Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Copilot key will eventually be required in new PC keyboards

arstechnica.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 260 posts

Re: Copilot key will eventually be required in new PC keyboards

#81

Post by NoZebra120vClip »

nolist_policy wrote: post #78

No thanks, I'll just buy a Chromebook. Which all have the same keyboard layout.

What's really refreshing for me about the Chromebook is a clean keyboard layout that's not encumbered by legacy placements or requirements.

They were able to sweep away the Windows modifiers, the Fn key, F1-F12, and even Caps Lock! In their place, they've established a nice selection of quick-action keys, and the replacement of "Win" with "Search" is intuitive and efficient.

Using a Chromebook for Google properties at work has really accelerated my productivity. Knowing lots of keyboard shortcuts, and being able to efficiently use chords in place of dedicated keys (such as PgUp, PgDn, Home, End) is a joy. The biggest reward is an uncrowded keymap which affords generous surface area for each keycap. In contrast, my Lenovo's keyboard has many keys I simply don't use, and all of them are small and cramped, I am continually looking down to see where my fingers should go.

Re: Copilot key will eventually be required in new PC keyboards

#83

Post by mjburgess »

sedatk wrote: post #54
CrypticShift wrote: post #13

The placement of the key will vary, but in some cases, it will replace the right CTRL key or Menu key, a Microsoft spokesperson told BI [1] [1] https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-ai-button-pc-keybo...

I use right Ctrl only for Ctrl-Break, but still I’d be furious if it disappeared.

Is that to restart the diskette loader when switching from your 3.5" to 5.5" ?

Re: Copilot key will eventually be required in new PC keyboards

#84

Post by righthand »

ziddoap wrote: post #43
righthand wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also they added a Cortana key a few years ago. It must be in the press release because other media sites are reporting the same thing. Also Microsoft did not invent the Super/Meta key aka Windows key.

As mentioned elsewhere, this key will be required as a part of the standard Windows keyboard layout. This is not true of other recent keys (emoji, office, etc.).

Apparently they didn’t push the Cortana key either. And they say it will “eventually” be required. As a keyboard manufacturer why would I listen to Microsoft? Why would I add a key that supports a product I see no benefit from? Just so I can trend even though my customers don’t want it?

I ask because this makes the “Microsoft is going to require it so the other keys don’t count” argument useless. Who cares what Microsoft requires for their own hardware?

Re: Copilot key will eventually be required in new PC keyboards

#85

Post by Zetobal »

jjordan wrote: post #6

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.

Feels more like Google+ to me... push untested features that no one asked for but miss getting the basics right. I mean GitHub/Copilot tells me all the time that it will change the way I develop and everytime I look at windows they are still not able to implement a proper dark mode.

Re: Copilot key will eventually be required in new PC keyboards

#87

Post by [deleted] »

NoZebra120vClip wrote: post #81
nolist_policy wrote: post #78

No thanks, I'll just buy a Chromebook. Which all have the same keyboard layout.

What's really refreshing for me about the Chromebook is a clean keyboard layout that's not encumbered by legacy placements or requirements. They were able to sweep away the Windows modifiers, the Fn key, F1-F12, and even Caps Lock! In their place, they've established a nice selection of quick-action keys, and the replacement of "Win" with "Search" is intuitive and efficient. Using a Chromebook for Google properties a…

[deleted]

Re: Copilot key will eventually be required in new PC keyboards

#88

Post by MrZander »

Zandikar wrote: post #30

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…

I don't use the menu key for daily-driver uses, but I have definitely used it in situations where the mouse was inoperable. It can occasionally be useful if a window gets stuck off-screen and you can't right click it. All rare scenarios, though.

Re: Copilot key will eventually be required in new PC keyboards

#89

Post by [deleted] »

tester756 wrote: post #68
bunderbunder wrote: post #39

Translation: Someone at Microsoft is already getting very, very worried about the return on all this investment they've put into generative AI.

I disagree, as I see there's huge momentum to push AI onto edge like "AI PC" initiative between SW & HW companies

[deleted]
Post reply on HN