(09-22-2015, 01:15 PM)MaJoR Wrote: I never got this... The justification for using the F keys as hotkeys (with a function key to restore them to normal function) is because users don't press the F keys all that much! So then why is it promoted to the pinky slot where control should be? Bleeeh.
Well, the Fn key is close to Ctrl, Alt, Shift and Windows (Options in Mac, I think) keys probably because we usually press those keys together with some other key to do a different function, so having Fn here makes some sense as well.
And this thing is really a trend now, the shortcut keys are indeed getting more focus than the F keys on the keyboard. For example, my HP, from late 2012, has the Action icons big and centered on those keys, while the actual F keys text are on top-right with small text, suggesting you to use Fn. In contrast, my friend got an Acer laptop recently that goes even further: on his laptop, actions that should be performed with Fn are painted blue, and the Fn key itself is completely blue. Looking at his keyboard, the actual F keys are painted blue while the action keys have the focus.
At least some implementations seems smart, in my HP and on some Lenovos I tested, if I need to press Alt+F4 or Shift+F1 (or whatever else F key combination, as long as they use Alt or Shift or Ctrl), I don't need to press Fn key, even if Action Keys are the current defined setting, the keyboard is smart enough to identify that I want to press those F key combinations instead of Alt+Play/Pause or Shift+VolUp, which would make no sense...
Avell A70 MOB: Core i7-11800H, GeForce RTX 3060, 32 GB DDR4-3200, Windows 11 (Insider Preview)
ASRock Z97M OC Formula: Pentium G3258, GeForce GT 440, 16 GB DDR3-1600, Windows 10 (22H2)
ASRock Z97M OC Formula: Pentium G3258, GeForce GT 440, 16 GB DDR3-1600, Windows 10 (22H2)