The BIOS on the FW13/AI300 has an option to switch the Fn and Ctrl keys. I miss an option to switch Alt and the Meta/Win key there as well.
Yes, there are software options in Linux and Windows, but those can have side-effects. At least on Linux, combining too many XKB options tends to lead to problems. I’ve had to settle for keeping the keys as they are, because switching them around with XKB clashes with options like lv3:alt_switch.
So just something for the wishlist.
You can do that at runtime using ectool (modifies the matrix on the ec level so no software sideefects other than the key being in the wrong place). Though it does sound like a really cursed thing to do.
Yeah, messing around with the embedded controller sounds mildly terrifying. It’s not that this is impossible to work around, but a BIOS option would be helpful to those migrating from a Mac who has their key arrangement committed to memory.
In this case it is entirely harmless, worst thing you can do there is making the internal keyboard unusable which can be fixed using an external keyboard or just powering off the computer for a few seconds so the ec resets.
A bios option would end up doing just that.
I can see why the fn/ctrl swap option exists because people could be used to thinkpad keyboards but I am not aware of anyone making keyboards that have alt and windows keys switched so that is way more niche.
All Apple keyboards have that arrangement. From the left, first Ctrl, then Alt (aka. Option) then the ⌘ (Command) key, which corresponds to Meta/Super/Win.
If you buy fancy keyboards, they often have a way to swap the keys to cater to Mac-users.
Guess that solves that mystery. Weird that I never noticed that.