Problems with HP keyboard layout

[Pasquale_1980]

I have a big usability problem with the keyboard of my elitebook and I write this post with the hope that who deals with ergonomics in HP read it.

Unfortunately, my company provides me an HP elitebook laptop. In the past I was a happy user of a Lenovo T series. HP laptops have a very serious problem for power users like me: the keyboard is terrible! I try to list all the problems:

1. Key stroke is too short
2. The layout of the keys seems invented by a madman: it's hard to understand why they waste key space (e.g. adding phone keys: who really needs them?) by saving on the home, end and PageUp/Down keys that are on PC keyboards since the 1980s and are often used by Excel users in combination with CTRL. This way you are forced to use improbable and difficult to memorize Fn combinations with a negative impact on productivity
3. It's also absurd that the up/down arrow keys are so small and incorporate double functions
4. The function keys have to be enabled with the Fn key. If you use Fnlock then you have difficulty for example to use the shift key which becomes Stamp
5. The Fn key is in the wrong place: to the right of CTRL (instead of to the left as it should be) and so it's wrong and you press it continuously. This in Excel creates problems by setting the scroll lock by mistake
6. Also missing is the middle mouse button which is particularly useful for scrolling documents used in conjunction with the trackpoint.

In short, a disastrous and frustrating experience that makes me want to avoid using the HP without an external keyboard.

I hope this post is useful for keyboard designers.

Bye

Pasquale

[banhien · Accepted solution]

@Pasquale_1980 

I believe each vendor has its teams to work out using feedback from its customers. Elitebook machines are business class machines therefore HP must have a good idea how to do based on its business customers out there, not 100% but it has to use 80/20 rules or even 60/40 rules.

From the first day of laptops (we now call notebooks due to they can burn our laps any time, specially ladies. Vendors don't want to be sued) I worked on IBM machines (no Windows), HP/Compaq machines, Dell machines then Lenovo machines before my retirement. Each vendor has its own design and from early this century my former employer decided all of us have external keyboards/mice with docking stations even same setup for employees who work from home few days a week.

I used to work in Mainframe world, and you know why we need all F keys to be our ways. Now back to your situation, from my view, HP would not change its design unless ALL customers out there say the SAME.

Just my 2 cents.

Regards.