1 Computer, 2 Keyboards, Need some help

[addieandjack]

Hey all, ok so I've really started getting into Multiboxing but I have a problem, I'm running out of keys to use and would like to have access to more keys. I would love to buy a set of x-keys but I can't afford it right now and I'm looking for an alternative.
So heres my question, I currently have a saitek Eclipse II as my keyboard and an extra mac mighty keyboard (the mini, ultra thin keyboards that come with the new imacs) and I'm wondering if theres a program or something else I can do to have my computer recognize the two keyboards as seperate devices. So that I can use my second keybaord as a sort of x-keys replacement. Any help on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

[cepheus]

You could try to glue the ctrl/alt/Shift key down on one of the keyboards, but I'm a bit unsure if the modifier will apply for just one or both of the keyboards

[uthallan]

Bump

I'm in the same position

I don't have an extra keyboard to test it with right now, could someone confirm? and if it doesn't work, could you use the Ymouse thing to make it work if you can only have 1 keyboard on a computer
(http://www.xkeys.com/ymouse.php)

[Nitro]

Check out EBAY and try to snipe yourself a deal at the last minute:

X-Keys
http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=x-k...=n52&_osacat=0

N52
http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=n52...+key&_osacat=0

Saitek Command Unit
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

[uthallan]

Thanks alot, I actually tried ebayin x-keys a little while ago, but I couldn't find anything. Thanks very much, and i'll try to win that

anyway, since no one was using my second computer, I took it's keyboard off and tried it. (both usb)
with no drivers or anything they could both type.
Only problem is, when I held down shift one one and typed on the other, it would still act as if I had shift on it too. I guess windows can't recognize 2 keyboards.

I have a question. Why are all the programmable keyboards/pads so damned expensive? I mean Xkeys are ridiculously overpriced.

[Freddie]

Windows can distinguish between multiple keyboards. That is to say, it knows you've got two keyboards plugged in and it knows which keyboard each keystroke comes from. But you're not running an application that tells Windows to react differently to each of the keyboards, so Windows, by default, took both keyboards equally seriously. You pressed shift on one so Windows entered a shift state. (The shift state belongs to Windows not the keyboard.) You pressed a key on the other and Windows accepted the keystroke and capitalized it. If you want Windows to react in some other way you need to find an application that describes that other way to Windows. So far as I know, nobody has bothered to write that kind of application. I thought about adding this feature to HotkeyNet but decided not to because Windows's "multiple keyboard API" is missing an important capability that HotkeyNet needs.

Specialized keypads are expensive because (1) unlike keyboards they aren't built from commodity parts that sell in huge numbers and (2) specialized keypads come with a lot of custom software which often includes device drivers. Also (3) some specialized keypads are designed for industrial use and are made from higher-quality parts than ordinary keyboards.

People here tend to distinguish "hardware"" and "software" when talking about solutions that broadcast or generate output but very often it's a false distinction. The "hardware" products are actually packages of hardware plus software, and in many cases the software component is larger and more expensive than what you get with pure software solutions.