Shouldn't multimedia keyboards work out of the box?

[molloollom]

My multimedia keyboard works perfectly under Ubuntu, and while I'm aware that there's some tweaks I can try with a lot of effort that is reminiscent of my days using windows 95, shouldn't it already work like Ubuntu does?
Is there at least a package I can install, or something?

[kev.sparky]

Re: Shouldn't multimedia keyboards work out of the box?

I think it depends on the Laptop Manufacturer. Some take the easy route and make their multimedia keys only operate for Windows Media Player or such, i.e. pressing the "Play/Pause" Multimedia key sends a "Ctrl+P" key press from the keyboard. Those would naturally work on Ubuntu. Some of the new laptops from manufacturers like Dell need their software (which only works for windows) to work those keys.

[molloollom]

Re: Shouldn't multimedia keyboards work out of the box?

I understand all that, the point I'm making is that whether we're talking about Ubuntu or Kubuntu, it's pretty much all the same codebase. There is nothing that is in Ubuntu that deals with multimedia keyboards that cannot be duplicated in Kubuntu, it's essentially the same operating system.

[dibl]

Re: Shouldn't multimedia keyboards work out of the box?

the point I'm making is that whether we're talking about Ubuntu or Kubuntu, it's pretty much all the same codebase.

The Linux kernel and the fundamental elements of the OS are indeed the same. But Gnome and KDE are two very different "environments" and handling keyboard and mouse I/O is mostly controlled by the desktop environment. I'm not the expert on how to figure out the output of a keystroke for any given key, but I believe Mr. Google can be of great assistance in figuring out how to "catch" the output of a "mulitimedia" keystroke, i.e.

http://gunnarwrobel.de/wiki/Linux-and-the-keyboard.html

http://linuxgazette.net/issue76/marinov.html

http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX103576


and then you can use your KDE "keyboard shortcut" capability to map that output to some multimedia function that you want to perform.

[molloollom]

Re: Shouldn't multimedia keyboards work out of the box?

No dude, I don't need help figuring out how to configure my keyboard. What I need is an explanation on why it is that Kubuntu is a second-rate OS compared to the development and polish that goes into the main Ubuntu distribution. KDE is a better environment, that much is obvious, and it's obvious that it's possible for the distro to make multimedia keys work out of the box, because Ubuntu already does it. Yet here we are, having to do something like that manually.

[dibl]

Re: Shouldn't multimedia keyboards work out of the box?

Oh.

Well, I suppose it's a popularity thing -- Ubuntu is clearly far more popular. Why? I dunno -- I ran it (Feisty) for awhile, but the KDE desktop has always been more attractive, more functional, and overall friendlier, IMHO. Even when I boot sidux it has the KDE desktop. It's just .... better. But not as popular.

[Snowhog]

Re: Shouldn't multimedia keyboards work out of the box?

First, let me say right up front, that what I'm about to say is not intended to ignite a flame war.

Okay, here's my take on the whole Ubuntu vs Kubuntu issue. I for one, feel that there is an undercurrent in the Ubuntu community that considers Kubuntu as 'less pure' and not really deserving of a whole lot of consideration, and users of Kubuntu who complain that something that 'just works' in Ubuntu but doesn't in Kubuntu, are getting what they deserve. As said, my take only.

As dibl stated, the desktop environments of Ubuntu and Kubuntu are very different, not just in how things look (and work), but in the underlying development tools used to code the programs. What is sad (really sad) is that the two camps don't collaborate with each other (more than they do?). If *ubuntu (all flavors) wants to see large gains to the user base, they need to take what works in one and find ways to make that function work in the other variants. If this does not take place, then the frustration that has been expressed here, and in other posts, only serves to hamper the growth of *ubuntu Linux, which is avoidable.

[molloollom]

Re: Shouldn't multimedia keyboards work out of the box?

What is sad (really sad) is that the two camps don't collaborate with each other (more than they do?). If *ubuntu (all flavors) wants to see large gains to the user base, they need to take what works in one and find ways to make that function work in the other variants. If this does not take place, then the frustration that has been expressed here, and in other posts, only serves to hamper the growth of *ubuntu Linux, which is avoidable.

I agree. How does one foster collaboration on such a task?

[molloollom]

Re: Shouldn't multimedia keyboards work out of the box?

I posted to the Ubuntu idea pool about this.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...44#post5090844

I'm not as eloquent as you Snowhog, but I feel that there's enough potential to improve Ubuntu as a whole that I couldn't resist asking what they thought about it. Because you're absolutely right, and it would be a great step toward fixing this issue. Please drop in on the conversation and say a few words if you can, because I don't want to start a flame war either, I'm only interested in the quality of software that flies under the ubuntu flag.

[dibl]

Re: Shouldn't multimedia keyboards work out of the box?

Good idea.

I have the impression that KDE kind of goes down its own path independently, unaware/unconstrained by what *buntu is doing, so that the Kubuntu developers are left to "catch the incoming" from the KDE developers. Maybe that's just the appearance of it. I don't know how the Gnome developers collaborate with Ubuntu, if they do at all. I also have the impression that there's a lot less to Gnome, so maybe it's just easier for the Ubuntu devs to deal with, versus KDE.

[MoonRise]

Re: Shouldn't multimedia keyboards work out of the box?

First, let me say right up front, that what I'm about to say is not intended to ignite a flame war.

Okay, here's my take on the whole Ubuntu vs Kubuntu issue. I for one, feel that there is an undercurrent in the Ubuntu community that considers Kubuntu as 'less pure' and not really deserving of a whole lot of consideration, and users of Kubuntu who complain that something that 'just works' in Ubuntu but doesn't in Kubuntu, are getting what they deserve. As said, my take only.

As dibl stated, the desktop environments of Ubuntu and Kubuntu are very different, not just in how things look (and work), but in the underlying development tools used to code the programs. What is sad (really sad) is that the two camps don't collaborate with each other (more than they do?). If *ubuntu (all flavors) wants to see large gains to the user base, they need to take what works in one and find ways to make that function work in the other variants. If this does not take place, then the frustration that has been expressed here, and in other posts, only serves to hamper the growth of *ubuntu Linux, which is avoidable.

Well put. I still believe, thought, that Canonical does pay more attention to "their" Flagship. They are still after all a business. Regardless of that and the some times problems with Kubuntu, I still use Kubuntu because of Feel and Function. Also, this Forum has to be given a lot of credit as well. When ever I've posted something at Ubuntu, it always ended up someone bashing me or name calling. Not a good atmosphere IMO.