On Sat, Mar 14, 2026 at 11:20:35PM -0400, Nick Holland wrote: > On 3/14/26 10:47, Thomas de Grivel wrote: > >Hi, misc ! > > > >I noticed on various OpenBSD versions up to 7.8 that on various > >ThinkPads, the volume buttons do not work on first try. I have to > >release the Fn key and try again to get a response from the driver. > > > >Is that intended behavior or just a random bug ? > > > >Thanks, > > > > I'm not entirely sure what you are saying here...but if what you are > indicating is that the volume buttons work WITHOUT the "Fn" key, but > don't work with it, this is likely a "feature" on many newer laptops,
I interpreted what the OP said as something different: That the machine is configured to: * require the use of the Fn modifier to access the system control functions, (volume, brightness, etc). * require the absense of the Fn modifier to access the F-keys. However, what actually happens is: * F-keys work as F-keys * Fn modifier is depressed * F-keys still work as F-keys * Fn modifier is released * F-keys still work as F-keys * Fn modifier is depressed a second time * F-keys now work as system control keys * Fn modifier is released * F-keys return to working as F-keys If this is the case, then the useful detail that is missing from the report is whether this happens once after reboot and never again, or whether the ignoring of the 'first' Fn modifier 'down' event happens again, perhaps after other regular keys are pressed, or after switching VTs, or some other trigger event. > where they figure very few applications use F-keys anymore, but people > want to control screen brightness, volume, etc., so why make those > secondary functions on rarely used keys? Make them the PRIMARY > functions, and use the "Fn" key to get the F-key functions! That's exactly why there is a 'FnLock' ;-). > And now that I'm writing that, I can imagine people saying, "Well, it > says 'Fn', so I assume it meant if I want F4, I hit Fn+F4". Agreed, the naming and labeling of keys is probably bad from a usability perspective for anyone who has never used a computer keyboard before.
