IntelliType explained

IntelliType
Screenshot Size:150px
Developer:Microsoft
Discontinued:yes
Latest Release Version:8.20.469.0 (Windows), 8.2.0 (Mac OS X)
Operating System:Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
Genre:Device driver
License:Proprietary
Website:www.microsoft.com

Microsoft IntelliType is the brand driver for Microsoft's series of computer keyboards. Microsoft releases versions for both Windows and (as of version 10.15 Microsoft IntelliType no longer installs on). It has been succeeded by Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center, which combines IntelliType with IntelliPoint.

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 to access 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 connectors (instead of USB).[1]

Mac OS X (prior to 10.15)
Internet Keyboard
Internet Pro Keyboard [2]
Keyboard Elite for Bluetooth [3]
Wireless Comfort Keyboard 4000
Comfort Curve 2000
Comfort Curve 3000 [4]
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 [5]
Wireless MultiMedia Keyboard
Wireless Keyboard 2000 v2.0
SideWinder X6
SideWinder X4Comes with CD
Logitech k120?

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 64-bit 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.[6] Some workaround exists:[7] This behavior continues to be an issue as of Version 8.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Microsoft IntelliType Pro 8.0 Keyboard Software 32bit – Overview. Microsoft. 2010-08-23. 2010-10-14.
  2. (Supported only up to v5.5 of Intellitype)
  3. (The included Bluetooth dongle requires Windows XP Service Pack 2)
  4. Web site: Comfort Curve 3000 keyboard and Intellitype. Microsoft Answers. 2012-02-28. 2012-05-14.
  5. (Supported only up to v6.31 of Intellitype)
  6. Web site: Intellitype Pro 7.0 does not recognize media keys when using 3rd party programs . Microsoft Answers. 2010-08-12. 2014-09-13.
  7. Web site: Intellitype Pro 7.0 does not recognize media keys when using 3rd party programs . Microsoft Answers. 2012-03-12. 2014-09-13.