Apple 17-INCH manual Changing the Operation of the Keyboard, Keyboard Illustrations

CHAPTER 3

Devices and Ports

The PowerBook G4 17-inch computer has a fiber-optic backlit keyboard and ambient light sensors that control the brightness of the display and the keyboard backlighting. In low light, the computer automatically illuminates the backlit keyboard and lowers the display brightness. As light levels increase, the display brightness is re-adjusted automatically and the keyboard backlighting is turned off. There are two light sensors, one under each speaker grill.

Access to internal components and expansion connectors is no longer via the keyboard, so the keyboard is not latched for removal. Access to the memory cards is via the RAM expansion slot and is explained in “RAM Expansion Slots” (page 53).

Changing the Operation of the Keyboard

Several of the keys on the keyboard have more than one mode of operation.

●Function keys F1–F10 can also control features such the display brightness, the speaker volume, the dual display feature, the Num Lock function, and the illuminated keyboard brightness. Refer to Table 3-9(page 42) for the entire list. A media eject key is located to the right of the F12 function key.

●Certain control keys can be used as page-control keys.

●The keys on the right side of the keyboard can be used as a numeric keypad.

The next sections describe these groups of keys and the way their alternate modes of operation are selected by using the Fn key, and the Num Lock key.

Keyboard Illustrations

Figure 3-6(page 39) shows the actual appearance of the keyboard. Figure 3-7(page 40) shows the alternate modes of operation of the function and control keys. Figure 3-8(page 41) shows the embedded numeric keypad.

Figure 3-6Keyboard layout

Keyboard 39

Legacy Document 2003-03-01 © 2003 Apple Computer, Inc. All Rights Reserved.