the dock. Unless I'm
> mistaken, and I'm hoping I am...
>
> Can somebody out there help me figure out if I can program the function
> keys in OS X like you could in OS 9?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Jodi

By: Jodi Ivy

Jodi Ivy — Wed, 17 Apr 2002 21:30:23 +0000

Hey, I have a more simplistic OS X user-level question regarding the
function keys... while I was using OS 9 I programmed the F7-F11 keys to
launch (and/or bring to the front) my fave applications. So far, I
can't find a way to do this with OS X and it's making me a bit batty. I
can't stand having to mouse or use the trackpad any more than is
necessary and currently the only way to bring ALL windows for a given
application to the front is to click its icon in the dock. Unless I'm
mistaken, and I'm hoping I am...

Can somebody out there help me figure out if I can program the function
keys in OS X like you could in OS 9?

Thanks in advance!

Jodi

By: Bill Kearney

Bill Kearney — Wed, 17 Apr 2002 19:57:45 +0000

Yeah, even on a Windows machine, the functions keys rock!

I have my media buttons configured to send HTML GETs to my WinAmp server. Now four different machines on a video switch can all send play/next/stop/pause and volume commands. Perhaps a bit more than your average person would bother but hey, works for me!

That and now Mail triggers the mail client on my main workstation. Gotta love .Net and SOAP calls...

Hmmm, perhaps a "Blog this..." button...

-Bill