WTF THE NEW MICROSOFT KEYBOARDS

[moechi125]

I bought some of the new microsoft wireless keyboards and mouse combos

this one:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=033

Well it looks like they reconfigured the F1 through F12 keys to new features. when i'm on a website and want to refesh the page and click f5 it opens a new page and the other keys do other things. . .how do i get the older settings back . .this friggen pisses me off.

 

[Sniper82]

I think there a key to switch between the modes. Maybe a F mode key or something? Or function key? My logitech does this.

 

[Cheesetogo]

There is a key called "F Lock". Press that and it puts back the old functions.
Edit: It's to the right of the last f key on my keyboard, probably that one too.

 

[Epsil0n00]

Yeah, this is becoming more and more common among new keyboards and laptops--the "Enhanced F-Keys." There should be an "F-Lock" key that changes your F-Keys from their new enhanced functions back to their normal (old) functions.

One "great" side effect of this is when some computers boot up you have to hit an F-Key to access the BIOS... but the F-Keys don't have their normal functionality... so you have to be smart enough to hit the F-Lock key and then hit the BIOS hotkey really quick before the POST continues.

What fun these new F-Keys are!!!:disgust:

 

[MrControversial]

F lock sucks. I like my Viewsonic kb. It has an Flock but it's reversed. You only use it to change to some Windows specific stuff like cut and paste.

 

[moechi125]

ooooooooooooooh. . i'm such an idiot.

 

[Gurck]

I no longer buy M$ keyboards because it's on by default, though I do miss their split keyboards, most comfortable ones I've used. I don't mind the feature being there so long as it's off by default, because I don't want to use it and that way I don't have to think about it. There's a registry change you can make to have it on (so the F keys act normal) at Windows bootup, but if you want to access your BIOS at system bootup you'll still have to hit it. Further, some games and apps (Far Cry, for instance) ignore the registry entry and only check if it's actually on, so you'll have to hit it to have normal F-key functionality in those apps & games. Here's a link to the registry edit, credit to John for pointing this out to us in a thread a while back.

 

[Googer]

Gee, no one would have any of these "windows key" problems if they stuck with the bloody industry standard set by IBM back in the 80's save your self the hastle and get an old 101 key keyboard from unicomp or cvt (avant stellar)

http://www.pckeyboard.com/

CVT makes the Cadillac of Keyboards and are very similar to the old and Coveted Northgate omnikeys that now sell on ebay for more than $200
http://cvtinc.com/products/keyboards/stellar.htm

This one went for $213, but I have seen them go for much more than this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...tem=5161285988&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

 

[Arcanedeath]

Truely whoever invented the F-lock key and thought it should be on by default is an utter and total moron who should be draged out into the street and shot! I truely hate that function so much I will never purchase a keyboard w/ it no matter how much I would like it otherwise, I still use my orginal Microsoft Natural Keyboard (not the elite one) it sucks cause it's starting to wear out and there's nothing I can replace it with that actualy has all the same features and a normal button layout w/ the big backspace key and small enter key + the erganomic (sorry spelling) layout.

 

[Tiamat]

F-lock sucks. I think im gonna replace this microsoft "media" keyboard with the Logitech UltraX keyboard.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=23-126-135&depa=1

 

[LukFilm]

Originally posted by: Arcanedeath
Truely whoever invented the F-lock key and thought it should be on by default is an utter and total moron who should be draged out into the street and shot! I truely hate that function so much I will never purchase a keyboard w/ it no matter how much I would like it otherwise, I still use my orginal Microsoft Natural Keyboard (not the elite one) it sucks cause it's starting to wear out and there's nothing I can replace it with that actualy has all the same features and a normal button layout w/ the big backspace key and small enter key + the erganomic (sorry spelling) layout.

Word! I have Natural Internet Keyboard Pro and feel EXACTLY the same way. Wish there was a replacement, but alas!

 

[John]

Microsoft keyboards are excellent as long as you use the F Lock Key Eliminator

 

[Sforsyth]

I feel so stubid I've had this MS Wireless keyboard and mouse for like 8 months and I couldn't unstand why my F keys didn't work right mainly when I install XP witch I do alot where it says press F8 I always had to take my daughters keyboard and hook it up for that part,

Anyways thanks guys !

 

[DanDaMan315]

Logitech keyboards have the F-Lock default to off, and IMO Logitech makes better keyboards than MS anyways. The new Logitech Media is a good one:thumbsup:.

 

[Anonemous]

OMG, I have the same problem. I switched to the natural multimedia kb a few weeks ago and that F Lock key really pisses me off. Everytime I reboot I have to turn if off which is annoying. Thx for the tips on getting rid of it. /bookmarked thread

 

[Mullzy]

They really need to add an option "F Lock on Boot? Y/N" for those of us you ALWAYS have to turn it on every time we reboot.

