A very fair point… and it got me thinking - why doesn’t my desktop keyboard have a function key at all?

I’m guessing because the desktop keyboard’s slightly larger and so there is less need for virtual buttons; and also the separate monitor also comes with its own buttons for brightness and contrast etc, etc.

But surely, with all its keys the desktop keyboard’s missing a trick. Why can’t Fn ‘T’ bring up an auto populated email request for tea or coffee that can be forwarded to the appropriate person? Fn ‘Q’ could do a similar thing but would inform intended recipients that the work they’ve just passed over will have to wait. And not to mention Fn ‘P’ (thanks for that one Neil). Just think - there’s a whole world of useful functions that could be introduced to the desktop keyboard.

By Ian on 07.27.06 12:55 pm

What do you use the Winkey for? You can use other keyboard shortcuts to get round this.

By benji on 07.27.06 5:30 pm

I do use other keyboard shortcuts now!

Winkey+m to minimise all windows, and Shift+Winkey+m to bring them all back into focus. That’s one I use a fair bit.

It’s not the point that there might be another way of doing it - it’s just that IBM remove the way I usually do it, and the way that I can do it on virtually any other make of laptop.

Can’t map the Fn key though - I can disable it, but I can’t have it do anything useful - such as act as the Ctrl key, as the key press is picked up outside Windows - if you know what I mean?

By Daniel on 07.27.06 7:36 pm

[…] Designers everywhere - please take heed. Make cars that are easy to use, TVs that anyone can use intuitively without having to read 60 pages of a manual, website designers, don’t make a separate ‘accessible’ site - make one that everyone can use.  Computer manufacturers, think about your laptop keyboard layouts!! […]

By Yappari » Virgin Trains Toilets - Public Inconveniences on 07.27.06 8:57 pm

But you shouldn’t be relying on an operating system specific key on something like a keyboard (which is very much os-independant).

By benji on 07.28.06 4:06 pm

A keyboard in general might be OS-independent, but a Windows laptop keyboard…

By Daniel on 07.28.06 4:25 pm

how can i minmise all the open screen , what is the short cut key, in other system we are using winkey+d to show the desktop. in ibm think pad there is no win key or can u tell me that any other key for that

By ganesan on 08.23.06 12:50 pm

Hi Ganesan.

My Thinkpad has a ThinkVantage facility to change settings on the laptop, and there is a ‘Keyboard Customiser’ (you can find this in the Start Menu, and probably via the control panel and other routes), and you can assign different keys to act as the Winkey.

I have assigned the AltGr key (Right Alt Key) to act as the Winkey.

So AltGr+d shows the desktop and press it again and all the windows are returned.

Hope that helps.

By Daniel on 08.23.06 1:09 pm

I’d like ibm have win key! the new t60 has, but no way on my t43.

By anyone on 07.29.07 11:28 pm

I NEED A HELP PLEASE. MY IBM THINKPAB LAPTOP SCREEN IS VERY DARK AND NOT BRIGHT OR SHARP. I HARDLY SEE ICONS ON MY DESKTOP. WHAT KEY CAN I USE TO SET THE BRIGHTNESS PLS

By Yusuf on 03.18.08 11:47 am

Fn+Home increases the brightness.

But it sounds like you might have other issues.

By Daniel on 03.18.08 1:36 pm