PETITION: Ideapad OFFICIAL BIOS update: Fn/Ctrl SWAP

Hello all, I know there has been some buzz about the Fn/Ctrl key placement on Lenovo/IBM notebooks.

Recently there was a successful push to get this implementation incorporated into an OFFICIAL BIOS update for certain thinkpads:
Yamato Thinking Blog Archive Switch Mode for Fn/Ctrl Keys: Follow-up

I know someone has already unofficially modified the BIOS to accomplish this, but it voids the warranty.

So, please sign the petition, if we get enough support, we have it on good word ( FN - CTRL Swap in BIOS - Change Request for IdeaPa... - Page 4 - Lenovo Community) that it will be seriously considered.

SIGN UP HERE (it takes 30s):
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lenovoideapadfnctrl/

 

What is wrong with the placement of the Fn/Ctrl keys?

 

If you prefer the placement, then this is not the thread for you.

And to answer your question, a large portion of the notebook market places them opposite. Even more important, I don't know of a single desktop keyboard that doesn't have the Ctrl key in the bottom left-hand corner (perhaps a couple exist, but a very immaterial few at best).

If you would like to see the fuss it has caused, check out these links:

Lenovo just went through this with certain Thinkpad Laptop users.

 

I've never had a problem with the placement and would not not change it if I could.

drake

 

Hehe..."not not"...then sign the petition

 

This is getting even more annoying than the SATA cap.

 

you mean Lenovo not releasing the bios update to allow the FN/Ctrl conversion on the ideapad?

 

Just to argue the point, my old Averatec laptop had the Fn|Ctrl placement. Two of the three desktop external keyboards I have have the Fn|Ctrl layout, and the other one has the Fn key on the other side of the spacebar

Although really, it's not too difficult to get used to it either way, it only takes a day or two of typing usage at most.

 

This is like the left hand drive and right hand drive argument.

 

fn / control / option / command

oh, the irony...

 

I don't know what the big deal really is. I got used to it in a day or so - moreover I often switch between m17x and Thinkpad that have different placements and only occasionally press the wrong one.

For me, far more confusing part are the ESC and F1 keys - in fact so far that I decided to map F1 to ESC key on the Thinkpad.

 

So apparently there are a handful of people who could care less about something like this...so it is with all things.

But, as an update, I made a second petition, for those who do not want to share your facebook credentials.

Here are both petitions:
IdeaPad FN/Ctrl Toggle BIOS update
IdeaPad FN/Ctrl Toggle BIOS update - Petition Spot

Apple doesn't count...they always do things differently:

 

Goodluck for the petition. Actually i kinda get used to it. For the first time using (it was z61) sometimes i misstype the ctrl. But after that i adapt quickly.

I red somewhere in lenovoblogs, the reason that they make it default because they want to retain the function for thinklight : fn+PgUp, which is much easier to find in the darkness (below left and upper right).

 

I am thrilled to see this thread. I am currently considering to buy a U165 (a Czech model with Turion K625) and the keyboard layout is the only thing from pressing me the "Buy now" button

For those who are interested: it possibly depends on how you use your keyboard but I use Ctrl+... and Ctrl+Shift+... shortcuts all the time and on the Czech keybaord layout where the left Shift, it is practically impossible to press Ctrl+Shift+something. This issue is crucial for me.

 

Hahaha...EXACTLY...all of you Fn/Ctrl lovers:

Try doing this number with ease (left hand only):
Ctrl + Shift + T (a combo I use quite frequently)


...

 

I often press ctrl+shift+v/c and got used to it fast and also fully sympathize with the thinklight argument.

However, I don't see harm letting people choose which configuration to use.

Edit: oh, I got you now, just tried Ctrl + Shift + T and it is indeed torture...

 

IdeaPad's don't have a thinklight...misplaced sympathy? Perhaps they should create an idealight.

 

In case Lenovo doesn't release a fix for current models, is there a BIOS that would offer this option? I'd be happy to void my warranty in exchange for that.

 

Yes, it can be found here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/474396-fn-ctrl-swap-all-lenovo-laptops-solved.html

But, you need to be very careful that your model is supported.

Good luck.

 

It doesn't seem to be listed there so I'm probably out of luck. Shame...