General Apple Megathread

[opendoor]

Maybe my use cases are basic by some standards, but I don't think I've ever had occasion to use the Fn key on a Mac other than the very few times I need to switch to use an F1-F12 key rather than the built-in functions (brightness, volume, play/pause, etc.).

Most of the specific Fn functions are faster or more convenient to do through other means. Like, using Fn + C to get into Control Center, which is something that can only be interacted with using a cursor, is kind of pointless.

[PepsiFree]

Don’t think I’ve ever used the fn key on any keyboard on any operating system in my entire life.

[chemgear]

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Meh Logitech keyboards suck anyhow.

I've never used a Logitech keyboard with a Mac but I've had no problem with them on PC. I'm using a K400 right now. I own two of them and they're great for living room or remote use.

[Bill Bumface]

The fn key is how you quickly get your emojis down ��

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Don’t think I’ve ever used the fn key on any keyboard on any operating system in my entire life.

Really? Huh. I use stuff like ctrl-F5 for a hard refresh, or F2 to enter a cell in Excel. F10 to pull up menu bars that may be hidden, F12 for developer tools in browsers. And on a laptop the F keys are often shared with functions so I use them often enough. Maybe Macs are just built different...

[Wormius]

Guys? Like, seriously. Did you forget about F3?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Guys? Like, seriously. Did you forget about F3?

Alt-F4 is a handy one. Forgot because I use it all the time.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Really? Huh. I use stuff like ctrl-F5 for a hard refresh, or F2 to enter a cell in Excel. F10 to pull up menu bars that may be hidden, F12 for developer tools in browsers. And on a laptop the F keys are often shared with functions so I use them often enough. Maybe Macs are just built different...

Yeah sure but what do you use the fn key for?

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Yeah sure but what do you use the fn key for?

Most keyboards and especially laptop keyboards bind brightness controls, media keys, volume up/down/mute, print screen, page up/down, etc. to the function keys by default. So when you actually want to use the function key for its regular purpose -- F3 to search, Alt-F4 to close an app, Ctrl-F5 to force a uncached page refresh, F12 for developer tools -- you actually have to press Fn+F3 or Fn+Ctrl+F5, and so on. Some keyboards toggle the Fn key (Surface devices for example), others require press and hold.

[Fuzz]

Ya, sorry didn't know that one needed explaining. Must not have it on the Speak & Spell.


/ducks

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Really? Huh. I use stuff like ctrl-F5 for a hard refresh, or F2 to enter a cell in Excel. F10 to pull up menu bars that may be hidden, F12 for developer tools in browsers. And on a laptop the F keys are often shared with functions so I use them often enough. Maybe Macs are just built different...

Sure, but the Fn key on the Logitech works fine for that kind of stuff on a Mac. And if you use those keys a lot, you can switch it in the settings so the F keys are the default behavior and the brightness/volume/pause/play keys are accessed by the Fn Key.

What most 3rd party keyboards can't do (for whatever stupid reason) is function as a "Globe" key for some Mac-specific shortcuts. But like I said, that's not something I have ever found myself using. I'm sure some people do use them, and I guess if you used a 3rd party mini keyboard, maybe that'd be annoying (since you can use the Globe key to do things that wouldn't be on a mini key board like page up/down, home/end, forward delete, etc.). But on any mini keyboard I've seen, all those things become two-handed operations with the Fn key, so there are usually better ways to accomplish that.

Though of course, that lack of utility makes it even weirder that Apple would try to keep it as some kind of exclusive thing for their hardware.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by opendoor

Sure, but the Fn key on the Logitech works fine for that kind of stuff on a Mac. And if you use those keys a lot, you can switch it in the settings so the F keys are the default behavior and the brightness/volume/pause/play keys are accessed by the Fn Key.

What most 3rd party keyboards can't do (for whatever stupid reason) is function as a "Globe" key for some Mac-specific shortcuts. But like I said, that's not something I have ever found myself using. I'm sure some people do use them, and I guess if you used a 3rd party mini keyboard, maybe that'd be annoying (since you can use the Globe key to do things that wouldn't be on a mini key board like page up/down, home/end, forward delete, etc.). But on any mini keyboard I've seen, all those things become two-handed operations with the Fn key, so there are usually better ways to accomplish that.

Though of course, that lack of utility makes it even weirder that Apple would try to keep it as some kind of exclusive thing for their hardware.

I don't think it's weird. I think it's on brand for them. They found another way to license peripherals for income, and did it. But yes, I'm guessing on the fee existing and haven't looked, but past experience hints this is probably the case.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

I've never used a Logitech keyboard with a Mac but I've had no problem with them on PC. I'm using a K400 right now. I own two of them and they're great for living room or remote use.

My first Ergo died after a few months. The second one's left ctrl key gets stuck sometimes. Pisses me off because they're expensive.