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The system software for the PowerBook supports several other new features.
The I2 S-based sound system in the new PowerBook computer is the first such implementation on a PowerBook computer. To support this new hardware, a Sound HAL (hardware abstraction layer) has been written. In addition to the HAL, a port handler has been written to describe the hardware capabilities.
Several of the keys on the keyboard have more than one mode of operation. The function keys can also control the display and speakers; the keys on the right side of the keyboard can also be used as a numeric keypad; and certain control keys can also be used as page-control keys. The Keyboard Control Panel has been changed to support these features, as described in the section Keyboard.
External keyboards connected using USB will work. The image displayed by Key Caps toggles when input from an external keyboard is detected.
The PowerBook computer uses on-screen display meters for its sound and display control buttons. There are separate on-screen display meters for display brightness, sound volume, and mute.
A software driver for the AirPort Card wireless LAN module is included in the Extensions folder. For more information, please see AirPort Card Wireless LAN Module.
The DVD-ROM drive in the PowerBook computer does not include hardware for decoding MPEG movies on DVD. Instead, the decoding is performed in software running on the main processor.