Aluminum Keyboard and Static

I have a new iMac with the new aluminum keyboard. It's wintertime, which means there's a lot of static in my place. I've already been shocked several times today touching the aluminum part of the keyboard.
Usually, during the winter, I try to discharge the static by touching some metal prior to sitting down at my computer, but it also takes a bit of time to get it through my head to do it each year.
What's the risk of damaging my keyboard and/or Mac if I forget and get shocked off of the aluminum part of the keyboard?

Well I went to close my lap top screen and soon as I touched the the uper left corner to close I discharged static and the screen went black instantly. I have discharged before when touching my MBP and never had a problem but this time it felt like the shock was much stonger. I rebooted my macbook pro and everything appeared ok. But when I got to work (I rund dual screens at work) video would not go to my external monitor. I think I may have damaged something. Fortunaly that is the only thing wrong at this time.

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If I plug the new Aluminum keyboard into the rear USB ports I am able to get the keyboard to work, but not activate the KVM controls as it is supposed to if plugged into the front. When plugged into the front of the KVM it's like there's no keyboard at all. I also tried to install the latest keyboard update, but seeing that the problem exists on the hardware level with the switch I didn't expect anything, and had the same result as you did.
I'm sure it's with the KVM, but I couldn't find an upgrade anywhere. I'll call IOGEAR tomorrow and ask.
For the record, this switch is highly compatible from what I can tell. I've used it with probably 10 keyboards of all makes and models over the years including several apple variations with absolutely no problems including all of the special apple keys (volume, eject, etc). I don't see what would be different here. Why would apple make a non-standard keyboard. I really think you'd have to state that it's not going to work where all other keyboards before it have. Silly. It's a shame cause I really like they keyboard, but I can't give up ability to switch via KVM.
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I hope I'm just missing something obvious. Love the new aluminum keyboard, but is there now just one Exposé option? I'm a regular user of the old F9 (all windows), F10 (application windows), and F11 (desktop) Exposé functions. Not only is it handy, it's a very showy way to dazzle the Windows folks.
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The only links are on http://www.apple.com/swupdates/
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I just bough a brand new aluminum wireless keyboard and some of the function keys aren't working, from F1 through F7. F9 works like F3 should and F12 like F5. It's so bizarre. Otherwise the keys all work fine. I've updated everything, tried working through the forums workarounds on the aluminum keyboard, and so far it didn't work for my computer. I'm pretty frustrated. Has anyone figured out the solution? I'm running 10.6.7 and have updated all my software.

One last key combo to try, while holding SHIFT fn try toglling volume brightness... and see if that works. It'a been years since I've used anything but my built in keyboard.
At this point Run software update with the keyboard connected and see if there may be an update for that.
Try a SMC reset:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord.
Wait fifteen seconds.
Attach the computer's power cord.
Wait five seconds, then press the power button to turn on the computer.
try a pram reset:
Resetting NVRAM / PRAM
Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.
After resetting NVRAM or PRAM, you may need to reconfigure your settings for speaker volume, screen resolution, startup disk selection, and time zone information. If issues persist, your Mac's logic board battery (not a portable Mac's rechargeable battery) may need to be replaced. The logic board battery helps retain NVRAM/PRAM settings when your computer is shut down. You can take your Mac to a Mac Genius or Apple Authorized Service Provider to replace the battery on the logic board.
If still no joy, contact Apple, or go to the store and find out what you may need to do, This was the bullet in my gun, I'm sorry I could not resolve this for you.It's probably something simple, or maybe your machine is too old to suport this device.
Best of luck.
If they get you going, please post back so others may find out the fix:>

Annoying problem with aluminum keyboard

i recently bought the new aluminum keyboard and i love it except for a couple of things:
i really liked where the volume and brightness controls were on my old keyboard. i have searched high and dry to see how to move the volume controls from F10-F12 to F16-F19, and the brightness controls from F1-F2 to F14-F15. the reason i want to remap these keys is not only for convenience, but also because i need the F1-F12 keys free.
now, you will probably remind me that in the Keyboard & Mouse preferences, there is an option to use the F keys as standard keys (meaning that if i wanted to use the brightness/media/volume) i would need to hold down the fh key, but this is a huge inconvenience to do, and i would like them back in their respective places.
how is it possible to 1. remap the mentioned controls to where they used to be? and 2. not have to hold down the fn key to press them?
i would greatly appreciate any help on this, as it is frustrating me by the hour.

thanks for the reply but unfortunately that program only allows you to open apps/folders when keys are remapped.
i don't see what would be so hard about writing a program that did the following:
- recognize a command from your keyboard (fn + f10 = mute audio)
- create a new shortcut for this command (f17)
so it will read: replace f17 with the function of fn + f10
guess i will have to keep waiting..........

Remap volume and eject keys on aluminum keyboard?

Is there a way to remap the volume, mute and eject keys on the Apple
(wired) aluminum keyboard?
I'd rather have them above the keypad if that's possible - like they
were on previous Apple keyboards.

Something vaguely relevant from MacFixit:
"Friday, March 03 2006 @ 02:46 PM PST
Mac OS X 10.4.5 Special Report: Keyboard/Mouse issues
Some users are reporting issues with specific input devices -- generally third-party keyboards -- after the update to Mac OS X 10.4.5.
One reader writes:
"After updating my iMac Core Duo to 10.4.5, the scroll function of the blue, middle button on my IBM SpaceSaver USB keyboard (with integrated trackpoint pointing device) no longer works. I had been using USB OverDrive 10.4.4 to gain this feature."
Re-installing combo updater The versatile workaround of re-installing the Mac OS X combo updater (PowerPC, (Intel) works to resolve a number of odd keyboard and mouse issues occurring after the update, including inversion of mouse buttons. "
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosxupdate1045combo.html

Aluminum Keyboard and Static

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