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Tenacious Dyl · Jul 13, 2004, 08:35 PM

I have a 12" powerbook, rev B.

Despite everyone (ok 95% of people) hating the iMac's keyboard and mouse, I use them with my powerbook at home. I keep my powerbook up on a stand, and have a second monitor (running at dual, NOT mirrored, lol) near it. So I need to have a keyboard close to me and a mouse.

I always have wanted to have the three "volume" keys that the 12" has, but no matter what key-changers I try, I cannot get, for the life of me... volume control on this keyboard.

Can someone help me? The closest I can get is assigning ITUNES ONLY volume control to the function keys... so I can "mute" and "lower" and "raise" iTunes volume with the iMac keyboard, but not system volume.

Please help me... its driving me nuts reaching across the desk to change it!!

I appreciate any help

fisherKing · Jul 13, 2004, 09:03 PM

you could, of course, just put a volume slider in the menubar (set from the sound preference pane)...

just a thought.

Tenacious Dyl · Jul 14, 2004, 09:36 AM

hehe fisherKing....

I do have that icon actually. I am a very obsessive audio guy. When I am editing audio, or creating new material, or doing other tasks... I like to have light-speed volume control. I have many little satellite speakers all over this room, and a nice sub under the desk. I am not just playing with the volume on my tiny-pbooks.

I have "wired in" many shortcuts and many actions into my iMac keyboard. I like it, because except for very occasional use, I can keep my hands almost always on the keyboard and do so many things.

Its simply a neusance to reach way across my desk to change the volume, or go change the volume with the stupid slider.

I really like just one key to type as 'mute', press it again to 'resume'... and also be able to raise and lower.

It is always about speed to me. I am hoping someone knows a way to map those volume keys on an external USB keyboard. No programs I have found let me!

Thanks.

fisherKing · Jul 14, 2004, 10:43 AM

you've tried the keyboard sys pref pane? there are function key custom settings available there...

or checked versiontracker for shareware apps?

(okay, my guess is you've tried all of the above)

oh well
good luck

(customization & ease-of-use is what the mac has always been about...or is supposed to be about...)

CubeWannaB · Jul 14, 2004, 10:54 AM

I'd just like to add that I'd like to have volume adjust on an external keyboard as well. Please post any successes here.

On a similar topic, I wonder if I'm the only one that would prefer the volume keys to be something besides F3-F5. This is where I prefer to put the expose keys. With the expose keys there they can be operated with the left hand while the right hand stays on the mouse. For right-handed mousers, anyway.

Tenacious Dyl · Jul 15, 2004, 09:55 AM

Basically all the freeware and shareware (and even some paid) applications that I have downloaded don't do the trick.

Sure, they let you put the "d" key on the "s" key,,, great.

The problem is that none of the programs allow or even have an option available to assign keys that are "System Volume Up" "System Volume Down" "System Volume Mute". They just have the function keys, the help, home, delete, pg up, pd down, number pad, and standard keyboard.

I tried remappin the function 3, 4, 5 (those are the stock volume keys on the powerbook itself). But whether I push f3, f4, or f5 on my keyboard... (the iMac one) nothing happens. I've tried toggling the keys... so that you have to press function to change volume.. and I have tried it when you just press the keys without holding function.

Simply put... the iMac keyboard and the Programs are lacking volume control.

I was hoping someone had a trick, or little-known program that could, for example... set those 3 volume keys to keys of my choice on my iMac keyboard. Please continue to post!!

Thanks for your time

iREZ · Jul 15, 2004, 10:35 AM

Why not find a used Pro keyboard on ebay, some sell for $20 and you'll have your buttons already there.

SplijinX · Jul 15, 2004, 12:59 PM

Originally posted by iREZ:
Why not find a used Pro keyboard on ebay, some sell for $20 and you'll have your buttons already there.

I second that. Just get the keyboard with the keys built in, won't have to mess around with remapping keys and won't have to make any compromises.

Or you could get a Powermate knob to adjust volume, pretty nifty device, and looks nice.

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate/

Tenacious Dyl · Jul 15, 2004, 01:15 PM

The powermate is Sexy.

I just like the one-button tap "mute" and "unmute" and volume control... I just love it.

The iMac keyboard is my friend because it isn't as big as the pro, and its a little larger than the powerbooks. I like the middle. My desk is rather cramped

Im actually considering selling my powerbook, tossing in a few paychecks, and getting a G5. I love my 12" Alubook Rev B to death... but its just not as fast as dual 2 GHZ G5's...

All the same... if anyone knows anything more about remapping volumes keys....