Laptop Design Flaws: Confusing Function Keys

Confusing Function Keys
Confusing Function Keys

In most cases, using a computer tends to be quite easy, but some manufacturers set up Confusing Function Keys.

Most time keywords are designed to be mostly self-explanatory and hard to mess up,

There are a few glaring exceptions to this standard, though,

and one of them is the way some manufacturers set up their function keys combinations.

The twelve function keys above the number row on your keyboard can do some amazing things, if you can remember what they all are and how to use them.

Most people don’t remember what those keys are for and tend to ignore them for the most part.

The Problem: Confusing Function Keys

Some laptops require the use of a combination of keys to control the speaker volume or the screen brightness.

This is fine if you are used to using the function keys and you know what they all do,

but for most of us, this is certainly not the case.

For example, some computers are set up

so that you need to hold down the Fn key and the F2 key simultaneously to turn the speakers on or off,

which seems like an unnecessary extra step, when they could just put a mute button on the device.

Likewise the Fn button and the F3 and F4 buttons to raise or lower the volume

why not just install dedicated volume controls? 

The Solution:

The best solution for this issue is to make sure

when you buy your laptop that is has dedicated controls for these functions, so Confusing Function Keys will go its self

Most Apple computers and quite a few Windows computers have these handy features,

so it should be easy to find a device that suits your needs and has the controls you like.

The second-best solution is to learn your function keys really well and practice using them

until you are proficient and their use doesn’t seem confusing or inconvenient anymore.