[sworthy]

I just received my MacBook Pro and after upgrading from 12" powerbook I'm having some issues with the backlit keyboard function. I realize that I can change the keys to control software or hardware features, but ideally, I'd like it to do both. Hardware for the volume and screen brightness, and software on the expose keys. Is there anyway to solve this?

[mintcake]

Isn't that the default, though? It is on my powerbook.

edit - apologies, I see you already have a powerbook.

[ccsccs7]

I'm not quite sure I understand what your problem is. If you check out the Dashboard & Exposé Preference panel, it gives you more options for keys to use for Exposé. And if you check in the Keyboard Shortcuts pane of the Keyboard & Mouse Preference panel, you have more options for setting keyboard commands for Exposé and other programs.

[sworthy]

sorry for not being clear. I know I can use other keys, but I like using the F9 and F10 keys for expose as they're ingrained shortcuts. I don't like having to use two keys. Any ideas?

[krove]

Well, in that preference pane, you can click the box that says "Use the F1-F12 keys to control software features" to swap the default hardware-software controls. That way, Exposé is accessible with a single button and the hardware controls (display brightness, volume, keyboard brightness) are accessible with Fn-F#.

I wish it could be split. I'd like to have just the keyboard brightness controls be Fn-F8-F10 and the other half control hardware features without the Fn key. That way my most used functions (volume, brightness, and exposé) are all accessible without using two-key combos.

[mintcake]

It really is idiotic that you can't access brightness, volume and exposé with a single key stroke, all because of the utterly useless keyboard brightness control. Really unhelpful design decision. Someone should be able to produce a hack though right? /hopes

[ccsccs7]

Originally Posted by krove

…
I wish it could be split. I'd like to have just the keyboard brightness controls be Fn-F8-F10 and the other half control hardware features without the Fn key. That way my most used functions (volume, brightness, and exposé) are all accessible without using two-key combos.

Ah, gotcha. Yeah, that is a little inconvenience. I can understand your frustration.

I was just looking at this. I didn't know you could get the Windows key on the Mac.

[tie]

Originally Posted by mintcake 

It really is idiotic that you can't access brightness, volume and exposé with a single key stroke, all because of the utterly useless keyboard brightness control. Really unhelpful design decision. Someone should be able to produce a hack though right? /hopes

This is an old thread.. Any better solutions now?

[ONG]

i have an old mac that's running speed doubler. it has a feature of assigning macros to each of the func keys.... can this be done on OSX?

[tie]

Sorry, I don't know, ONG. I'm surprised Apple crippled exposé so soon, though.