What does that key over there do?

[carl201167]

On a MacBook Pro, what does the key to the left of the left-arrow cursor do :confused:

It's kinda like a 'k' rotated 90 degrees right

[DoFoT9]

i really have no idea what your on about....

but whateva u do, dont touch it!!! you might blow us all up!

[dcv]

Don't have a Mac in front of me right now but you're probably talking about an Enter key.


Go on, press it and see what happens ;) :D

[DoFoT9]

Don't have a Mac in front of me right now but you're probably talking about an Enter key.


Go on, press it and see what happens ;) :D

yea its the enter key..

bt dont listen to him!!!!!!!! youll die! maybe

[bartelby]

bt dont listen to him!!!!!!!! youll die! maybe

Him?:eek:

[DoFoT9]

Him?:eek:

no u have 2 listen to Him, just nort to dvc :p

:kidding:

[SirCrumpet]

On a MacBook Pro, what does the key to the left of the left-arrow cursor do :confused:

It's kinda like a 'k' rotated 90 degrees right

Not sure exactly what you're reffering too here - the key DIRECTLY next to the left arrow on my keyboard is an enter key, however on mine at least it doesn't resemble a rotated k - so I can only assume you are referring to the "⌘" or command key, which is basically a modifier key used for keyboard shortcuts and is the equivalent of the Ctrl key on windows.

[carl201167]

So it is an 'enter' key

I think different models around the world have different keys there. Doing a google image search I can see that other keyboards have the word 'enter' in that spot.

Mine has the rotated 'k'. See a blurry picture (http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa179/kenriise/?action=view&current=03072007001.jpg) here

Confusing, eh?

[DoFoT9]

what contry do you come from!!! lol or should i say what country does ur mac come from!!! that is totally freeky. it does ring a bell somewhere tho, meh.

[maccam]

So it is an 'enter' key

I think different models around the world have different keys there. Doing a google image search I can see that other keyboards have the word 'enter' in that spot.

Mine has the rotated 'k'. See a blurry picture (http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa179/kenriise/?action=view&current=03072007001.jpg) here

Confusing, eh?

Oh, wow, confusing for sure here is how its supposed to look... (iBook g4, but same thing)

[SirCrumpet]

wow - never seen that before - weird to say the least...

[hollerz]

lol mine has the "rotated k" too, mines a UK model!

[dcv]

Do you guys in Australia have the US-style keyboards then? (with 'enter', 'option' etc written on the keys?) I'm assuming the OP is probably from the UK/Europe then as we have the symbols not words on the keys.

[c-Row]

German MBPs have these, too, as well as the external keyboards. Didn't blow up my house yet. ;)

[SirCrumpet]

Do you guys in Australia have the US-style keyboards then? (with 'enter', 'option' etc written on the keys?) I'm assuming the OP is probably from the UK/Europe then as we have the symbols not words on the keys.


Yep - enter/option etc. on mine (australia)

[juanm]

My Spain spanish MacBook has it too, just on the left of the <- key.
My Spain Spanish Apple keyboard has it under the + key on the numeric keypad on the right. I'm curious as well...

Maybe it's the key to upgrade My MacBook to Core 2 Duo?

[maverick808]

I prefer the symbols to the actual words. That is, I prefer the UK keyboards that have things like the little binary switch symbol to signify option, rather than having the actual word "option" written on the key. To me, American keyboards look cramped due to the number of words written all over them.

I see the difference in the USA and UK keyboards being representative of the average intelligence level of the countries. Clearly, Americans can't quite grasp the basic semiotics required to map a symbol to a function. This is why they have to have words like "Tab", "Shift", and so on written out rather than having the symbols on the keys. Literally, Americans need it spelled out clearly or they won't understand it. :)

By the way, I'm kidding. I don't really think this is the reason for the difference. Out of interest though, what do Americans see in the menus for shortcuts? For example, in Safari I see the following shortcuts...

http://img168.imagevenue.com/loc515/th_72364_saf_122_515lo.jpg (http://img168.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=72364_saf_122_515lo.jpg)

What do Americans see? As Americans don't actually have those symbols on their keyboards, are the shortcuts shown as the full words!?

