It would be far more convenient if Apple would simply add a checkbox to the keyboard preferences panel that lets you enable or disable special characters as needed. While you might not use one or the other often enough that this necessarily seems like a big problem, there are enough Mac users out there asking this very same question. Granted, this isn’t the most convenient way to go about switching between repeating and special characters. defaults write -g ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool true If you want to reenable special characters, then you will need to enter the command in the Terminal again, change the last part to “true” and then again restart your computer. The Delay Until Repeat option lets you decide how long it takes when you press and hold a key before it begins repeating. Note, if it is off, then keys won’t repeat at all. The first option will let you dictate how fast a key repeats.
