How to invert wedge keyboard function keys

Question

I'm a developer and I just purchased the new Wedge Keyboard as I like the form factor and mobility of it. However, I'm finding it to be very tedious when I'm coding as a lot of shortcut keys range from F5-F12. I'm now forced to press the FN key when I want to do this.

Is there a simple way to invert the function of these keys? So pressing it by default would trigger the F* key and with FN it would bring up the windows 8 charms?

Answer 1

http://www.autohotkey.com/

With this script, work for me!

Media_Play_Pause::F1
Volume_Mute::F2
Volume_Down::F3
Volume_Up::F4
<+#F21::F5
<!<#F21::F6
<^<#F21::F7
<#F21::F8
PrintScreen::F9
Home::F10
End::F11
PgUp::F12
F1::Media_Play_Pause
F2::Volume_Mute
F3::Volume_Down
F4::Volume_Up
F5::<+#F21
F6::<!<#F21
F7::<^<#F21
F8::<#F21
F9::PrintScreen
F10::Home
F11::End
F12::PgUp

Answer 2

This would be a great keyboard if there wasn't that stupidity with the function keys. I already spent many hours trying to find a way to make the function keys work without Fn.

I own such a keyboard with a Swiss layout and with that, even the AutoHotkey solution doesn't work. The codes for the keys F2, F3 and F4 don't show up in the key history while all others do. Therefore it is not possible to reassign these keys.

It also doesn't work the other way round: When I press the Fn key permanently, I could make an "inverse" key reassignment, but then, AutoHotkey doesn't show a code for the Esc key which becomes the power key.

So far, I didn't find a good replacement for this keyboard. Does anybody know another keyboard which is similar in size, quality etc. but which has usable function keys?

Thank you!

Answer 3

Agreed!!! The introduction of charms with Windows 8 has brought with it a scourge of unusable keyboards destined to become landfill. I have found the wireless Logitech K230 reasonably bearable for everyday use, but it is not Bluetooth. Perhaps the brilliant Logitech K810 BT keyboard might serve you better?

Answer 4

I've replaced the wedge keyboard with Logitech K810 after the DEL key fails. It's a better keyboard but there are missing keys. Some directional keys like page up and page down are hidden where the combination of FN+Up, FN+Down and etc are needed.

The F1...F12 keys can be swapped between needing the FN key or not using Logitech SetPoint. However the app is not without bugs. In multi users session, where multi users are logged in, the app get confused and keep swapping the need for FN key. I've reported this to Logitech but the support team doesn't seem to understand the problem.

Answer 5

Thank you for the feedback. Much appreciated.