Those Windows keys...

[13788]

mindseye: I repaired a keyboard this morning, and while putting the keys back in, I had to stop and check the placement of those Windows menu keys on the front row.

I never ever use them myself, and I never hear people refer to them in instructions or documentation, and I started wondering if they're the colossal failure I think they might be...

So, I'm asking -- do any of you use those keys on a regular basis?

 

[jay_too]

nah...they just screw me up like when i am typing and suddenly find the cursor is not on the screen and what i have been typing for 5 minutes is not either.

a cool keyboard would not have them.

jay

 

[13788]

longtimelurker: The 'start menu' button is incredibly useful if you've had a program (usually a game) crash in full-screen mode. It usually brings up the start menu and desktop even when <alt> <enter> and <alt><tab> don't work.

The quickmenu buttons aren't so useful though - maybe if you're cheap and using a Mac mouse???

 

[Pecker]

I think they long ago outlived their usefulness, which apparently was only to further advertise MS to its users.

The buttons now tend only to irritate when accidentally pushed.

Pecker

I got kicked out of ballet class because I pulled a groin muscle. It wasn't mine.

 

[13788]

Tender: ha ha
this reminds me of when Paul was helping me with my avatar and such...
i dont have blonde roots, but if it plugs in i cant use it , uh er somethun like that....
anyway.
you mean this row on top of the keyboard that has these buttons with the shopping cart, the "Q" the music note and such? those thingies?
i have NO idea what they even are. ???

i do use a button on the top with a half moon on it to put my box to sleep at night? that row?
well you know me, technical thingies..... clueless...

Tender

 

[13788]

mindseye: Heh. I don't use those either (though the keyboard I use now doesn't have those keys on them.)

I was thinking of the ones on the front row of PC keyboards -- between 'alt' and 'ctrl' that have completely unhelpful pictures on them.

longtimelurker: I've always used ctrl-alt-del in that case to bring up the task manager; if I ever run into that scenario again, though, I'll keep your suggestion in mind.

 

[13788]

ORCABOMBER: I use the windows key to do win-u-enter to shut down windows...and that's it! Even then, if it isn't there, I'll ctrl-escape. I tend to use shortcut keys a lot, but it's annoying when game playing and you're being creamed because the stupid "right click" button is being pressed! You can't even use it in games like "insert, home etc."

 

[13788]

7x6andchg: I tend to use Windows - E to open Explorer....

Although...showing my age and Apple IIe expertise...I call it OpenApple-E.

 

[13788]

longtimelurker: [quote author=7x6+C link=board=99;num=1069629798;start=0#7 date=11/28/03 at 18:39:00]I tend to use Windows - E to open Explorer....

Although...showing my age and Apple IIe expertise...I call it OpenApple-E.   [/quote]

Now if there is one thing that I really detest about macs it's the apple key! Why did they place it where <ctrl> is normally? I always use shortcuts, and I hate it when I select a load of text to italicise (or whatever), press <ctrl-i> and all my lovely text is replaced by a little box!

Just thank God for undo!