Fn Versus Ctrl

http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/?p=1932

Seems like the designer for Lenovo was listening to the complaints of the Fn and Ctrl key placement and there is a chance there might be a change.
Personally, I am not getting a Thinkpad because of the Fn and Ctrl Key placement. If they plan on offering a change in BIOS, I'd buy a Lenovo today. But judging from the results of the poll so far, a lot of people favor the Fn and Ctrl Key placement, so most likely I won't be getting a Thinkpad.

Leave your comments on the blog and vote!

 

Personally, I really only care about the Ctrl position for gaming. Seeing as how my Thinkpad probably isn't the best computer for gaming, I never have much of a problem. I do use the Ctrl button everyday for cutting and pasting, but I get used to its position. It is kind of awkward switching between my computers though...

 

Thanks for the post! People, visit the site and get your votes in!

 

definitely prefer control on the far left... but is it really a deal breaker? Audio ports on the front of thinkpads annoy me too.

 

I appreciate having the Fn key in the lower left hand corner. I am used to this arrangement as ThinkPads have always had it and I am quite partial to this style.

However, an option in the BIOS to allow the consumer to swap the keys could be useful. An HP/Compaq UltraPortable I used for a time had this option and I used it to mimic the ThinkPad placement. This would seem like the ideal compromise. In addition if the Fn and Ctrl keys were the same physical size they could be swapped by the end user.

Hopefully that would put this whole controversy to bed.

 

i like the current:

Fn (left) Ctrl (right)

i use the function key more often that ctrl key. and i think the current design is more intituitive than otherwise. because i regard the Fn (function) key, not to be part of the core function of the keyboard (for typing) and as such, positioning it seperate from the main key, and having clear distinction, from the rest of the key, is appropriate.

if positioning it after the Ctrl key. ( Ctrl then Fn) arrangement. then i would regard the key as part of the core keyboard function. and it would be inside the core keyboard function. and as such, might acidentally activate the notebok Fn.

edit: hey! apple also uses the same Fn and Ctrl layout as thinkpad!

 

I'm curious: have you had a chance to really use a Thinkpad long enough to be used to the layout. It's really not a big a deal as some would have you think.

A BIOS setting wouldn't hurt I guess.

 

A BIOS setting would be nice, although I still greatly prefer the Fn in the corner - all the keyboards I've ever used, including my current external keyboard, has the Fn in the bottom left corner.

 

Tell us how this is possible please. You right-click to cut & paste?

I vote Ctrl/Fn or current layout + BIOS option.

 

Personally, I dont mind it either way. My hp has Ctrl Fn while the T400 hs Fn Ctrl and I use both of them everyday and have no problems adapting to either layout.

 

You'll adapt within days. It's really no big deal (I'm constantly switching between those layouts and I'm having no problems).

 

I'm also a little puzzled by this thread... it took me less than a week to get used to it. There are far more important aspects that influence whether or not I buy a certain laptop than the position of two keys.

 

And leave a comment asking for a BIOS switch so that we can all have our preference.

 

hahha, i adjust the screen brightness quite often.

and also, recently (because of the good suggestion from the notebook review guys) i'm using the touchpad/trackpoint, turn on/off function.

and for the record. no, i also use ctrl+c and ctrl+v, also ctrl+z

 

I like the fn-left, ctrl-right like it always was. i can see how it can drive people up a wall though if youre not used to it or gaming. its like how the windows key can be really annoying also. People can get used to it tho. its all just conventions anyway

 

No, I haven't. I know I could get used to it, since I saw the T400 in store and it seemed easy to adapt to. But I don't want to go home and accidentally hit the start menu button on my desktop keyboard instead... That was only a contributing factor to the deal breaker for me, not the real deal breaker. I didn't choose the Thinkpad because it didn't suit my needs as a college student, so I went with a Dell. However, if I were getting a laptop for work, I'd definitely go for the Thinkpads regardless of the Fn and Ctrl key placement since I have faith that the designers really care for their customers' satisfaction.

And the point of the thread was just to discuss and copy/paste it into the real blog since it is an official voting/discussion that the designer will look at.

 

Bumpity-bump-bump!

 

Nice suggestion with the BIOS change. I don't mind it, but I don't play a lot of games, meaning I don't have to use CTRL a lot, so I don't have to hold it down for long, which, to be sure, is more strenuous than if it were placed on the far left.

It's a shame that the Fn keys on my ThinkPad aren't used as often as on other laptops - one reason being that you can't use it to access the numpad keys, as you have to enable numlock to do so - on other laptops, all you had to do was to hold down the Fn key while pressing the numpad buttons.