User Name
Password
AppleNova Forums » Apple Products »

Second Enter Key?


Register Members List Calendar Search FAQ Posting Guidelines
Second Enter Key?
Thread Tools
boxofjack
New Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
 
2005-03-19, 18:51

Hi, recent switcher with my new pb, etc, etc.

Just wondering why there's a second "enter" key next to my right command key. It seems like a weird key to have. Is there some insanely useful shortcut I'm missing out on here?
  quote
Luca
ಠ_ರೃ
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
 
2005-03-19, 18:54

It's meant to replace the enter key on the number pad. PowerBooks (and almost all other laptops) have no dedicated numpad, so instead they have some keys off to the right with little numbers on them. Press the num lock key and they activate, giving you a kind of number pad. That enter key supposedly goes with it.

Personally I'd use uControl to remap that key to something useful, like another option key.
  quote
ast3r3x
25 chars of wasted space.
 
Join Date: May 2004
Send a message via AIM to ast3r3x  
2005-03-19, 19:15

I LOVE having it right where it is. When I use IM I like to have return act as a...get ready for it...carriage return

On a real keyboard, this means that I have to reach over to the enter key to send an IM, but on my powerbook, just use my pinky, and boom, a message is sent.

It might be more confusing because on most PC's (specifically dells I think) enter and return keys do the same thing...and are normally both called the same thing.

I like how they are treated separately and called different things on a mac, much like the same way we have delete and forwards delete. On PC, it's backspace and forwards delete...shouldn't it be forwards space?
  quote
flail
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
 
2005-03-20, 22:01

Can you forwards delete on a Mac? How??
  quote
Luca
ಠ_ರೃ
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
 
2005-03-20, 22:08

ast3r3x, I just use option-return to insert a carriage return. Having to reach for Enter when I'm so used to using the Return key is simply not possible... way too frustrating. I rarely insert carriage returns in IMs anyway.

"specifically dells" means nothing. Dells ship with the same keyboards that all other Windows PCs ship with, and they run the exact same software as all other PCs. Windows-layout keyboards don't even have a Return key - they're both labeled Enter.

When manipulating text in Windows, the "Backspace" key (what Mac users call the Delete key) simply deletes a character like it should. The "Delete" key (what Mac users call the Forward Delete key) also behaves the same way, deleting the character to the right of the cursor. The difference is how they handle non-text objects. Press backspace when a file is selected, and nothing happens. You have to press the delete key to actually delete things in Windows. That tripped me up several times in Windows before I got used to it. "Backspace" is only the same as "Delete" with text.

If you have a Mac laptop, I think forward delete is mapped to pressing the Fn key plus the delete key, since it doesn't have a separate forward delete key. Otherwise it's the same as in Windows - the lower left key in the little block of six keys above the arrows.
  quote
Paul
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: New York City
 
2005-03-20, 22:14

I use uControl to remap my "enter" key into another function key. It works great. I hit fn+return to send an IM (I like hard returns in my IM also) and use the 2nd fn key to scroll with the trackpad. The arrow keys (home, end, pg up, pg dn) become much more useful as well. Works out great.

I wish there was an fn key on the fullsize keyboards!

1215/234215 (top .51875%)
People really have got to stop thinking there is only one operating system, one economic system, one religion, and one business model. -EvilTwinSkippy (/.)
  quote
ast3r3x
25 chars of wasted space.
 
Join Date: May 2004
Send a message via AIM to ast3r3x  
2005-03-20, 22:23

Does option return work as an enter on full size keyboards? If so that would save me a lot of time from reaching over to the enter. On my powerbook, like I said, I like having the enter where it is so I can just reach down and use it.

Luca, when I said specifically Dell, what I meant was that it was the only keyboards that I pretty sure labeled it like that, because I normally only see Dell computers, and don't make it a habit to look normally.

I use carriage return enough in IM that I prefer easily having it as an option. But that is why they make it an option, so you can have it as an option if you use it.

I think I agree with everything else you said
  quote
Luca
ಠ_ರೃ
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
 
2005-03-20, 22:32

Quote:
Originally Posted by ast3r3x
Does option return work as an enter on full size keyboards? If so that would save me a lot of time from reaching over to the enter. On my powerbook, like I said, I like having the enter where it is so I can just reach down and use it.
Option-return is option-return, regardless of the keyboard. It performs a different function from both the return and enter keys. In iChat (which doesn't appear to have a "return key inserts carriage return" option), option-return does a carriage return, while both return and enter send the message. Either you're using a different AIM client, or you have some kind of iChat add-on.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ast3r3x
Luca, when I said specifically Dell, what I meant was that it was the only keyboards that I pretty sure labeled it like that, because I normally only see Dell computers, and don't make it a habit to look normally.
Ah, I see. Well yeah, all PC keyboards have two enter keys and no return key. That's just how they are. I bet using "Return" instead of "Enter" was an early attempt by the Macintosh to be more familiar with people who were used to typewriters. "Enter" is a computer-ish command, while "Return" is what you'd see on a typewriter. Microsoft, being obviously not as focused on the user as Apple, chose to use two Enter keys instead of using a Return key. At least, that's my theory...

Quote:
Originally Posted by ast3r3x
I use carriage return enough in IM that I prefer easily having it as an option. But that is why they make it an option, so you can have it as an option if you use it.
An option in what, exactly? I know the official AIM client has the option, but in my experience the official AIM client sucks donkey balls. Maybe Adium or Proteus?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ast3r3x
I think I agree with everything else you said
I get that a lot
  quote
ast3r3x
25 chars of wasted space.
 
Join Date: May 2004
Send a message via AIM to ast3r3x  
2005-03-20, 23:49

Adium of course, I only use iChat for file transfer.
  quote
iDaver
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: USA
 
2005-03-21, 20:47

Just FYI, the Enter key and the Return key on a Mac keyboard do not always serve the exact same purpose. In a very few cases, you must use one or the other and the reverse won't work. The only example I can think of right off is in my bookkeeping software; to save a numerical entry, I must hit the Enter key (or click "enter" on screen with the mouse). The Return key will not work. If you re-map your Enter key for some other purpose, you may miss the functionality of the Enter key for what it's intended.
  quote
Paul
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: New York City
 
2005-03-21, 22:57

yeah, but fn-return=enter on laptop keyboards...
and that is what I remap the key to.

Works great.
  quote
Electric Monk
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
 
2005-03-27, 14:48

I map Quicksilver to the Enter key. Saves me having to hit two keys for it, although every time Quicksilver restarts I have to remap it (from Command-Enter back to Enter) because the system reserves Enter.

Of course since I only ever put my PB to sleep it doesn't really matter about the remapping bit.
  quote
Posting Rules Navigation
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Post Reply

Forum Jump
Thread Tools
Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Broken key on PB RTB Genius Bar 4 2005-02-15 14:10
Apple to enter movie download business... Franz Josef Speculation and Rumors 10 2005-01-25 01:11
Enter the Haggis...a very interesting band! psmith2.0 AppleOutsider 4 2004-08-18 12:21
Are there any key commands for the dock? Wrao Apple Products 15 2004-08-10 21:50
Icon key? HOM Feedback 1 2004-05-18 14:02


« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 21:38.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2024, AppleNova