My laptop keyboard cursor randomly backtracks one space as I type. This only seems to happen in Firefox. Has anyone else had this problem, and how do I fix it? [more inside]
posted by minus zero on Jan 8, 2009 - 6 answers

How do I replace the plastic nub that was affixed to the contact underneath the "I" key on my MacBook Pro? For reasons not worth getting into, it's gone. I still have the key and the two-part plastic hinge, but without the plastic nub I can't really use the key. The nub was attached to the contact, so even if I find a replacement I'm not sure how to reaffix it-- would I need to use some kind of glue? For now I've left the key off and am pressing the contact directly, but it hurts my finger and I'd really like to get this fixed. Thanks!
posted by jcruelty on Jan 2, 2009 - 4 answers

What do I do with a hundred USB keyboards? [more inside]
posted by ben242 on Dec 15, 2008 - 12 answers

Help me find this tiny electronic pocket piano from my youth. [more inside]
posted by Baby_Balrog on Dec 9, 2008 - 9 answers

I somehow hit a combination of keys on my keyboard that turned the display on my keyboard completely upside down. Restarting didn't fix it. Help! [more inside]
posted by downing street memo on Dec 4, 2008 - 7 answers

Mating an Apple Keyboard to the right KVM switch? [more inside]
posted by Blazecock Pileon on Nov 30, 2008 - 5 answers

Posting for my partner, who writes: Yesterday I attempted to clean some discolouration on the wrist-rest area of my white Macbook with a Mr. Clean magic eraser (as per instructions like these ones). Not only did this fail to remove all of the discolouration, but now my keyboard doesn't work! [more inside]
posted by pised on Nov 22, 2008 - 9 answers

What MIDI keyboard should I get, given that I will need something with a soundbank? [more inside]
posted by Admira on Nov 18, 2008 - 11 answers

I'm working from home full-time. Hooray! Except the corporate overlords aren't inclined to send an ergonomics expert around to the house to make sure I'm not slowly killing myself. I have a few specific questions about ergonomics and visual health in a home office. [more inside]
posted by [user was fined for this post] on Nov 8, 2008 - 11 answers

The PageUp and PageDown keys on my Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop have started acting weird. Sometimes they act correctly (rarely), sometimes they take me directly to the top or the bottom of the current page (now and then), and sometimes they don't work at all (often). I'm seeing this mostly in Firefox, haven't check other apps yet. This started about a week ago, a few reboots and cold starts since it first occurred...not seeing any improvement or further degradation. Do you know why this is happening, how I can diagnose the issue, and/or how it can be fixed? I use those keys often and this is really hampering my use of my laptop.
posted by Exchequer on Nov 6, 2008 - 9 answers

[Keyboard Filter] Trying to decide what Keyboard layout to use (Dvorak, Qwerty, Colmak, etc.). Help me decide please! [more inside]
posted by Javed_Ahamed on Nov 6, 2008 - 14 answers

My beloved Thinkpad T60 has died in my arms. [more inside]
posted by mammary16 on Oct 29, 2008 - 8 answers

My laptop's right-arrow key is remapping itself. Any tips for diagnosis or repair? [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Oct 25, 2008 - 10 answers

SynthFilter: Help me find more information about this keyboard I saw in a pawn shop! [more inside]
posted by clcapps on Oct 24, 2008 - 2 answers

Is anyone out there able to supply a schematic or detailed photos of the insides of a Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Pro keyboard? MS Part No X09-57778 - it's a black wireless "natural"/ergonomic keyboard. [more inside]
posted by snap, crackle and pop on Oct 21, 2008 - 0 answers

I need a music composition aide—what's the smallest and/or cheapest piano keyboard I can buy? [more inside]
posted by spamguy on Oct 18, 2008 - 5 answers

Please help me with my powerbook keyboard conundrum. Are you geniuser? [more inside]
posted by citybuddha on Oct 8, 2008 - 8 answers

