Blog FeedAxe the Windows Button
I got a new keyboard today. It’s that one there to the right - the Logitech one with an enormous array of useless buttons, but slick black and silver looks. It now matches my new speakers, and my Logitech mouse. My old keyboard was *old*. We’re talking 15 years plus - but I loved it so. You couldn’t hold down 3 keys at a time without the computer beeping, it needed a super-old-plug-to-PS/2 adapter, and it made a lot of noise whenever you pressed a key. It did, however, have 2 great things about it.
Firstly, the Enter button was bigger - one of those ones that takes up two rows. This Logitech one doesn’t have that. Secondly, my old keyboard lacked a Windows button, which is something I was very proud of. Every keyboard I’ve used aside from my own has had a Windows button which always got in my way. This will take some getting used to. I miss the old keyboard, but this new one just has too much going for it (and too many buttons and dials) for me to revert back.
29th September | Reply
I find the windows key very useful, and use it to shut down my pc quickly (Windows key, up enter, right, enter) when I’m still in some programs, like bersirc, and I also use it to get back to windows from UT2004 or RVS. Programs that run fullscreen. it beats alt+tab especially if its the only program running.
The smaller enter key will take some gettig used to, but all newish keyboards have it I think, and once you’re used to it you’ll see its yummy.
29th September | Reply
I find the windows key one of the most annoying things ever. I mean, you’ll be playing a game and *bam*, you accidently hit the windows key. Bye bye Mr Game, especially if its a game that crashes after you windows key out
30th September | Reply
You can disable your windows key pretty easily.
I have the exactly same keyboard except wireless. I lurve it something fierce. Once you get it all set up and such commonly used applications are a breeze to get through. Great media set up and and I dig the mouse wheel on the side. Also the “Go” button is handy.
30th September | Reply
At the moment I have the previous model of that one. The Internet Navigator Keyboard, I think they call it. It’s served me well across three computers and it’s still going strong.
The windows key is something that you’ll get used to, same with the enter key. On top of all that, the media keys at the top are *fantastic* for controlling Winamp when you’re in a game.
1st October | Reply
Well, look at it this way, I have 4 keys beside my spacebar (Function, Ctrl, Alt and Command), so consider yourself lucky. Besides, the Windows Key combos are damned useful who’s loss would make Windows a more frustrating experience than it already is.
The keyboard that I have at work (A Dell thing) comes with a number of shortcut keys but they are too far away from the normal typing area that I never use them.
1st October | Reply
You fiend, I grow jealous of yon keyboard. Because of having no cash whatsoever, I had to buy a compaq for school, and it came with the single worst keyboard ever. Its like a childs toy, too small, terrible keys that bearly make that satisfying click noise when you hit em, and frankly a black casing with grey keys is ugmo. Im officially offended, thanks alot.
And the window key sucks.
1st October | Reply
I’d like to add that this morning I came into the office to discover that the cleaners have managed (god knows how) to break one of the legs off my Dell keyboard and that it now has to lie flat on the desk. RSI, here I come…
Bloody cleaners…
2nd October | Reply
You could probably sue someone over that. Or call WorkCover and claim it an office hazard…
7th October | Reply
I’ve got the same keyboard.
The windows key doesn’t really bother me, but all those useless buttons on the top are quite annoying.
It’s got an Apple key, too.
7th October | Reply
Well, the Apple key is just the Alt key, so that doesn’t give me any problems. And I think the shortcuts rule - I just cleared an enter set of shortcuts from my desktop so i can use them instead. Much cleaner.