71–80 of 260 posts
The way Microsoft is pushing AI literally everywhere now feels reminiscent of circa 2001 when literally everything was branded '.NET'. Eventually they scaled it back, but it was complete overkill and diluted what the brand was supposed to represent.
Honestly, my initial reaction to this was my typical jaded, cynical, anti-MS self, but after consideration - and the key fact that they're replacing a key, not adding one necessitating a new layout - I'm honestly okay with this. does anyone use the menu key (the key that allegedly this will replace)? It's certainly one of the first to go in enthusiast keyboards using non standard 100% layouts, As long as it's not som…
> but does anyone use the menu key? I've never used the menu key. I don't really know what it does (what menu it's supposed to pull up). I object to software vendors dictating unnecessary features in peripherals their software isn't even going to run on.
When I'm in Windows, that is, which is an ever-dwindling share of my time.
> Microsoft is adding a new key to PC keyboards Not to mine. > A quick Microsoft demo video shows the Copilot key in between the cluster of arrow keys and the right Alt button, a place where many keyboards usually put a menu button, a right Ctrl key, another Windows key, or something similar I barely use any of those keys, especially the menu key. Just Microsoft's marketing department doing what they have alwasy done…
looks like it takes the place of the menu key?
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It's mouse-right click but on the keyboard (context menu). I believe it's an accessibility thing now that I think about it, which might be why MS is saying "maybe" and considering other keys to replace instead - though that's speculation on my part. Also, unless I misunderstood this, this is only being mandated for hardware that ships with Windows on it (Eg, surface or desktops that come with windows installed), so t…
But, but... Nearly all retail PCs are sold with Windows, even if Windows is blown away immediately and replaced with Linux or something. And while it may not be mandated for 3rd-party keyboards (e.g. logitech), it'll turn up on all of those too.
Mandate != Trend.
There's a very important difference, and logitech et al following suite is a choice, just like there will plenty of enthusiast/premium/higher end offerings that will let you customize it in all number of ways - like they already do.
And just because those keyboards have the windows logo on the super key doesn't mean Linux is going to kernel panic when you press. I mean, there's always a chance I suppose, but then something far more interesting is going on.
If they're giving some sort of kickback or financial incentive to embrace, extend, extinguish something with this initiative, I wouldn't be surprised, but I see no indication of that yet.
The way Microsoft is pushing AI literally everywhere now feels reminiscent of circa 2001 when literally everything was branded '.NET'. Eventually they scaled it back, but it was complete overkill and diluted what the brand was supposed to represent.
It's the only thing MS^H^H Bing has that offers a prayer of beating Google at something. Expect saturation.
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What is Microsoft suppsed to represent? I'm not sure their brand has ever been anything more concrete over its total existence other than BASIC/MS-DOS in the beginning, a few long running products (Windows, Office, Xbox, Azure) and that it is involved with user-facing technology.
Microsoft represents a solid, stable, enterprise-friendly, conservative, but still somewhat “innovative” (whatever that means) company. Or at least that’s their brand. Given that a huge part of their value is their long term sales relationships, I’d say they are an extremely brand-reliant company.
What about the MS Office key and Emoji key? Those were definitely added after 1994. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/using-the-office-k...
Random keys are added to keyboards all the time. In this case Microsoft is requiring it from all their PC vendors.
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> but does anyone use the menu key? I've never used the menu key. I don't really know what it does (what menu it's supposed to pull up). I object to software vendors dictating unnecessary features in peripherals their software isn't even going to run on.
I use the menu key where it's available, and ctrl-shift-F10 where it isn't. (Most new laptops seem to omit it.) When I'm in Windows, that is, which is an ever-dwindling share of my time.