Where can I find a super-simple standalone MIDI sequencer? [more inside]
posted by dmd on Oct 3, 2008 - 6 answers

(Posting for a friend): I just bought a keyboard, and I would like to learn a little piano-playing. Is there any free or cheap software that can hand-hold me through it? Are there any websites that offer beginning piano lessons?
posted by prefpara on Sep 29, 2008 - 2 answers

What are some good resources (books, sites etc.) to learn synthesizer techniques? [more inside]
posted by Me, The Snake on Sep 28, 2008 - 7 answers

While talking to my friend, who was using gchat in gmail on a Mac, suddenly her keyboard started acting up. It didn't work it gchat, did work in rmails in gmail, and the kezboard is messed up for other things++ (y is swapped with z, and all sorts of other things.) The strange part is, she doesn't even know how she did it. Any Mac gurus have anz ideas_ (any ideas?) Particularly useful would be how to reverse the change...
posted by hAndrew on Sep 28, 2008 - 7 answers

For some reason, my MacBook pro suddenly won't let me use standard shortcuts- i.e. cntrl-x for cut, ctrl-v for paste, etc.- on any program, including MS Word and web browsers. [more inside]
posted by foxy_hedgehog on Sep 6, 2008 - 9 answers

I want a button to toggle my MacBook function keys (much technical info inside) [more inside]
posted by range on Sep 5, 2008 - 8 answers

Crying over spilled milk - in Mac keyboard. [more inside]
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen on Sep 1, 2008 - 8 answers

Sometimes, my keyboard switches to Dvorak for no apparent reason. We can't find a trigger for it--it occurs when typing in word, when playing TF2, when entering an address in the address bar, etc. Only a restart can restore QWERTY. Even though the text input on TF2 will be scrambled, the TF2 controls work as though on QUERTY--'W' is still forward, even though it types out 'E'. Incidents can be anywhere from hours to weeks apart. I've personally only seen it happen inside TF2, but my sister swears it happens other times, too. Googling only returns 'how to switch to/learn Dvorak' pages. The computer runs Windows XP, and only happens to that computer. Can you help me stop Dvorak?
posted by flibbertigibbet on Aug 24, 2008 - 5 answers

Best keyboard skin for Macbook Air? Best shell case (not for carrying)? [more inside]
posted by jeffmacintyre on Aug 19, 2008 - 1 answer

2 laptops (Mac, fwiw) 1 keyboard/mouse. How best to make this work? [more inside]
posted by gen on Aug 10, 2008 - 11 answers

I have strange issues with my keyboard and mouse in Picasa: shortcuts with modifier keys don't work. Other keyboard and mouse glitches also occur in other applications. Windows Vista; Apple aluminum keyboard; Microsoft Habu mouse. [more inside]
posted by qvtqht on Jul 29, 2008 - 7 answers

The left control key on my keyboard has suddenly started toggling the mute on my master volume. How do I make it stop? [more inside]
posted by EarBucket on Jul 23, 2008 - 5 answers

I have the first generation intel MacBook with this keyboard. Some of the F keys have special functions like volume up/down, and screen dimmer controls. The newer keyboard has additional functions like play/pause, next song, previous song, etc. I want to add the functionality of the new keyboard buttons to my old MacBook's keyboard. Is there software that will do this? Is there some other solution? Thanks!
posted by alitorbati on Jul 15, 2008 - 6 answers

Why does typing (in Word or in a browser) cause my Dell Inspiron 1520 to go into standby mode? This has happened a few times over the past week. It doesn’t happen every session. Mouse clicks do not cause the problem, only typing. This keyboard is part of the laptop, which is less than a year old. It is running Windows XP. Drivers are updated. I’ve reset the power options so that standby should never occur. Any ideas?
posted by Riverine on Jul 15, 2008 - 3 answers

How can I prevent flash from stealing my keyboard focus in Firefox on Win XP? [more inside]
posted by stovenator on Jul 7, 2008 - 3 answers