/bleh

 

[Cheesetogo]

I remember when I first got my keyboard and I was doing somthing in bios, trying to figure out why the keyes did.

 

[Crank]

Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
Logitech keyboards have the F-Lock default to off, and IMO Logitech makes better keyboards than MS anyways. The new Logitech Media is a good one:thumbsup:.

My relatively new Logitech MultiMedia keyboard leaves the special functions defaulted to on, which irritates me.
Worse, you can select "trasparent passthrough" in the iTouch menu, but it doesn't transparently passthrough anything. Only way to get the F keys to work properly is to hit the stupid F-Lock button.

 

[Mullzy]

The only reason I'm using a Microsoft Solution is because I can't live with out split ergonomic keyboard. Logitech didn't have one 6 months ago when I needed a new keyboard/mouse. It looks like they have one now Here but it's with a crappy mouse.

/bleh

 

[Jeff7]

I too hate the F-lock keys; took me like, maybe a full 20 infuruating seconds to figure it out the first time I used one of those keyboards and tried to refresh a webpage.
Saw the F symbols on the sides of the keys, and began searching for something having to do with the letter "F" or the word "function". Found it, tried it, and it worked.
I still hate the feature though. What next, start assigning multiple functions to every single letter key too? Start typing, and Explorer, Paintbrush, Winamp, MSN Messenger, Spybot, GIMP, and your e-mail all try to open up - then you realize, "Oh, the Alpha-lock key wasn't active." :roll:

 

[Dug]

Originally posted by: John
Microsoft keyboards are excellent as long as you use the F Lock Key Eliminator

Thanks John, just what I needed.

 

[VirtualLarry]

This problem sounds like it is in need of a hardware solution; perhaps someone will show up and be willing to do a hardware mod to the keyboards to auto-press the "F-Lock" key within a second or two of the keyboard recieving power - that would seem to (mostly) eliminate the issue.

Plus, considering that modern keyboards still need to have an encoder circuit and a serial interface in them, and usually a small micro-controller, and considering that flash memory is cheap and most microcontrollers these days have some provisions for embedded flash on them - it seems totally unconscienable that the mfgs haven't implimented a "magic key sequence" to persistantly set a few bits of flash memory in the microcontroller, to cause the F-Lock key to have a power-on default of either ON or OFF. So how about it, Logitech/MS input developers? Heck, I'm pretty certain that those old Northgate "Turbo Key" keyboards had some persistant settings capabilities too, years ago. Have input devices evolved backwards in the last few years? (Don't answer that. You can pry my Model M-13 from my cold, dead, fingers when that time comes. )

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: Crank

Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
Logitech keyboards have the F-Lock default to off, and IMO Logitech makes better keyboards than MS anyways. The new Logitech Media is a good one:thumbsup:.

My relatively new Logitech MultiMedia keyboard leaves the special functions defaulted to on, which irritates me.
Worse, you can select "trasparent passthrough" in the iTouch menu, but it doesn't transparently passthrough anything. Only way to get the F keys to work properly is to hit the stupid F-Lock button.

Exactly why I didn't get the MX duo. It comes with their elite KB that has that damn F-lock. Just got a regular KB (no media buttons, no F-lock) and couldn't be happier.

 

[DanDaMan315]

Originally posted by: Ike0069

Originally posted by: Crank

Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
Logitech keyboards have the F-Lock default to off, and IMO Logitech makes better keyboards than MS anyways. The new Logitech Media is a good one:thumbsup:.

My relatively new Logitech MultiMedia keyboard leaves the special functions defaulted to on, which irritates me.
Worse, you can select "trasparent passthrough" in the iTouch menu, but it doesn't transparently passthrough anything. Only way to get the F keys to work properly is to hit the stupid F-Lock button.

Exactly why I didn't get the MX duo. It comes with their elite KB that has that damn F-lock. Just got a regular KB (no media buttons, no F-lock) and couldn't be happier.

I believe this year's Logitechs come with F-Lock set default to off.

I simply don't understand why there can't be a damn switch on the back that can have F-Lock be set to on/off. When I had my MS keyboard the F-Lock used to piss me off so much it's not describable, and for some reason I couldn't make a habit of turning F-Lock off when I turned on my computer. Can't people just hit Ctrl+P to print? Why do we need F8 set to print?

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: DanDaMan315

I believe this year's Logitechs come with F-Lock set default to off.

I simply don't understand why there can't be a damn switch on the back that can have F-Lock be set to on/off. When I had my MS keyboard the F-Lock used to piss me off so much it's not describable, and for some reason I couldn't make a habit of turning F-Lock off when I turned on my computer. Can't people just hit Ctrl+P to print? Why do we need F8 set to print?

I guess we're just getting too lazy. "You mean I have to hit 2 keys to print, no f***in way I'm doing that!":laugh:

I hadn't hear that abotu the Logitech's. That's good news for future purchases.