I got a new MS Natural Keyboard today and found out the things have been redesigned in one key but REALLY ANNOYING area. My question: what the hell were they thinking? My fingers have places they want to go on the keyboard when I’m changing layout stuff, and I’m NOT happy that things like the End key moved.

Ummm....

So where was it on the old model?

The Home/End/Delete/PgUp/PgDwn/Insert block has been:

(a) turn on it's end.
(b) flipped 180 degrees...

or something... it's basically upside down and backwards.

The arrow keys are also in a '+' instead of 'upside down T' formation that I'm not loving.

So before it was

Home | End
PgUp | PgDn
Ins | Delete

Or something like that? (Keys like that should be side-by-side, not stacked.)

I'm sure some Detailed, Interesting, and Scholastically Sound Usability Studies were done for the new layout -- probably without taking into consideration the relearning curve of those who already had one.

Of course, I've never forgiven IBM for moving the F-keys from the left ...

No, before it was:

[insert] [home] [pgup]
[delete] [ end ] [pddwn]

Now it's

[home] [pgup]
[ end ] [pddwn]
[delete] [insert]

stacked. Damn annoying.

So it used to be mostly like how an Apple KB is.

I'd be pissed they changed it too.

As for the F key move, absolutly. I used to use DOS Word Perfect and I was the F-key combo master.

I don't think I've used an F-key more than 3 times in the last 10 years I've used "modern" keyboards.

Agreed. The movement of the F-keys to the top made using menu options a lot more palatable. About the only time I use them is -- well, for non-menued/non-Windows games. And even then I get into trouble with hitting the wrong one.

I agree about the home/end keys. Those really make me nuts, but I love my Natural Keyboard.

What is still making me batty tho is that at my old job, I had a Sun keyboard that I used for a Sun and a PC. On that keyboard, the CAPS LOCK and CTRL are reversed. I still catch myself hitting the wrong keys and it's been 2 months.

That's sick and wrong. I mean, really now. Embrace and extend, my foot...