MacBook Pro Keyboard Question

[kimmer]

Someone on another (non-tech) board has a new new MacBook Pro, and apparently there are 2 keys with the following symbols on the key itself:

§ and ±

We know what the symbols are (section from legal docs and a math symbol), the question really is why are they on the KEYBOARD when they weren't on the older MacBook. As the owner says, "Surely there are better things... like a delete key... or perhaps a larger enter key."

I don't have a MacBook Pro (or an older MacBook), so I haven't a clue. If anyone knows the answer, we'd all appreciate you sharing your expertise.

[MamaMoose]

Kimmer,

I have a new MacBook Pro (July 2007/ ande I certainly do not any such keys. If these are dual keys (2 or 3 functions on one key) what are their partner functions?

MamaMoose

[kimmer]

Don't know what any of their functions are, and the owner seems puzzled as well.

I'll ask them for more info.

[FLASH1296]

§ and ±  ?

Huh  ?

Whose keyboard ?  Which ?  Where ?

[kimmer]

QUOTE(FLASH1296 @ Oct 11 2007, 07:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

§ and ±  ?

Huh  ?

Whose keyboard ?  Which ?  Where ?

*****  ?

Nice language, Flash. Shall I point you to a bar of soap?

[FLASH1296]

***** ?[/quote]
Nice language, Flash. Shall I point you to a bar of soap?
[/quote]


Perhaps you aren't kidding.  I do not see a smily emoticon.

Acronyms are commonly used to circumvent the self-righteous speech police who would usurp the freedom of speech and expression that is the cornerstone of  freedom.

We all know people who say silly things like "ticked off" and "Gee Whiz"  and "shoot" and a host of other silly euphemisms.

Now that I am on your "********", and I am through pontificating and hectoring you re:  narrow / shallow world views, let us agree to a binding truce.

Flame wars are unpleasant and belittle all involved.

 

[Paddy]

QUOTE

Now that I am on your "********", and I am through pontificating and hectoring you re: narrow / shallow world views, let us agree to a binding truce.

Flame wars are unpleasant and belittle all involved

And we are through pontificating and hectoring YOU, Flash, for your rude and nasty postings to our other members. Going forward, your posts will have to be moderator approved, until such time as we (the admins) decide as a group what to do.

[kimmer]

Thank, Paddy. I only read this post because it was in a thread I started and where I had a legit tech question ... otherwise the post would have been ignored. I refuse to read the second post.

Getting back to my original question ... never mind. Seems the person that asked was yanking everyone's chain.

[tacit]

QUOTE(kimmer @ Oct 10 2007, 11:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Someone on another (non-tech) board has a new new MacBook Pro, and apparently there are 2 keys with the following symbols on the key itself:

§ and ±

Sounds like he has a non-US keyboard.

There are a number of different keyboards that ship on Macs, with different keys or familiar keys in unusual places, for different markets. The keyboard we are all familiar with is the "US Roman" keyboard, but there are a number of others. The French Canadian Roman keyboard, for example, has a large Shift key on the right-hand side, a small Shift key on the left-hand side, a key with a \ and / to the left of the number 1, and a key marked "Ú" to the left of the Z key.

I don't recognize the § and ± keys, but they just sound like keys on a non-US Roman keyboard.

[Paddy]

QUOTE

Getting back to my original question ... never mind. Seems the person that asked was yanking everyone's chain.

Some people have a rather odd idea of fun stuff to do, apparently... (So how many of you out there went and looked at your own MacBook Pros and scratched your heads in puzzlement???)

[FLASH1296]

I apologize for being an arrogant-sounding grumpy old gas-bag.
Although no excuse, by way of explanation, I will say that ...
sometimes my chronic pain problems get the better of me.
Pain up. Judgement down.

[MamaMoose]

Flash,

Well done! Thanks for replying in a civil manner. "I'm sorry" goes a long way in righting the ship. Some of us are grumpy for a wide variety of reasons. Isn't it amazing that just a few words can start a flame war. A reminder to all TSers - DON'T START AD HOMINUM COMMENTS.  WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER TECH QUESTIONS NOT TO VENT SPLEENS! (Caps deliberate).

Some of us have traveled through a very rocky road, recently. It was unpleasant, hurtful, and nobody wins!!! Fortunately, thanks to some very caring and brave souls, we have survived and are stronger for it. I know we are human and suffer from pain, loss, financial problems, kids acting up, and bosses giving us a hard time. Just don't take it out on some  in innocent TSer who might have offended you without knowing it. Check our rules.

MamaMoose

[Xairbusdriver]

Did they buy that thing in the US? And, if so, on what street corner!

AFAIK, the 'crooked' symbol usually specifies a reference to a paragraph, especially in a bibliography? The latter is a "plus or minus' symbol, as in the land is 5 ± acres. You can probably type it with 'shift - option - +' keystroke. The 'crooked' one probably needs the 'extended' keyboard selected in the Input Manager to get better access to the Unicode characters. Also, it may not be available in every font.