The totally off-topic thread

[samh004]

What gives with the Fn key?

Function is useful with laptops where the F keys generally control brightness/volume/media commands and you might also want to use say F5, so you need a way make the key dual-use.

As for a "standard" keyboard, which system do you propose we base this "standard" off? I doubt any manufacturer wants to go there and be forced to change their way, you’re talking a bit like the EU… I’m sure it’s next on their agenda.

 

[JohnK]

Function is useful with laptops where the F keys generally control brightness/volume/media commands and you might also want to use say F5, so you need a way make the key dual-use.

Times have changed. The function keys (or command keys as they used to be known) such as F1 help or F5 refresh are much more important to me than having ready access to colour, brightness etc.

As for a "standard" keyboard, which system do you propose we base this "standard" off? I doubt any manufacturer wants to go there and be forced to change their way, you’re talking a bit like the EU… I’m sure it’s next on their agenda.

Any "standard" as long as it is standard.

 

[Mal]

This photo of all Boeing 7x7 series planes lined up is pretty cool:

707, 717, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

(I believe it's an old photo, and wasn't actually taken recently)

 

[JohnK]

From memory that photo had a dedicated thread on AFF recently.

I have not flown 707 and 727....

 

[samh004]

This photo of all Boeing 7x7 series planes lined up is pretty cool:

707, 717, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

(I believe it's an old photo, and wasn't actually taken recently)

From memory that photo had a dedicated thread on AFF recently.

I have not flown 707 and 727....

Indeed. Quite a good photo.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/707-717-727-737-747-a-26464.html

 

[Mal]

From memory that photo had a dedicated thread on AFF recently.

Whoops It's a great photo though!


samh004, thanks for the link back to the thread.

 

[JohnK]

The problem is that they supply this Apple mouse with it and all it has is one button and a tiny scroller ball. How do you get a right-click whilst in Windows with this thing? I've tried Control+, Command+ and combinations of those; there is no Fn key.

I am in the SYD QF Business Lounge right now and using Windows on the dual boot iMac and have no great problem using left click and right click (have to press down hard on the mouse) although the noise it is making (like a cracking sound) is driving me nuts.

 

[medhead]

Times have changed. The function keys (or command keys as they used to be known) such as F1 help or F5 refresh are much more important to me than having ready access to colour, brightness etc.

I'm pretty sure that referred to the "Fn" key which is used with various command keys to control brightness and other things like external display, which is especially useful when using a projector.

 

[JohnK]

I'm pretty sure that referred to the "Fn" key which is used with various command keys to control brightness and other things like external display, which is especially useful when using a projector.

On my Thinkpad Edge 15 I need to press Fn + F1 to use F1 and Fn F5 to use F5.

I would have thought the logical thing to do would have been to leave F1, F2 etc as they were and if you wanted to control brightness, sound etc then you press Fn + F1 etc....

 

[samh004]

I am in the SYD QF Business Lounge right now and using Windows on the dual boot iMac and have no great problem using left click and right click (have to press down hard on the mouse) although the noise it is making (like a cracking sound) is driving me nuts.

It has a piezo speaker in it to make the noise for some reason.

On my Thinkpad Edge 15 I need to press Fn + F1 to use F1 and Fn F5 to use F5.

I would have thought the logical thing to do would have been to leave F1, F2 etc as they were and if you wanted to control brightness, sound etc then you press Fn + F1 etc....

I thought you could generally switch this behaviour round. I’m not sure how, but I’m sure I’ve heard of doing so.

 

[medhead]

I thought you could generally switch this behaviour round. I’m not sure how, but I’m sure I’ve heard of doing so.

Indeed my laptops work the other way, toshiba laptops, but one of them could have the Fn "locked" on as the keypad was overlaid on letter keys. Not that I can remember how to lock it on.

 

[JohnK]

It has a piezo speaker in it to make the noise for some reason.

Did I say that it was annoying?

I thought you could generally switch this behaviour round. I’m not sure how, but I’m sure I’ve heard of doing so.

I am not sure this would be possible on this laptop when the Fn key is in red and the F1, F2 keys etc are in red in the bottom right corner of the keyboard.

It would be nice if it was an emulator keyboard where one can change the default action of function keys....

 

[Princess Fiona]

Christmas stories by candlelight at the swamp tonight thanks to Energy Australia

 

[drron]

Interesting picture-




You are a South African bush pilot

Working for Blue Sky Aviation.

You fly in some critical medical supplies,

Enjoy a quick lunch at the hospital.

It's a stifling 100 degrees in the shade and

You're eager to get back aloft to the cooler upper atmosphere.

On the way back to your aircraft,

You discover that the only bit of shade within 1 mile

Has become very popular.

You start estimating the distance to the aircraft door and wonder...

'Do I feel lucky today?'

Isn't THIS awesome ...

 

[straitman]

I have seen the picture previously but it is not showing here and now for me.

 

[serfty]

Did I say that it was annoying?


I am not sure this would be possible on this laptop when the Fn key is in red and the F1, F2 keys etc are in red in the bottom right corner of the keyboard.

It would be nice if it was an emulator keyboard where one can change the default action of function keys....

Keyboards are something I consider carefully before purchasing a laptop/netbook.

I really like to use end and home keys (with various ctrl/shift combinations) - many keyboards have this Fn driven - which I find frustrating. However, it's not the final consideration; the Acer I purchased for $330 in January has this - I guess I have my price ..

 

[oz_mark]

I think its this picture

 

[straitman]

I think its this picture

View attachment 1517

That's the one.

 

[markis10]

Well I am glad Lion air is yet to fly down under, I am sure Tiger will keep them at bay

 

[JohnK]

Keyboards are something I consider carefully before purchasing a laptop/netbook.

And this is not possible when purchasing via the internet. Perhaps next time it would be best to see laptop the before buying but I was not expecting my laptop to . I believe I got a good deal on the Lenovo I bought but a little disappointing to find that the layout of the keyboard has changed from previous versions.

I really like to use end and home keys (with various ctrl/shift combinations) - many keyboards have these Fn driven - which I find frustrating. However, it's not the final consideration; the Acer I purchased for $330 in January has this - I guess I have my price ..

I am predominantly a keyboard user (not a big fan of using a mouse especially the silly scroll wheel for paging up and down) and love using the keys you mention as well as the page up, page down, and up and down arrow keys.