Comments on: Switch Mode for Fn/Ctrl Keys: Follow-up From Yamato

By: Vance

Vance — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:05:25 +0000

David, can you now confirm that this BIOS switch is available on the x100e and the ThinkPad Edge?

Thank you!

By: Anon

Anon — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:46:48 +0000

@David,

Why can’t you say more, to answer John’s question? It’s already been established that it will be available on upcoming models that have not yet been announced/released, and I understand that you can’t speak about those. But that still leaves all the current models in the lurch. If I bought a T400s tomorrow, would it get a BIOS upgrade eventually? What about a T500 I bought a month ago?

By: vkyr

vkyr — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:15:14 +0000

I think this is commonly a good and right decision. So people who are long time used to and familiar with Thinkpad keyboards will still feel at home and those who are new to Thinkpads, or are migrating over from other notebooks, can then switch the Fn/Ctrl key layout to their desired needs.

It’s also Ok for me, if this feature will only be available just for new actual or forthcoming ThinkPad models, since it would be a bunch of work, testing… and thus much trouble to implement this correctly for all the past Thinkpad models in some suitable manner. As a developer I know how much effort and complexity (not to mention the time and costs) it would be to handle this for all (even past) models.

http://www.notebook-foren.de/b.....hp?p=69515

By: O8h7w

O8h7w — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:39:51 +0000

Seems like some here didn’t bother to read the post on Yamato Thinking…

No, you can’t get a BIOS update. Sorry.

And about the current lineup there is no information, other than what I just wrote. If you’ve bought a ThinkPad, you’ve done that. And missed your chance.

And they’re not physically swappable either. Yet, that post gives some hope.

We still oughta be glad and thankful, they DID SOMETHING!

And me myself, I’m neither wonderfully glad or mad. I’m glad that they did something, it gives me hope.

IMHO I would prefer merging the keys. But I still wouldnt be that glad since I’m a fan of Ctrl and Alt being next to each other. I’m quite happy with my T43 keyboard, but the computer itself is getting old… and heavy. Am I getting old?

By: ferry

ferry — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:58:53 +0000

great!
now please also make them swappable on the keyboard itself

By: John

John — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:56:17 +0000

As Eric says, will current T400/T500/X200/W500/X301 ThinkPads be supported? What about the SL series?

By: Humberto Patricio

Humberto Patricio — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:53:50 +0000

It was about time!! great to see that that somebody notice that litle change keyboard layout SUCKS!!!! Please revert to old keyboard layout and i will be pleased!! thanks.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:14:04 +0000

Yay for flexibility!

I like the way it is, but it’s great to see the flexibility you’re offering. Hopefully the key tops will remain physically swappable to complete the reconfiguration.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:40:21 +0000

So it wouldn’t be available for say a t400s that was just purchased?

By: David Hill

David Hill — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:11:17 +0000

John, The BIOS update will be included on forthcoming ThinkPad offerings. Kind of hard to answer this more clearly without disclosing detailed product roadmaps. I just can’t do that.