Messin with electronics.. filter. I'd like to slightly circuit-bend my Casiotone MT-100 - creating a switch that cuts one circuit when power is applied. [more inside]
posted by tmcw on Jun 30, 2008 - 3 answers

The kitchen computer has a little trackpad/keyboard combo that sits atop of the microwave. When the microwave turns on, the trackpad stops working. Looking for suggestions on shielding, putting a filter in line with the cable, grounding, anything to help me cook and mouse at the same time. [more inside]
posted by sol on Jun 28, 2008 - 5 answers

Outlook occasionally switches my "@" key with my " " " key [quotes key]. Does anyone know why this happens and how I can fix it? [more inside]
posted by alrightokay on Jun 12, 2008 - 5 answers

Help me stop cluttering up my (OS X) desktop. [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Jun 7, 2008 - 23 answers

How can I avoid shiny keys syndrome on my computer keyboards? This relates to the patches of smoothness that seem to appear on often-used keys after a few months of consistent use. [more inside]
posted by WalterMitty on May 26, 2008 - 16 answers

How do I turn off "extend my desktop to multiple monitors" in XP only using the keyboard? [more inside]
posted by fingo on May 23, 2008 - 5 answers

I'm running OS X Leopard on my beloved shiny Macbook and there's one thing that I find irritating. I love using F9, F10, F11 etc to bring up Exposé, Dashboard and the Desktop, but every now and again they suddenly stop functioning. It's normally when the computer's been on for a few days - I hit the keys and nothing happens. So I check in Keyboard Shortcuts of the System Prefs, and all the boxes in the "Dock, Exposé and Dashboard" are magically unticked. I can tick them again, and everything's fine and dandy for a few days. Alternatively, I can reboot and it's back to how it should be. (For a while...) Why is this happening, and how can I stop it? [more inside]
posted by badmoonrising on May 20, 2008 - 6 answers

Is there any way to modify or use an external part to get an Alesis Micron to run on batteries? [more inside]
posted by Mali on May 16, 2008 - 3 answers

How do I make my language settings for "input language" (keyboard layout) which I set via the language bar stay set program to program? [more inside]
posted by jesirose on Apr 25, 2008 - 5 answers

In search of a legend: Where (or from whom) can I buy a new Apple Extended Keyboard? [more inside]
posted by slhack3r on Apr 17, 2008 - 5 answers

Where can I find an ergonomic keyboard with a trackpoint pointing device? [more inside]
posted by thisisnotbruce on Apr 12, 2008 - 4 answers

MacRepairPrice Filter : Trying to figure out on which deal is the best, being the proud owner of a macbook (MAC OSX version 10.4.11), now about a year old, I wonder wether or not i should go for the extra 2-year guarantee, which will cost me 200€ a year. [more inside]
posted by Jireel on Apr 6, 2008 - 5 answers

How can I learn to use my keyboard more and wean myself off my mouse? [more inside]
posted by zardoz on Apr 2, 2008 - 22 answers

Help with Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse trouble.. [more inside]
posted by wierdo on Apr 2, 2008 - 4 answers

Is there a wireless, battery rechargeable, full-sized or laptop-sized keyboard available that has a memory card which will allow me to leave the office, go to the gym or a cafe and type without needing or even glancing at a monitor? So that later, I can return to give my work a good editing without caring about how it looks on the first draft? [more inside]
posted by parmanparman on Mar 31, 2008 - 17 answers

MacFilter: The keyboard shortcut in Mail to make bold text doesn't work properly. [more inside]
posted by sjuhawk31 on Mar 27, 2008 - 7 answers

Fast user switching on a Mac with a custom keyboard layout [more inside]
posted by dance on Mar 24, 2008 - 9 answers

What is the super-secret combination to reset a Logitech wireless keyboard? [more inside]
posted by BleachBypass on Mar 18, 2008 - 5 answers