Dual keyboard support in Mac OS X












1















I have a Macbook Pro and Apple external wireless keyboard. I'm using an external display and a poor-man's laptop stand (a stack of paper sheets) to align my notebook vertically so it serves as a second monitor to me. The laptop's keyboard is easy reachable by my left hand, so I was thinking maybe there is a possibility to use keys on the laptop keyboard independently from the main (wireless) one. Specifically what I'm interested in is using laptop's F1-F12 keys as shortcut keys to expose et al, while having these keys on the wirless keyboard as normal F1-F12 keys.



Is there any software to accomplish this ?










share|improve this question



























    1















    I have a Macbook Pro and Apple external wireless keyboard. I'm using an external display and a poor-man's laptop stand (a stack of paper sheets) to align my notebook vertically so it serves as a second monitor to me. The laptop's keyboard is easy reachable by my left hand, so I was thinking maybe there is a possibility to use keys on the laptop keyboard independently from the main (wireless) one. Specifically what I'm interested in is using laptop's F1-F12 keys as shortcut keys to expose et al, while having these keys on the wirless keyboard as normal F1-F12 keys.



    Is there any software to accomplish this ?










    share|improve this question

























      1












      1








      1








      I have a Macbook Pro and Apple external wireless keyboard. I'm using an external display and a poor-man's laptop stand (a stack of paper sheets) to align my notebook vertically so it serves as a second monitor to me. The laptop's keyboard is easy reachable by my left hand, so I was thinking maybe there is a possibility to use keys on the laptop keyboard independently from the main (wireless) one. Specifically what I'm interested in is using laptop's F1-F12 keys as shortcut keys to expose et al, while having these keys on the wirless keyboard as normal F1-F12 keys.



      Is there any software to accomplish this ?










      share|improve this question














      I have a Macbook Pro and Apple external wireless keyboard. I'm using an external display and a poor-man's laptop stand (a stack of paper sheets) to align my notebook vertically so it serves as a second monitor to me. The laptop's keyboard is easy reachable by my left hand, so I was thinking maybe there is a possibility to use keys on the laptop keyboard independently from the main (wireless) one. Specifically what I'm interested in is using laptop's F1-F12 keys as shortcut keys to expose et al, while having these keys on the wirless keyboard as normal F1-F12 keys.



      Is there any software to accomplish this ?







      mac keyboard






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











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      share|improve this question










      asked Oct 22 '09 at 10:28









      user1972user1972

      16616




      16616






















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          1














          There's no need for additional software... for multiple keyboards and/or mice...



          You can have up to 128 keyboards, mice, or other USB devices all working at the same time, as long as you have the USB ports, and/or USB Hubs as needed....



          One great demo that I do to explain this is have two USB mice hooked up to a Macintosh, and play "mouse wars" with it... (Where's the mouse going? Oh you were so close!)



          But seriously, the only issue that you might run into is that I am not sure you can have the F-keys defined seperately under the current OS.... Hmm... That'll require a little research...



          If the standard behavior is not to your liking, try:



          Controllermate



          I haven't used it, but I've heard of it from MacOSXHints.com....






          share|improve this answer































            1














            For inspiration, look at Consistent Keyboards. It is a program that swaps some keys on the external keyboard, but not the internal keyboard. (Useful for those who connect a PC-style keyboard, especially in the pre-Leopard days.)



            You'll have to edit the source code, but you should be to map the function keys on only the internal keyboard to something else.






            share|improve this answer































              0














              New version of BetterTouchTool just got released with support for recording shortcuts on multiple keyboards.






              share|improve this answer
























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                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes








                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes









                1














                There's no need for additional software... for multiple keyboards and/or mice...



                You can have up to 128 keyboards, mice, or other USB devices all working at the same time, as long as you have the USB ports, and/or USB Hubs as needed....



                One great demo that I do to explain this is have two USB mice hooked up to a Macintosh, and play "mouse wars" with it... (Where's the mouse going? Oh you were so close!)



                But seriously, the only issue that you might run into is that I am not sure you can have the F-keys defined seperately under the current OS.... Hmm... That'll require a little research...



                If the standard behavior is not to your liking, try:



                Controllermate



                I haven't used it, but I've heard of it from MacOSXHints.com....






                share|improve this answer




























                  1














                  There's no need for additional software... for multiple keyboards and/or mice...



