Keyboard and Keyboard + Mice Combos with Mac (READ ONLY ARCHIVE)

[bobothebikie]

Hi Everyone!

Just wondering if anyone else was using the N305 keypad on a Mac Setup? Only after I bought it did I realise that it was only officially supported by Windows, but I am having the most mind-boggling problem with the device since setting it up yesterday.

Basically, when using the keypad in the Mac calculator app, it automatically clears the numbers right after entering. Even in programs like filemaker, it just clears the entire field after any number is pressed. When I hit something like the equals or bracket keys, weird combos get pressed, like C,4,0, on the left bracket, and C,4,1, on the right bracket. I have no idea why this is happening. I've tried it on other computers, and the only thing I can think of is that the Apple keyboard setup has something to do with it, but I've tried most every option. 

Any ideas?

[NCesau]

I too just set this up (not really) and noticed all the same things.  It says its windows only (gulp) but if you go to the downloads area it does have snow leopard downloads.  Still does all the stupid stuff you just said after the downloads.  It should pop up as a a device in our system preferences under  "other" at the bottom.  I have a logitech mouse that does show up at the other location.  It never seems to "unify" with this device.  very sucky

I love the concept...keying in without taking your hand off the mouse...duh.  Please email me if you solve the riddle and I can do the same if I get an answer and a email address. me=  AAWarch@bellsouth.net

[schalliol]

I don't have any answers here, but I did buy Logitech's best mouse for my MacBook Pro with the idea that I would be able to use a wireless number pad and possibly a remote.  I would very much like a number pad with the unifying receiver!

[schalliol]

It looks like the Logitech Control Center has been updated.  Does anyone know if this is now supported?  The LCC even says that the unifying receiver supports number pads.

[schalliol]

NOW WORKS!

I bought a Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX last year and liked the small receiver that barely sticks out of the USB port.  Part of the point of this receiver is that you only need one for whatever accessories you have. The information on the Logitech site says that it works with number pads, keyboards, mice, etc., but I couldn't find a number pad that says it was Mac compatible.  I broke down and bought one even though I knew it didn't work well.

Upon getting it, now I had one tiny USB receiver attached to my MacBook Pro, connecting to the number pad and mouse...but a couple issues were a challenge for me out of the box:
1. An extra "num lock" command sent before and after all regular keys, which actually sends a clear in Excel (no problem in a lot of apps).
2. The top "=" "(" and ")" send option and then two digits. I guess on Windows this translates to the appropriate characters.

Now using KeyRemap4MacBook version 6.7.34 and above, a N305 modification is now available under "Change KeyPad Key > Logitech N305 hack."  Developer of KeyRemap4MacBook, Takayama Fumihiko, selflessly fixed these problems through some back and forth email chatter.  As a side comment, I use this software to make my MBP's right option key into an enter key (like the older MBPs, since often having a single press for enter is better than function return).

Now the keypad does everything I want it to do.  It is a bit bigger than the corded unit I was toting around, but it does seem durable and allows me to use the single receiver (with a backup now) to run both devices.  I do like that the comment says the included AAA batteries will power the unit for years.

[MickeyS]

I works with my mac pro perfectly except with the calculator. I type a number and it seems like it hits the "clear" key immediately erasing the number. Does anyone has a work around or another calculator program that may work with the number pad?

[schalliol]

Using the KeyRemap4MacBook utility I mentioned, you can solve that problem see the Logitech N305 hack.

[MickeyS]

I works now that I downloaded the newest version, originally I downloaded an older version. Thannks so much for your help, I am very happy with the keypad because my Dinovo keyboard didn't have a numeric pad and was making me crazy typing the number from the top. I just have one more question, I have the MX performance mouse, which has its ownreceiver too, is there a way that both the mouse and they keypad can work with one receiver?

[schalliol]

Mickey,  You can absolutely use a single receiver.  I think you should be able to pull out the second unit and then click into the LCC system preferences pane and click "Open Unifying Software."  From there you should be able to add it.

[MickeyS]

Oh, cool! I'll try that too, I am looking for a way to make the clear key work. In other words when I press the clear I want it to do the same thing as when you press the "c".