Embedded Numeric Keypad?

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Embedded Numeric Keypad?

Hello all,

I've had this 15-inch Macbook Pro since February, and have been pleased with it since then. One thing bothering me, however, is the lack of an embedded numeric keypad. On some of Apple's previous entries in the laptop market you could use the Fn key to use a virtual keypad, like the keypad with numbers you can see on just about all full-size keyboards anywhere. But the newer Macbooks do not have this embedded keypad so far as I can see. My question is, how can I add a similar capacity to my macbook?

Thanks in advance, all. 🙂

2.4 Ghz 15-inch MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on May 2, 2009 12:02 AM

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Answer 1

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

May 2, 2009 5:00 AM in response to Joyeuse

I haven't seen any software option that enables you to restore the embedded keypad, though there has been a good deal of comment about its absence in several blogs: just Google "Mac embedded numeric keypad software" to find links to those discussions.

There is a nifty little iPhone/iPod Touch application that enables either device to serve as an external keypad (smaller than a regular USB keypad, and without tying up a USB port):

http://iphoneknowhow.net/?p=364

But if you don't have an iPhone or iPod Touch and/or you don't want to be bothered with an external keypad, I don't know what to suggest.

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Answer 2

Joyeuse Author

Level 1

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May 3, 2009 12:49 AM in response to eww

Okay, thanks for the help, eww. A bit disappointing on the lack of a software-based solution admittedly, but thanks anyway! 🙂

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Answer 3

Joyeuse Author

Level 1

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May 6, 2009 3:47 AM in response to Joyeuse

Ah, I found a way to solve my problem after some copious googling over the last few days, and I'm smacking myself in the head over how easy it is. 🙂

In short, there is an preferencepane one can download called KeyRemap4MacBook, found at :

http://www.pqrs.org/tekezo/macosx/keyremap4macbook/

which, once installed, enables one to remap the fn-key to fn-key-with-numlock. fn-key-with-numlock enables the "missing" embedded numeric keypad if one has a macbook. This isn't the only functionality KeyRemap4MacBook has, though, but it's what I was most concerned with, personally.

I just used it now and it works perfect. I can still use the regular fn-key + f1..f12 as normal while using the embedded keypad. I'm feeling happy about it all now 🙂 Hope others can restore their missing keypads too!

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