Hi, Marc. Well explained. In contrast, my Dell Latitude E6530 works the opposite way: You hold down the FN key in combination with the F1-F12 keys for SPECIAL FUNCTIONS such as screen brightness, turning the touchpad on or off, ans so on. This setup works well on a laptop. I would suggest that when selecting a laptop, one ask the question about the function keys. Also, you might want to ask someone in pre-sales or tech support about this before you make a purchasing decision. Also, can the onboard software be reconfigured to do the opposite of what it's doing now? Just my thoughts.--Matt.
>>> "Marc Solomon" <[email protected]> 7/10/2013 8:50 AM >>> Hi Kenneth, I just had the opportunity to work with one of our customers who recently purchased an HP Ultrabook running Windows 8. The keyboard layout, specifically the function keys on the keyboard are probably very similar to yours based on the information you provided in your message. The problem you are running into is related to the fact that F1-F12 are no longer the primary function of the keys located on the top row of your keyboard. Instead, HP has designed the keyboard so that these keys perform other functions such as controlling the brightness of the screen and configuring the projector options in Windows. So, if you press the "F2" key when a file is selected, you are not going to be able to rename the file (as the F2 command should allow you to do) but instead will decrease the brightness of your screen. If you want to be able to access a specific function key (e.g. F2, F4, etc.), you will have to press and hold down the Function key and then press F2, F4 or whatever function key on the top row of keys you are trying to use. This is a major inconvenience for screen access users but sadly I am seeing this type of keyboard design on a lot of newer laptops especially from HP. One piece of good news is that I was able to press Alt-F4 and the computer I was working on still recognized this as the Windows Close command. I wouldn't have expected it to work but for some reason this combination does work as it has in the past. There might be a way to turn all of this off by uninstalling all of the HP related software on the computer but I can't guarantee that will solve the problem. For others on the list, this is one example of why it is so important to make sure the portable computer you are going to buy has a keyboard that will meet your needs before you make the investment. You can always connect a full size USB keyboard to work around this problem but that won't always be an option when you are using your computer on the go. Thanks, Marc Subject: a question about laptop keyboards From: Kenneth T Son <[email protected]> Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:43:03 -0400 Hello. I have an hp notebook computer and some of the function keys apparently have different assignments than what they are supposed to do when activated. Also I can not change window eyes voices with the control and alt and arrow keys. So I assume the set up in this computer uses those keys for something. I can press f4 and try to play a goldwave file loaded into gold wave and I get some kind of a menu that pops up saying projector options. Some or I should say most of the function keys do not work properly and again I can't change voices with the assigned window eyes keys. How do I turn all of this stuff off so I will have a regular keyboard again? Kenneth Son. If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv. **NOTICE:** This email transmission (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of the person to whom it is addressed. It may contain information that is confidential, privileged or otherwise exempt from disclosure under law. If you are not the named addressee or the person authorized to deliver this email transmission (including any attachments) to the named addressee, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copying or disclosure of this email transmission and any attachments, or the taking of any action based upon them, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email transmission and any attachments in error, please notify the Public Safety Data Center at 617-660-4620 of the error and destroy the e-mail(s) immediately. If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
