Num lock?

[Paperflowers18]

I bought my computer, a macbook laptop, in December.
I do not know where my num lock key is.
I believe that this is (basically) my computer:
http://www.apple.com/macbook/
-----------> from that link, click on the view of the keyboard to see it.
My computer keyboard is exactly like that, except that the keyboard shown for that computer is different in these ways:
1. I don't have any pictures on my f5 and f6 keys.
2. On my command keys, it does not have the twisty symbol next to cmd. It has the twisty symbol on the top, and on the bottom it says command.
3. The control keys on my computer have the word "control" spelled out, they do not say "ctrl".

With my computer's keyboard, how do I put on num lock?

 

[175170]

I bought my computer, a macbook laptop, in December.
I do not know where my num lock key is.
I believe that this is (basically) my computer:
http://www.apple.com/macbook/
-----------> from that link, click on the view of the keyboard to see it.
My computer keyboard is exactly like that, except that the keyboard shown for that computer is different in these ways:
1. I don't have any pictures on my f5 and f6 keys.
2. On my command keys, it does not have the twisty symbol next to cmd. It has the twisty symbol on the top, and on the bottom it says command.
3. The control keys on my computer have the word "control" spelled out, they do not say "ctrl".

With my computer's keyboard, how do I put on num lock?

I'm almost positive that I have the same MacBook as you. I don't have it in front of me, but I will check when I get home.
As for the num lock key, there should be a key with a little light somewhere on the "F keys". The light will light up when you press it, and you will be in num lock. This is similar to the Caps Lock key.

 

[mcavjame]

I believe numlock is reserved for keyboards with a dedicated number pad. I have never noticed a numlock on my last 3 laptops. The numbers are locked by default anyway.

 

[.Andy]

I believe numlock is reserved for keyboards with a dedicated number pad. I have never noticed a numlock on my last 3 laptops. The numbers are locked by default anyway.

There is a num lock on the old powerbook (at least the 12") keyboard. It's F6. It engages the 789uiojkl keys as the number pad. Most of the time it just gets accidentally pressed and drives people insane thinking their keyboard is acting up.

 

[BlueRevolution]

I believe numlock is reserved for keyboards with a dedicated number pad. I have never noticed a numlock on my last 3 laptops. The numbers are locked by default anyway.

No it isn't. It just behaves differently on laptops.

I haven't used the new unibody MacBooks, but it doesn't look like they have a number pad. I'd love to be contradicted on that one, though.

 

[mcavjame]

I'm almost positive that I have the same MacBook as you. I don't have it in front of me, but I will check when I get home.
As for the num lock key, there should be a key with a little light somewhere on the "F keys". The light will light up when you press it, and you will be in num lock. This is similar to the Caps Lock key.

I believe you are thinking of the function key lock so you don't have to press the <fn> key to use alt functions.

 

[Sambo110]

Why would you want an num lock key, I think it is a stupid idea. I have never seen one on a Mac keyboard.

 

[mcavjame]

No it isn't. It just behaves differently on laptops.

How does it behave differently? If the numlock doesn't lock numbers, what does it do? I don't ask sarcastically, just curious because I have never seen it.

 

[TEG]

The "Num Lock" on laptops engages a number pad on the keyboard, overlaying the letters. As far as I'm aware it was something removed from all of the MacBooks (Pro/Air), the last models with them were the PowerBooks and iBooks.

TEG

 

[spinnerlys]

If you have a MacBook, you don't have the Num lock key, as there are no numbers printed on the keyboard on the letters they should be.
The F5 and F6 keys are for adjusting the brightness of the keyboard backlighting (2.4 GHz MB, MBAs and MBPs), but it seems you have the base model (2.0 GHz), so there is no backlighting, therefore no use for those keys.

Aluminum MacBook

White MacBook 2.1 GHz

I think Apple omitted the Num Lock feature on their notebook line when they went Intel.

 

[gmanterry]

Late 2007 MacBook Pro

My late 2007 MBP with 'light up keys', has a "Num Lock" at F6. Also the keys are marked. The U key has a little 4 in the lower right hand corner. The I key has a 5, and so on. The newest models may not have it but this one does. This is the first time I have ever activated it. ;-)

Terry

 

[spinnerlys]

My late 2007 MBP with 'light up keys', has a "Num Lock" at F6. Also the keys are marked. The U key has a little 4 in the lower right hand corner. The I key has a 5, and so on. The newest models may not have it but this one does. This is the first time I have ever activated it. ;-)

Terry

Thank you for lighting my ignorance.

Seems Apple has abandoned that feature in between then, as my White MacBook from 8/2008 and the new Unibody MacBook Pro don't have them anymore.

My iBook and some Powerbooks were the last I saw with them.

Nevertheless, the OP's MacBook doesn't have any Num lock keys, if the MacBook is from 12/2008.

There was a thread a while ago about this missing feature and if it could be otherwise implemented. You could look in the MacBook sub forum for that.

 

[Benguitar]

I believe numlock is reserved for keyboards with a dedicated number pad. I have never noticed a numlock on my last 3 laptops. The numbers are locked by default anyway.

F6

Although, Apple might of changed that button since mid 2007.

*don't click the picture*

 

[Paperflowers18]

Ok. I suppose I'll just give up and accept that my computer doesn't have a num lock key, since it neither says anything on f6 nor has little numbers on some letter keys.
To spinnerlys's pictures: Yea, my computer's keyboard is exactly the one shown on the white computer, my computer just happens to be in the "aluminum" style.

But now another question: As I've been trying to lock my keyboard, I have now managed to actually sort of do it and can't get it off (yes, I'm well aware of the irony/stupidity shown here ) The only keys that aren't working are my f1,f2,f10,f11, and f12 keys, which are used for computer brightness and volume. My f3 and f4 keys appear to work, and I don't know about f7 8 or 9 because I never use those anyway. It makes an alert-like sound when I press f5 (I don't know if it normally does that) and nothing happens when I press f6.......as in, it doesn't appear to solve / unlock my volume and brightness keys. Help, please, I use my volume/brightness keys a lot...

 

[BlueRevolution]

 -> System Preferences -> Keyboard & Mouse -> Keyboard -> Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys.

 

[Paperflowers18]

Ahh thanks! I had forgotten that I had messed with system preferences.