Apple Aluminum Keyboard and Ubunutu 11.04

Solution 1:

There are three modes according to the Ubuntu help:

• 0 – Disable the 'fn' key. Pressing 'fn'+'F8' will behave like you only press 'F8'
• 1 – Function keys are used as last key. Pressing 'F8' key will act as a special key. Pressing 'fn'+'F8' will behave like a F8.
• 2 – Function keys are used as first key. Pressing 'F8' key will behave like a F8. Pressing 'fn'+'F8' will act as special key (play/pause).

It sounds like you want mode 2.

Change the setting temporarily by entering the following into a Terminal:

echo <n> | sudo tee /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode

where <n> is either 0, 1 or 2 depending on the option you want to enable.

If you want to change it permanently, enter the following:

sudo sed -i -e 's#^exit 0$#echo <n> > /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode\n&#g' /etc/rc.local

again, replacing <n> with 0, 1, or 2.