                  You can have up to 128 keyboards, mice, or other USB devices all working at the same time, as long as you have the USB ports, and/or USB Hubs as needed....



                  One great demo that I do to explain this is have two USB mice hooked up to a Macintosh, and play "mouse wars" with it... (Where's the mouse going? Oh you were so close!)



                  But seriously, the only issue that you might run into is that I am not sure you can have the F-keys defined seperately under the current OS.... Hmm... That'll require a little research...



                  If the standard behavior is not to your liking, try:



                  Controllermate



                  I haven't used it, but I've heard of it from MacOSXHints.com....






                  share|improve this answer


























                    1












                    1








                    1







                    There's no need for additional software... for multiple keyboards and/or mice...



                    You can have up to 128 keyboards, mice, or other USB devices all working at the same time, as long as you have the USB ports, and/or USB Hubs as needed....



                    One great demo that I do to explain this is have two USB mice hooked up to a Macintosh, and play "mouse wars" with it... (Where's the mouse going? Oh you were so close!)



                    But seriously, the only issue that you might run into is that I am not sure you can have the F-keys defined seperately under the current OS.... Hmm... That'll require a little research...



                    If the standard behavior is not to your liking, try:



                    Controllermate



                    I haven't used it, but I've heard of it from MacOSXHints.com....






                    share|improve this answer













                    There's no need for additional software... for multiple keyboards and/or mice...



                    You can have up to 128 keyboards, mice, or other USB devices all working at the same time, as long as you have the USB ports, and/or USB Hubs as needed....



                    One great demo that I do to explain this is have two USB mice hooked up to a Macintosh, and play "mouse wars" with it... (Where's the mouse going? Oh you were so close!)



                    But seriously, the only issue that you might run into is that I am not sure you can have the F-keys defined seperately under the current OS.... Hmm... That'll require a little research...



                    If the standard behavior is not to your liking, try:



                    Controllermate



                    I haven't used it, but I've heard of it from MacOSXHints.com....







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Oct 22 '09 at 14:21









                    Benjamin SchollnickBenjamin Schollnick

                    4,2231215




                    4,2231215

























                        1














                        For inspiration, look at Consistent Keyboards. It is a program that swaps some keys on the external keyboard, but not the internal keyboard. (Useful for those who connect a PC-style keyboard, especially in the pre-Leopard days.)



                        You'll have to edit the source code, but you should be to map the function keys on only the internal keyboard to something else.






                        share|improve this answer




























                          1














                          For inspiration, look at Consistent Keyboards. It is a program that swaps some keys on the external keyboard, but not the internal keyboard. (Useful for those who connect a PC-style keyboard, especially in the pre-Leopard days.)



                          You'll have to edit the source code, but you should be to map the function keys on only the internal keyboard to something else.






                          share|improve this answer


























                            1












                            1








                            1







                            For inspiration, look at Consistent Keyboards. It is a program that swaps some keys on the external keyboard, but not the internal keyboard. (Useful for those who connect a PC-style keyboard, especially in the pre-Leopard days.)



                            You'll have to edit the source code, but you should be to map the function keys on only the internal keyboard to something else.






                            share|improve this answer













                            For inspiration, look at Consistent Keyboards. It is a program that swaps some keys on the external keyboard, but not the internal keyboard. (Useful for those who connect a PC-style keyboard, especially in the pre-Leopard days.)



                            You'll have to edit the source code, but you should be to map the function keys on only the internal keyboard to something else.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered Oct 26 '09 at 15:47









                            Vebjorn LjosaVebjorn Ljosa

                            1,08311219




                            1,08311219























                                0














                                New version of BetterTouchTool just got released with support for recording shortcuts on multiple keyboards.






                                share|improve this answer




























                                  0














                                  New version of BetterTouchTool just got released with support for recording shortcuts on multiple keyboards.






                                  share|improve this answer


























                                    0












                                    0








                                    0







                                    New version of BetterTouchTool just got released with support for recording shortcuts on multiple keyboards.






                                    share|improve this answer













                                    New version of BetterTouchTool just got released with support for recording shortcuts on multiple keyboards.







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered Feb 12 at 12:32









                                    undsoftundsoft

                                    1032




                                    1032






























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