How to use the MAC Keyboard

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Level 1

31 points

How to use the MAC Keyboard

Can anyone point me to a tutorial or posting which explains how to use the keyboard?
I have an iMac (sep2009) with a wired keyboard including numeric keypad and there are keys that I just do not know how to use

eg:

How do I put FUNC LOCK on so that when I using Excel the F2 key becomes EDIT CELL rather than adjusting the brightness

What do the keys below the F14 and F15 keys do? There is an angled arrow up and left and ne down and right. and there is an arrow up with two lines crossing it a,d another similar one down. What are we supposed to sue these for?

Under the F16 key there is a box with a cross through it. What does that do?

WHy are F5 and F6 blank?

What does the big key on the very right bottom do?
I would have thought that there would be a MAC101 guide to the keyboard but I cannot find it... Any help from out here?

Many thanks

iMac 2.66Ghz 4GB 640GB (Sep 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.2), iPhone 3G

Posted on Jan 30, 2010 11:25 AM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Jan 30, 2010 11:53 AM in response to jhrichmond

System Preferences->Keyboard->Keyboard and Keyboard Shortcuts. Then, Help->Keyboard->Using keyboard function keys.

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Answer 2

jhrichmond Author

Level 1

31 points

Jan 31, 2010 4:20 PM in response to baltwo

Thanks - that tell me how to switch the function keys on and off

But what about all the other keys on an Apple keyboard? Where do I find out what they do?

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Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,614 points

Jan 31, 2010 6:39 PM in response to jhrichmond

jhrichmond wrote:
Can anyone point me to a tutorial or posting which explains how to use the keyboard?
I have an iMac (sep2009) with a wired keyboard including numeric keypad and there are keys that I just do not know how to use

eg:

How do I put FUNC LOCK on so that when I using Excel the F2 key becomes EDIT CELL rather than adjusting the brightness

System Preferences>Keyboard; Set it to use Function keys as F1, F2, etc.

What do the keys below the F14 and F15 keys do? There is an angled arrow up and left and ne down and right. and there is an arrow up with two lines crossing it a,d another similar one down. What are we supposed to sue these for?

I just loaded the UK Apple store and compared the keyboards to the ones at the US store. I guess since you are so "international" over there, you get pictures instead of words. My guess would be Home, End, Page Up and Page Down

Under the F16 key there is a box with a cross through it. What does that do?

Clear key for the numeric keypad.

WHy are F5 and F6 blank?

No additional functions assigned to them.

What does the big key on the very right bottom do?

Enter key for the numeric keypad.

I would have thought that there would be a MAC101 guide to the keyboard but I cannot find it... Any help from out here?

I think Apple thinks based on where you live, you understand pictures instead of words. Probably cheaper to make one keyboard than ones for each language.

Many thanks

Edit: Almost forgot. MAC is an acronym for Media Access Control. A Mac (short for Macintosh) is a personal computer made by Apple.

Message was edited by: Barney-15E

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Answer 4

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Jan 31, 2010 7:27 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks for jumping in. I've never seen the international keyboards, so I didn't know the keys were pictures instead of the words I've always seen. BTW, the large ENTER key can be used anywhere and not only with the numerical keyboard portion. It's basically a global RETURN key.

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