Comments on: Asus IS Shifting their Keyboard Approach

By: Alslayer

Alslayer — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:58:38 +0000

I agree that asus keyboards suck. It is a deal breaker for me too. I am glad they are getting rid of the issue.

By: Sean Brady

Sean Brady — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:04:17 +0000

The problem I have had on both of my EEE PC’s has been too much flex in the keyboard. I do think this new spacing will be good, but I really hope they fix up the flex issues.

By: asiriusgeek

asiriusgeek — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:59:35 +0000

Kevin: please keep barking. This is a dealbreaker issue for me in a purchase decision too.

Baz: good points!

By: PacoBell

PacoBell — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:59:28 +0000

You can pry my dedicated function keys from my cold, dead hands! ;)

By: Baz

Baz — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:47:14 +0000

Frankly, I’m surprised that fullsize keyboards still reflect DOS / home programming-era demands, rather than the requirements of most of today’s users and software. To then try and miniaturize that into the much smaller footprint of a netbook almost guarantees an unnecessarily cramped workspace.
Of the netbook manufacturers, Dell has attempted to address some of that by shifting function keys, rather inelegantly, onto other keys (if only because of the size of their battery), but the bigger question might remain, why do we still have function keys? Or Pause/Break? Page Up/Down, Home, End? Especially on dedicated keys?

The ‘useful’ section of a keyboard for most users remains compromised on most netbooks, including with the ‘improved’ EeePC layout.