IntelliType
Encyclopedia
Microsoft
IntelliType is the Microsoft brand driver
for Microsoft's series of computer keyboards
. Microsoft releases versions for both Windows
and Mac OS X
.
IntelliType supports all known Microsoft keyboards (including those that are shipped as parts of desktop sets, as well as entertainment keyboards - i.e. those that are intended for Media center
). However, advanced features may only be available on certain models (the users select their keyboard's type inside the program and get that keyboard type's specific button selection).
s (instead of USB
).
On-screen indication of NumLock/CapsLock toggling with some keyboards.
On-screen indication of volume level when level is changed.
Version 6.2 forced the user to constantly check for updates by installing and launching the file "dpupdchk.exe" in the background. It must stay in the background for the control panel's settings to launch (although it could be avoided by renaming the file to something else). Version 6.3 fixed this behavior by only making it an opt-in option during the installation.
Version 7.0 and later in Windows 7 has recently been proven to disable the media keys (Play/Pause, Next, Previous, Stop) for third-party media players such as iTunes
and Media Jukebox when they are not the primary window of focus. This behavior has been rectified by Microsoft as of Version 8.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
IntelliType is the Microsoft brand driver
Device driver
In computing, a device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device....
for Microsoft's series of computer keyboards
Computer keyboard
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
. Microsoft releases versions for both Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
.
IntelliType supports all known Microsoft keyboards (including those that are shipped as parts of desktop sets, as well as entertainment keyboards - i.e. those that are intended for Media center
Home theater PC
A Home Theater PC or Media Center appliance is a convergence device that combines some or all the capabilities of a personal computer with a software application that supports video, photo, music playback, and sometimes video recording functionality...
). However, advanced features may only be available on certain models (the users select their keyboard's type inside the program and get that keyboard type's specific button selection).
Supported keyboards
Note: Version 8.0 and above dropped PS/2 support for the following list. As even adapters can't assist, Microsoft keeps version 7.1 as an offered download for users who still own keyboards with PS/2 connectorPS/2 connector
The PS/2 connector is a 6-pin Mini-DIN connector used for connecting some keyboards and mice to a PC compatible computer system. Its name comes from the IBM Personal System/2 series of personal computers, with which it was introduced in 1987...
s (instead of USB
Universal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
).
| Keyboard | Windows Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal... |
Mac OS X Mac OS X Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems... |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Keyboard | ||
| Internet Pro Keyboard | ||
| Keyboard Elite for Bluetooth | ||
| Wireless Comfort Keyboard 4000 | ||
| Comfort Curve 2000 | ||
| Digital Keyboard 3000 | ||
| Digital Media Keyboard | ||
| Wireless Laser Keyboard 3000 | ||
| Wireless Laser Keyboard 5000 | ||
| Wireless Laser Keyboard 6000 | ||
| Wireless Laser Keyboard 7000 | ||
| Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 7000 | ||
| Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 8000 | ||
| Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 | ||
| Natural Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard 7000 | ||
| Digital Media Keyboard 3000 | ||
| Natural Keyboard Pro | ||
| Wireless MultiMedia Keyboard | ||
| Sidewinder X6 | ||
| Sidewinder X4 |
Special features
If the keyboard has multimedia buttons, the user can define them to run any program or action.On-screen indication of NumLock/CapsLock toggling with some keyboards.
On-screen indication of volume level when level is changed.
Limitations
While the user could always define special keys (and multimedia keys, if such exist), it was only possible since version 6.3 to define them not just globally but also per application.Version 6.2 forced the user to constantly check for updates by installing and launching the file "dpupdchk.exe" in the background. It must stay in the background for the control panel's settings to launch (although it could be avoided by renaming the file to something else). Version 6.3 fixed this behavior by only making it an opt-in option during the installation.
Version 7.0 and later in Windows 7 has recently been proven to disable the media keys (Play/Pause, Next, Previous, Stop) for third-party media players such as iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and Media Jukebox when they are not the primary window of focus. This behavior has been rectified by Microsoft as of Version 8.