Microsoft IntelliType Pro for Windows. (driver version 6.31.222.0)
Xah Lee, 2007-10, 2009-11-04
IntelliType is the software that is bundled with Microsoft's keyboards. The software allows you to assign functionality to various special keys and function keys on the keyboard. For example, you can set a key to launch or switch application, open a particular file, or press some keyboard combination instead. It also allows you to set up some other keyboarding related preference, for example, you can switch the functionality of Caps Lock key and Ctrl. You can also make the Windows key act as Mac's Option key and the Alt key as Mac's Cmd key, for Mac users.
Of my over a decade experience of using keyboard and keymapping software (including: QuicKeys (~1992-~2001), ResEdit keymap rsrc (~1993), xmodmap (~1999), KeyboardMaestro (~2003), DefaultKeyBinding.dict (~2005), Quicksilver (~2007) ...), i think IntelliType is one of the top quality software. However, no software is perfect and in the following i list some flaws i find. This list is mostly just a personal record. It is useful if you are also a key macro nerd.
Here are some criticisms of IntelliType for Windows.
Microsoft IntelliType Pro for Windows. (driver version 6.31.222.0)
The software does not let you customize all keys. Only a small set of keys. The keys that can be customized are:
Also, some of these buttons or keys cannot be fully customized. For example, the “My Favorites” buttons can only be set to launch programs.
The function keys cannot be customized. They can, only if you have the F-lock off. This is a pain, because if you want to have customized F keys, you need to leave the F-lock off. The problem here is primarily of complexity. In general, this problem is primarily due to the F-lock invention itself. (for detail, see: The F-Lock Key Problem)
The modefier keys, such as Ctrl, Win, Alt, Menu, Cap Lock, Num Lock, cannot be customized, except some very basic ones such as disable the key.
It would be nice to be able to customize any key. For example, the Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down block of keys. Especially for gaming (e.g. Second Life), or apps that involves lots of controls such as 3D modeling software (e.g. 3S Max, Autodesk Maya) and emacs.
For example, in Second Life, i'd like to customize the number keys on the number pad, so that when i press them, they do special things. Also, this is such a nice keyboard with many special buttons, it would be fantastic if they can all be customized. It Second Life, by default the WASD are for movement. However, since i'm using a dvorak keyboard layout, i'd like to have for example “,aoe” keys instead. Second Life viewer does not let you customize these. But, IntelliType should, but can't.
• The window cannot be resized. Whenever a application that has windows main interface and cannot be re-sized, it is a pain in the ass. User cannot see the whole content in a glance, and has to carefully scroll the content. Mouse wheel can scroll, but usually difficult to control here because the window is small. User can easily went over. Some apps, has long lines in the content, so user have to scroll left/right or each particular line she wants to view. The need to scroll left/right is more painful because there's no easy mouse wheel to do it, and fancy mouse that provide side moving by the wheel is too slow.
This report is regarding the Mac version of “Microsoft IntelliType Pro, Version 5.4 (v.105)”. The keyboard i'm using is Microsoft Wireless Natural Multimedia Keyboard.
Microsoft IntelliType Pro for Mac.
• Once a function key is assigned to launch a application, any key-combination press involving a modifier and the function key will just launch the application as if no modifier key is pressed. For example, if i set F1 to launch web browser, then pressing any of shift+F1, Alt+F1, Ctrl+F1 all will just launch web browser. If the function key launch is setup with F-Lock up, same problem happens. In other words, IntelliType renders modifier+functionKey combination useless.
This is bad news for me because i use function keys extensively to launch applications and each modifier+function variation launches different applications of the same type. For example, i do a lot literature research so i have several dictionaries on my computer. F1 is set to launch American Heritage Dict, and i'd like Shift+F1 to launch Apple's bundled Oxford American Dict, and Ctrl+F1 to launch the web-based OmniDictionary, and Cmd+F1 to launch a web browser based Merriem-Webster. Other function keys are similarly occupied. (see also: A Review of 3 Dictionaries)
With the IntelliType problem of consuming a whole function key, my work-around is to not use IntelliType to define any function keys. Instead, use other keymapping software to do the launching. (currently am using Quicksilver for this.)
Related essays: