[jpetso]

This is what makes newer ThinkPad keyboard layouts great at least in terms of arrow keys - the useless icon keys from the GP's posted image are now PgUp/PgDown, meaning you can access at least two out of the four without annoying two-handed operation. Home/End can still be bound to arrow keys plus modifier, but even there it's nice to have a dedicated key available.

Basically, full-size arrow keys are what really makes the difference, and at that point you could get the best of both worlds anyway.

(Let's not talk about other recent/misguided ThinkPad keyboard developments though.)

[Liskni_si]

I actually use those "useless" keys (back/forward in the browser) more often than PgUp/PgDown, as I usually scroll using the touchpad.

But it doesn't really matter, as long as the physical keys are there. They can be remapped.

[jpetso]

Never said they were useless! I also use them all the time. There is, however, only space for two extra keys in the holes of the four-arrow layout.