Typing problem

Well, here is another double keystroke story. Upgraded from ti powerbook to new using Panther 10.3.6. Problem first noticed when I auto on launch moved my work to the new laptop. And then when I was troubleshooting and reloaded my contents using 10.3.6. onto my old ti, the problem moved with it. So, possibly it may originate with 10.3.6 ?

And, it occurs with various USB connected keyboards.

And it is very inconsistent. e.g. look above, no doubles! But then later I'll see many acorss a line of text. Maybe it relates to heat?

Problem pre-dates 10.3.6. My G5 came with 10.3.4 installed and problem was present. 10.3.5 did not help and neither did 10.3.6. My issue escalated to Apple engineering for resolution about two weeks ago and still no fix. The product specialist who took my "umteenth" call had the problem on the computer he was using to record my case information! Hopefully, a fix will be coming soon. It's a real nuisance and productivity killer isn't it?

Andy H

I'm having the same problem. Apple tech has not given me a solution. Has anyone found anything that helps?

Thanks in advance

No solution from Apple at this point. Problem was escalated to engineering about one month ago, and I've called several times to check on progress with nothing resolved as yet.

I am using a "marginally helpful" work around that involves the universal access system preference. If you wish you can go to the keyboard tab of universal access, turn "on" slow keys, and set the acceptance delay up near the "short" end of the scale. You may have to try several acceptance delay settings to get your desired results. In my case, the slider is set about one eighth inch to the left of "short" on the scale. This seems to almost eliminate the double character problem, but sometimes a character does not appear when a key is struck.

I will update this forum as soon as Apple engineering gets back to me with a resolution. I think they eventually will, because the product specialist that took my most recent call had the problem on his machine. At least they have the problem on an "in house" machine to work with.

Andy H

I'm systems administrator for a large printing company which has allowed me to use many different models of Macs over the years. We are currently running 25 G4s and 3 G5s. All Macs in the department are running OS 10.3.6. The repeated key problem first appeared here when we bought our first G5 which came with Apple's new white keyboard. Everyone who uses the G5s has problems with repeated keys. We are not having any repeat key problems on the G4s, which are equipped with the older Black apple keyboards that were included when we purchased these systems. A few of the G4s are using Macally Ikey keyboards, without any problems.

Interestingly though, last week the keyboard on my G4 admin machine developed a few dead keys. I replaced it with a new White Apple keyboard I ordered from CDW. The repeat key problem is so bad on the G4 now that it is impossible to do any work on it. The repeat character problem seems to be related to the keyboards Apple is currently selling. I replaced the white keyboard with one I had kept from a G3 B/W and the repeat key problem went away.

I had the repeat key problem on my personal G5 I have at home and fixed the problem by replacing the factory issued keyboard with one manufactured by Kensington.

Thanks for the information-it is very revealing. Could you please post the specs and other technical information about the Kensington keyboard.

Andy H

I had the double type issue with my wired G5 keyboard, and in the end resolved it by changing the USB port it was plugged into. Has been fine for 12 months since and I am a heavy typist.

May be worth experimenting?

David

David,

I've tried that without success, but perhaps I wasn't as thorough in trying different combinations of USB ports. Which port did you end up using for the keyboard? Do you have anything connected to the two ports on the keyboard? Is there a hub involved anywhere? How is your printer connected?

Thanks for posting your suggestions.

Andy H

Andy:

Here's the model I'm using on my G5:
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=390448
--Bob

I tried everything I could think of with the repeating spaces issues. I contacted Apple tech support to no avail. I tried all the different USB ports which made no difference. I tried different software settings without any difference.

Yesterday I bought a Microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse. This has completely solved the problem! No more extra spaces or double characters. It seems a shame to have to rely upon Microsoft to solve a Macintosh problem!

Now I belive for certain that the problem is either in the Apple keyboard or more likely the keyboard drivers. I'd be very interested to know if any other people have tried this solution and had the same results.

See message 32.1.1 in this forum from Bob Sain. His G5 repeating character problem was completely solved with a Kensington USB keyboard. After I learned that I promptly ordered a Kensington USB "made for Mac" keyboard for myself. It should come in a couple of days and I'll post my results.

Andy H

I just received and connected a Kensington StudioBoard mechanical USB keyboard. Connected a Kensington PilotMouse Optical mouse to one of the keyboard ports and a HP Inkjet 1100d to the other keyboard port. My repeat character problem no longer exists. I've turned off the universal access preference delay key settings and increased the key repeat rate in the keyboard preference to maximum with the delay until repeat setting to minimum. Test typing in Mail, Word and this forum has not produced any repeat characters. I am really happy with this setup and especially the feel of the keyboard and precision of the mouse. Finally, I can type without the distraction of repeat characters or having to strike keys twice on occasion to get a character to appear. Printing with the 1100d connected to one of the keyboard ports works fine.

My only regret is that Apple doesn't supply a truly first class keyboard and mouse with such an expensive and capable machine as the G5. Now after three months of trouble shooting, I can get my business entirely swithed over to the G5 and get into serious production. What a relief!

Andy H

Bmer-

Just curious- is this double type problem new on your machine? I don't remember you mentioning it in the past (more than a month ago). I would be at my wits end if my machine started doing that. Hope a fix comes soon!

is this double type problem new on your machine?"

Not really. It's been intermittent, but then again, I was switching keyboards between the 2.5Ghz unit I had. It looks like Apple may have a bad run of keyboards??

-Bmer
G5 Owners Support Group
Join Us @ G5support.com

Some time back my keyboard started to really skip. It was just as bad as some of the examples on this discussion. Especially the space bar. It got so bad that I called Apple. After a full battery of tests, they decided that I needed a new keyboard. When the new one came and I attached it to my Mac, all the skipping stopped.

There still seems to be an occasional skip, it is nothing like it was before I got the new keyboard. However, it does seem to still happen more often with my G5 than I remember any other computer skipping. But it now only occasionally skips