Apple Wireless KB on a Mac running Windows

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criccio

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Now my experience with Apple hardware/software has always been that "it just works", but this is truly extraordinary. Such insight and attention to detail on Apple's part.

If you have a Bluetooth Apple Wireless Keyboard connected and working in OS X, and you go to install Windows (7, in this case), the keyboard just works automatically without any configuration. It works in the installer and when the OS is fully installed.

The really interesting bit, is that in Windows, there is NO Bluetooth Device in the Device Manager at all and no Bluetooth Control Panel item. Yet the keyboard, again, "just works".

To be honest, i'm a little confused as to how exactly it is working.

It only shows up under the regular "Keyboards" section as an "HID Keyboard Device".

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All "Bootcamp" is, is a drive partitioning utility and a set of drivers. If your question was "Did you use the Bootcamp drive partitioner to partition the drive?" than yes, I did.

I did not install any of the drivers though. All the drivers where pulled in via WU. Keep in mind though, the keyboard worked in the installer, even before the OS was installed.

Still don't understand how.
 
criccio said:
All "Bootcamp" is, is a drive partitioning utility and a set of drivers. If your question was "Did you use the Bootcamp drive partitioner to partition the drive?" than yes, I did.

I did not install any of the drivers though. All the drivers where pulled in via WU. Keep in mind though, the keyboard worked in the installer, even before the OS was installed.

Still don't understand how.
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The Apples are running EFI which is a lot more complex then a standard BIOS. In this case they have bluetooth support built in at a much lower level so the keyboard and mouse work from boot. They do this so it can be used on bootup. For bootcamp is also allows the keyboard and mouse to work. Without it the devices would need to be repaired each time you switched operating systems.
 
criccio said:
Apple really thinks of everything... Thanks swatbat.
Click to expand...

It is more that they have the extra control over the setup. Microsoft dropped the ball with EFI support in vista.

In the case of apple they control the entire line including hardware and software. It allows them to do things other companies can not.
 
I have an Apple Keyboard (small, USB) running on my notebook, it works as a simple keyboard, but none of the FN keys work, neither does the Eject key. Apple is real forth coming with drivers and I can't even get the drivers from a Bootcamp CD to work...

I have to say it is a really, REALLY nice keyboard. I know that $50 is a bit overkill, but its solid and fits in my bag with my notebook.

NON Bootcamp PC.
 
Thanks for that, lol, but I am using this keyboard on a Mac running windows, not a PC.
 
RangerXML said:
I have an Apple Keyboard (small, USB) running on my notebook, it works as a simple keyboard, but none of the FN keys work, neither does the Eject key. Apple is real forth coming with drivers and I can't even get the drivers from a Bootcamp CD to work...

I have to say it is a really, REALLY nice keyboard. I know that $50 is a bit overkill, but its solid and fits in my bag with my notebook.

NON Bootcamp PC.
Click to expand...

In the past apple has not been very helpful with getting their stuff running on non-apple computers. I know with the older keyboards from like the g3 and g4 machines you could get some third party software that helped you map the buttons. Might be able to with the newer stuff as well(haven't checked it in a while). Their mice suck though. I'm not a fan of them at all. Currently have my apple running off a logitech g7 and a Microsoft natural keyboard elite.
 
As said EFI, not Apple, magic :p (though at this time Apple is one of the few consumer device companies using EFI)

EFI has its own driver environment that can then interface with the OS, pretty cool.

It is even more impressive what some of the EFI servers can do as far as hardware goes, cool stuff. Cant wait till EFI takes over as the norm :D
 
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