Why MacBook has two enter keys?

[mwxiao]

There is one know as enter/return.

The other one is next to the log on the right side of the space bar.

I never use the second one. How do you guys use it?

 

[cyclingplatypus]

You know I never even noticed it before...how weird.

 

[klex]

I use the second one for forward delete, which is possible after I installed a keyboard remapping program called doublecommand. It's quite useful, since one of my issue with mac was that their laptops didn't have forward delete which I use quite often.

 

[7on]

One is Enter the other is Return (Fn+Return = Enter which is why there are two names). Some apps handle the keys differently. In adium for example you can set it so that return "returns" the line of text and enter sends the message.

I use the second one for forward delete, which is possible after I installed a keyboard remapping program called doublecommand. It's quite useful, since one of my issue with mac was that their laptops didn't have forward delete which I use quite often.

fn+Delete = forward delete

 

[killerrobot]

Could you post a pic??

 

[mwxiao]

Could you post a pic??

Image from Macworld.

 

[klex]

fn+Delete = forward delete

That I know. What I needed was one button to do it all. A little annoying having to press two buttons to forward delete.

 

[shecky]

in indesign "enter" will take you to the top of the next column when flowing text, "return" will not.

 

[killerrobot]

Thanks for the pic I've never noticed that on a MB before (no such thing exists on the Spanish keyboards from my knowledge).

I think it has to go back to the old school days when there was a difference between a "hard" return and a "soft" return (the enter key). On old macs the enter key used to be where the left shift key is now.

 

[scaredpoet]

FWIW, the second enter key was intended for people who are using the keyboard as a numeric keypad, and entering lots of numeric data.

If you "Num Lock" your keyboard (push the F6 key), the U I O P, J K L ; and M . ? keys turn into a numeric keypad (hence the tiny numbers and symbols on the lower right corners of those keys). In this configuration, that second enter key semi-approximates where the enter key would be on the number keypad of a full sized keyboard. It would actually be better-placed to the right of the arrow keys for this, but then that would really throw most people off.

Not that I've ever seen anyone actually use a laptop keyboard this way, but there it is. *shrug*

 

[nateDEEZY]

That one is mainly used when ur in num lock mode...

 

[Roguepirate]

i find using the "Enter" easier when doing cmd+enter to complete a .com in firefox.

 

[Tumeg101]

There is one know as enter/return.

The other one is next to the log on the right side of the space bar.

I never use the second one. How do you guys use it?

Same reason that there are two enter keys on a PC keyboard, lol,