why does laptop manufacturers swap the function keys with non-vital keys?

[SilverNodashi]

Does any one know why laptop manufacturers swap the function keys (F1 - F12) on top with non-vital laptop keys?

I noticed it a while ago on my friend's new Dell laptop, and now on my wife's new Lenovo as well. It's rather annoying, when you try and close a program you can't just press Alt+F4, but rather FN+Alt+F4 - which doesn't always work that well either.


anyhow, I'm just curious as to why they did this......

 

[ichigo]

hmm acer laptops dont do it so guess its certain manufacturers

 

[KhoisanX]

It seems that having a dedicated volume key(or whatever else) with an F-x key as a secondary function is the in thing, this is what put me off getting a Dell Studio a while back. The more serious/"business" laptops still seem to have the traditional layout though.

 

[UnUnOctium]

Because they (rightly) assume that most people are idiots

 

[LazyLion]

why does laptop manufacturers swap the function keys with non-vital keys?

"why do laptop manufacturers swap the function keys with non-vital keys?"

I have no idea why they do it. It is illogical and against all form and convention.
I agree. it is a dumb thing for them to do. Keep the keyboards the same.

 

[Freaksta]

Does any one know why laptop manufacturers swap the function keys (F1 - F12) on top with non-vital laptop keys?

I noticed it a while ago on my friend's new Dell laptop, and now on my wife's new Lenovo as well. It's rather annoying, when you try and close a program you can't just press Alt+F4, but rather FN+Alt+F4 - which doesn't always work that well either.


anyhow, I'm just curious as to why they did this......

On the lenovo you should be able to do a Fn lock ie to switch it back to the normal F function keys.

 

[PhireSide]

Isn't there a setting in the BIOS that enables you to switch between the Function key and normal mode?

 

[wez1007]

In most laptops bios settings you can change whats default, FN keys or F function keys.

It is rather stupid though and manufacturers should stop being lazy / cutting corners.

Edit: ^^ beat me to it

 

[gconey]

To compound the problem Lenovo also swapped the Fn and the Ctrl keys around. The far left key becomes the Fn key and this could lead to frustration if you use the Ctrl key a lot and are used to it's position. I simply won't buy a laptop where the function keys are only accessible with a finger gymnastics or where the manufacturer believes that all other keyboards are wrong.

 

[Rickster]

Does any one know why laptop manufacturers swap the function keys (F1 - F12) on top with non-vital laptop keys?

I noticed it a while ago on my friend's new Dell laptop, and now on my wife's new Lenovo as well. It's rather annoying, when you try and close a program you can't just press Alt+F4, but rather FN+Alt+F4 - which doesn't always work that well either.


anyhow, I'm just curious as to why they did this......

Are you sure about that?


Ive never used FN+Alt+F4 on any laptop in my life Alt-f4 always works.

 

[Crowley]

To compound the problem Lenovo also swapped the Fn and the Ctrl keys around. The far left key becomes the Fn key and this could lead to frustration if you use the Ctrl key a lot and are used to it's position. I simply won't buy a laptop where the function keys are only accessible with a finger gymnastics or where the manufacturer believes that all other keyboards are wrong.

This is a pet hate of mine. CTRL is in the corner. That is it.

Are you sure about that?

Yes. On the new Lenovos you have to use FN+ALT+F4 instead of just ALT+F4.

 

[Datura]

"why do laptop manufacturers swap the function keys with non-vital keys?"

I have no idea why they do it. It is illogical and against all form and convention.
I agree. It is a dumb thing for them to do. Keep the keyboards the same.

I agree.

 

[Myzer]

To compound the problem Lenovo also swapped the Fn and the Ctrl keys around. The far left key becomes the Fn key and this could lead to frustration if you use the Ctrl key a lot and are used to it's position. I simply won't buy a laptop where the function keys are only accessible with a finger gymnastics or where the manufacturer believes that all other keyboards are wrong.

In the Lenovo there is an option in the bios to swap the FN & Ctrl keys around. I have never used and learnt to live with it.

With some occasional cussing and cursing when I forget about it and wonder why copy & paste stopped working.

 

[Wall]

I agree.