Products · Product
ThinkPad keyboards
Raised as a usability problem by 41 people on Hacker News over 16 years (2010–2025), in 38 threads.
No issue was raised by at least 3 people in 3 threads this year.
No issue was raised by at least 3 people in 3 threads in the last 5 years.
Every issue, all time, most people first
Fn key sits where Ctrl usually is, causing conflictsUnreviewed
20102026- Least-used Fn key is in the most-used position, so modifiers are hard to find by touch2025-08-03
- Fn key sits where Ctrl should be, so Ctrl+C silently fails to copy2015-03-20
- Fn key sits where Ctrl usually is, causing frustrating key conflicts2014-04-02
Chiclet keys are less responsive and worse for touch typingUnreviewed
20102026- Newer chiclet keyboards are considered unusable compared to older ThinkPad keyboards2022-01-10
- Swapped keys on the ThinkPad keyboard annoy the user2017-10-04
- Newer ThinkPad keyboards lack the traditional navigation key cluster, so the commenter struggles to adjust2015-04-25
Back key beside arrow keys is hit by accident, wiping form entriesUnreviewed
20102026- Page up and page down keys are hit accidentally, so users remove them2022-01-21
- Back key sits next to arrow keys, so it is hit by accident and wipes form entries2016-05-20
- Accidentally bumping the back key loses work, so users disable it2012-10-05
Unreviewed issues were grouped by machine: Claude Haiku labelled each comment as a usability complaint, named what it's about and summed up the problem in a line, and a small model grouped similar problems. Nobody has checked them by hand. Expect mistakes.
The newest 42 complaints
- Least-used Fn key is in the most-used position, so modifiers are hard to find by touch2025-08-03
- Page up/down and Insert are hidden behind Fn keys; PrtSc removed; arrow keys cramped2025-01-08
- PrtScr key sits where the context menu key used to be, causing accidental clipboard loss2023-09-27
- Keys feel mushy rather than clicky, lacking the satisfying tactile response of a Mac2022-12-04
- Trackpad must warm up before it becomes usable; keyboard feels spongy and unreliable2022-11-30
- Can't quickly find keys like Home, and cramped half-height arrow keys slow down typing2022-08-18
- Nearly simultaneous key presses come out in the wrong order, scrambling Emacs key chords2022-01-22
- Page up and page down keys are hit accidentally, so users remove them2022-01-21
- Newer chiclet keyboards are considered unusable compared to older ThinkPad keyboards2022-01-10
- Home/End keys sit in an unreachable spot, needing eyes off the screen to find them2021-06-23
- Numpad pushes the main letter keys off-center and lacks clear separation, making typing terrible2021-02-08
- Scroll Lock is toggled by an easy-to-hit key with no indicator light showing its state2021-01-11
- Key layout is awkward to type on, and key feel is inferior2018-01-15
- Keeps accidentally pressing PgUp and PgDn next to the arrow keys2018-01-14
- No Fn toggle for numeric overlay, making Alt+number character entry practically impossible2018-01-04
- Inconsistent Page Up/Down versus Back/Forward key labels and functions around the arrows2017-10-05
- Swapped keys on the ThinkPad keyboard annoy the user2017-10-04
- Function keys and arrow keys can't be touch-typed by feel; layout and key shape are worse2017-01-24
- Trackpoint buttons feel too mushy2016-10-30
- Back key sits next to arrow keys, so it is hit by accident and wipes form entries2016-05-20
- Keyboard often doesn't respond at boot, blocking BIOS and GRUB access2015-10-05
- TrackPoint scrolling is hard on Linux, and the keyboard's firmware causes spurious paste events2015-06-26
- Newer ThinkPad keyboards lack the traditional navigation key cluster, so the commenter struggles to adjust2015-04-25
- Fn key sits where Ctrl should be, so Ctrl+C silently fails to copy2015-03-20
- Pressing the bottom edge of the space bar often doesn't register2014-11-29
- Capacitive function keys and home/end moved onto caps lock are hard to use2014-11-02
- Home/insert key cluster and print screen placement are awkward and confusing2014-05-02
- Fn key sits where Ctrl usually is, causing frustrating key conflicts2014-04-02
- Split key replacing caps lock is a much smaller target for the pinky2014-01-17
- Function keys are now touch-sensitive, not physical, so they can't be felt without looking2014-01-07
- Missed key presses and occasional stuck keys2013-08-27
- Fn key sits in lower left instead of right of Ctrl2013-07-19
- Page down requires an awkward wrist-crank stretch with the pinky, taking more effort2013-03-19
- Home and End keys are harder to find on the chiclet keyboard2013-02-20
- Fn and Ctrl keys are positioned awkwardly, so the default Ctrl is annoying to use2013-02-19
- Ctrl and Fn keys are positioned badly, making shortcut combinations uncomfortable to press2013-01-21
- Newer chiclet keys are less responsive and worse for touch typing than classic ThinkPad keyboards2013-01-06
- Commonly used keys were moved around and function keys crammed together, making typing harder2012-10-05
- Accidentally bumping the back key loses work, so users disable it2012-10-05
- Navigation keys moved into function row, so keys are hard to find and need relearning2012-06-12
- Keyboard layout is messed up, making it awkward to type2011-09-10
- Fn key sits beside Ctrl, so the user hits it by accident when aiming for Ctrl2010-11-06