Microsoft is adding a new key to PC keyboards for the first time since 1994

jordanlund@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.world – 502 points –
Microsoft is adding a new key to PC keyboards for the first time since 1994
arstechnica.com

Copilot key will eventually be required in new PC keyboards, though not yet.

475

You are viewing a single comment

If only keyboards would have function keys for this purpose, named F1 to F10 for example, so any program could use them for their specific functions...

Nahh gotta place them where they're obvious in your face and a constant reminder of CONSUME PRODUCT and be accidently pressed! Can guarantee you it'll take up part of the space of a key hotspot

At least on the PC, it's easier to remap the buttons. What enrages me more are the TV remote controls with buttons dedicated to specific streaming apps. I mean... none of these services will outlive the TV itself. I'll just have to look at buttons that do nothing for years.

If you're using Android TV, you can use something like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=flar2.homebutton to remap the button to another apps or any other functions

I need that for my Roku. I may just write an automation in Home Assistant that will switch to whatever app I programmed if I press the Paramount+ button. Unfortunately that means I need to install that app on the Roku itself.

I personally find those useful, but I can never find the combination of services that works with my needs.

There's always like Vudu or Sling that just becomes a wasted button.

I get your point but at least three of those services will outlive the tvs expected life. Netflix Hulu and espn aren’t going anywhere, at most espn will be rolled into Disney+ and a software update could point that button to it

My TVs crackle and I heart radio buttons on the other hand…

I remember those keyboard layout cutouts (were they called keyboard templates?) you got which you put on the keyboard with extra explanations of what each function key did in WordPerfect or Lotus or whatever.

I'm old.

Yeah I remember them too. Sometimes games would come with them even, to help with all the keyboard shortcuts. :)

I found out recently that you can buy replacement keycap sets that have many of the Vim functions printed on them, and I thought that was pretty exciting. I am also old, lol.

After 25 years of using vim I have replaced a lot of otherwise useful reflexes and brain capacity with vim keybindings (using a swedish variant of Dvorak none the less). I am way too old for needing a cheat sheet stuck on the keyboard, and it would even then be wrong not using QWERTY.