[SirCrumpet]

As Americans don't actually have those symbols on their keyboards, are the shortcuts shown as the full words!?

nope, we get the symbols in the menu too - exactly the same as yours.

Though i don't quite see why Australia gets the US Keyboard - i would of thought the UK one wuld make more sense.

[maverick808]

nope, we get the symbols in the menu too - exactly the same as yours.

Though i don't quite see why Australia gets the US Keyboard - i would of thought the UK one wuld make more sense.

Don't you find that odd then? The first time you ever used a Mac and saw the Option symbol for a shortcut in a menu how did you know what key it meant for you to press?

[WillJS]

I prefer the symbols to the actual words. That is, I prefer the UK keyboards that have things like the little binary switch symbol to signify option, rather than having the actual word "option" written on the key. To me, American keyboards look cramped due to the number of words written all over them.

I see the difference in the USA and UK keyboards being representative of the average intelligence level of the countries. Clearly, Americans can't quite grasp the basic semiotics required to map a symbol to a function. This is why they have to have words like "Tab", "Shift", and so on written out rather than having the symbols on the keys. Literally, Americans need it spelled out clearly or they won't understand it. :)

By the way, I'm kidding. I don't really think this is the reason for the difference. Out of interest though, what do Americans see in the menus for shortcuts? For example, in Safari I see the following shortcuts...

http://img168.imagevenue.com/loc515/th_72364_saf_122_515lo.jpg (http://img168.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=72364_saf_122_515lo.jpg)

What do Americans see? As Americans don't actually have those symbols on their keyboards, are the shortcuts shown as the full words!?


We see:

[carl201167]

I'm from the UK

I'd certainly prefer the word 'enter' than the rotated 'k'! :rolleyes:

[eluk]

I'm from the UK

I'd certainly prefer the word 'enter' than the rotated 'k'! :rolleyes:

We have the returning arrow instead of the word 'enter'.

[DoFoT9]

nope, we get the symbols in the menu too - exactly the same as yours.

Though i don't quite see why Australia gets the US Keyboard - i would of thought the UK one wuld make more sense.

hhhmmm i wonder if us aussies should start a petition to get our own keyboard???

apple key could be a naked chick, because they help you out to take shortcuts
option could be a beer tap, cauz u never kno which one to get
ctrl could be...your wife or something, cauz theyr always controlling
shift could be a car...ive got nothing on this 1
tab could be your wallet..cauz it controls where u move

i donno just some ideas..:confused:

[sfisher]

Don't you find that odd then? The first time you ever used a Mac and saw the Option symbol for a shortcut in a menu how did you know what key it meant for you to press?

Yes! Especially the symbols for tab and escape. The option one took me forever to figure out too. The command one was easy because it's the same on screen as on the keyboard :D (I have a US keyboard) As I say, most things on a Mac are very intuitive, but the things that aren't are so hard to figure out.

[DoFoT9]

i think alot of pc users have trouble understanding how to use macs. when theyre just as easy to use as pc's if not easier. once you learn the way of the mac its really really quite easy. one of my pc friends is a gun on pc, but as soon as i give him my mac he just stalls up and has no idea of what to do. us mac users are lucky. we get the best of both worlds, whereas a lot of pc users dont dare venture into the mac world

[Eraserhead]

one of my pc friends is a gun on pc, but as soon as i give him my mac he just stalls up and has no idea of what to do.

This implicates that Mac's are harder to use, interesting (or maybe Windows is just based on Mac OS ;)).

[DoFoT9]

This implicates that Mac's are harder to use, interesting (or maybe Windows is just based on Mac OS ;)).

or that all pc users have no creative side and cant possibly fathem our intellectual minds!!!