Fn key replacing menu/context/right-click key?

[Arbalest]

As I have been narrowing down which will be my first mechanical keyboard I have noticed that many have labeled what I call the context or right-click key with "Fn".  I guess this is what was officially called the "Menu" key -- between the right Control Key and the right Windows Key.

I assumed this was just a matter of labeling but it appears that for some keyboards this key is entirely re-purposed for functionality specific to the keyboard.

My question then is - Is it generally true that on keyboards where this key does NOT have what looks like grid representing the menu you get with a mouse right-click then you just DO NOT have this Menu-key functionality anymore?

I've grown used to using this key rather than reaching for the mouse to do a right-click, and I'd hate to loose the ability to do that when I finally make the change to a mechanical board.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Yep, that's a bugbear of mine: the application (context menu) key is actually useful and some keyboards do indeed remove it in favour of Fn. The Matias Quiet Pro loses both right Windows (which I use for Win+L: lock PC) and the application key!

Fn is typically implemented in the keyboard controller, and it changes what key is reported by the keyboard to the computer. The computer does not know that Fn exists, and the key does not send any make or break codes: it's completely invisible by itself.

The application key is roughly the same as shift+F10, but IIRC the latter doesn't work in the Windows 7 start menu for search results (it works fine in Windows 8 though).

You can remap any other key to application, but Fn is a dead key that is a complete and utter waste of space for anything besides compact keyboards that actually need it. (Laptops need Fn, but they tend to put it on the left between ctrl and Win, and you may well still get the application key. Except the idiotic laptops and Cherry G84 keyboards that put Fn at bottom left …)

[metalliqaz]

You can always get a keyboard that is reprogrammable!

Or you can make your own

Or you can get a QFR or Filco or Rosewill and put in one of bpiphany's custom controllers and install any map you want!

Or make a Soarer's converter!

Welcome to GeekHack

[Arbalest]

Thanks @Daniel.  I didn't know that I could use shift-F10 for the same functionality -- maybe I'll try doing that for a day or two and see how I like it.

Dare I ask - which well considered boards (with Cherry MX Brown or maybe Topre) that are TK or TKL (just not 60%) has an application/menu key? Geez, I just noticed that it's not even on the Kinesis Advantage either. I might just have to get over it.

Thanks @metalliqaz - although I was a EE once upon a time I only want to deal with a keyboard from the outside these days.  But the new ErgoDox group buy has my soldering-iron fingers itching.

[Valis]

Topre's TKL versions (86U, 87U, 88U) have the menu keys. Personally I dislike them, and have disabled it and the Windows keys on my Topre 88UB.

[edit:] And they are also on the TK versions.

[Matias]

Hypothetically speaking :-) would Fn+Alt be an acceptable way to do the Menu key?

More specifically, the Fn key would be on the left side (for the left hand) and Alt would be the right side Alt.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Dare I ask - which well considered boards (with Cherry MX Brown or maybe Topre) that are TK or TKL (just not 60%) has an application/menu key?

Considering that two or three more keys have just failed on my Filco Majestouch 1 … (not unless it's post-traumatic stress disorder from when I dropped a desktop switch on F8 a few years ago)

I'd be happy to sacrifice Alt Gr — I never liked it, and I use LCtrl+LAlt instead (which is 97% identical).

Personally I'd rather have proper keys and map existing keys to media functionality (e.g. ctrl+numpad arrows for volume, pause for pause, shift+pause for stop etc). I'm tired of people ****ing around with keyboard layouts for no reason.