[Katsunami]

Continuing the laptop ranting:

I've downloaded the manual.

- Yes, F1 and F12 can be set as primary functions.
- Yes, FN and CTRL can be swapped.

So... if there are functions to swap those back to the traditional layout, the manufacturer damn well knows that there are a lot of people who want to use them that way. Then why don't they make a traditional keyboard layout, and create an option to swap it into the 'new' layout? Put the icons and F1/F12 onto the keys in the same size. Also, put CTRL/Fn and Fn/CTRL on the keys on the lower left and make them the same size as well. Or make the physical keycaps swappable.

Another function that unnerves me is "Disable trackpad" and "Disable Trackpoint".

Wait, what? If I don't want to use them, I have to disable them in the BIOS? And what if I DO want to use them, because, for example, I don't have room to use a mouse; first go into the BIOS to enable them again?

A quick glance through the manual tells me nothing regarding this (I might have missed it because I didn't read all 193 pages), but my 7.5 year old DELL has the capability in the driver to automatically disable the trackpad and pointing stick as soon as a USB-mouse is plugged in. Heck, under Windows 10, the operating system even reports: "The internal touchpad has been disabled by its driver, because an external pointing device was detected." (Or something to that extent.)

So, just pulling out the Logitech Nano receiver automatically enables the trackpad and pointing stick. It's one of the nicest things I've seen on a notebook. If the T450 can't do that, it would be disappointing. At the very least, I would expect a hotkey combination to toggle the touchpad/track on/off (or off/on, depending on BIOS settings).

And why am I frantically looking for a new laptop on second christmas day?

That's because I suddenly and unexpectedly got told that I possibly (but not 100% certain yet) can buy a laptop through some sort of "buying private stuff to get work done" tax benefit arrangement. If so, I can deduct the laptop from my taxable income, which would mean I can get 42-50% returned in 2016. To do so, I have to buy and pay for the laptop before 2015 ends, however.