Thinkpads Forum

14) Hey! Where's my Windows key?

IBM realizes that some customers want the Windows key functionality and
provides this utility to create one:

IBM provides the utility instead of hardware Windows Key. Why? What is IBM's idea? It is more convenient to operate Windows Key running Windows OS. When we use the utility we lose existing keys.

Windows Key? What's that?

Many ThinkPad users (myself included) are happy the Windows Key is not on the ThinkPad keyboard. Take a look at the Lenovo Z-Series forum here.

I really have not bothered to know what the Windows key is all about, even though my desktop keyboard has one. I had to look at the Windows help file to see what the Windows Key is used for.

I do see that with the ThinkVantage Keyboard Customizer Utility, you get a choice of 6 different keys to substitute for the Windows Key. If you really miss it that much, it seems you could find one of those 6 keys that would be acceptable.

GomJabbar wrote:Windows Key? What's that?

Many ThinkPad users (myself included) are happy the Windows Key is not on the ThinkPad keyboard. Take a look at the Lenovo Z-Series forum here.

I really have not bothered to know what the Windows key is all about, even though my desktop keyboard has one. I had to look at the Windows help file to see what the Windows Key is used for.

I do see that with the ThinkVantage Keyboard Customizer Utility, you get a choice of 6 different keys to substitute for the Windows Key. If you really miss it that much, it seems you could find one of those 6 keys that would be acceptable.

What is the reason of happiness? I get uset to useful Win-Key combination with D, R, E... Of cource I may substitude one of those 6 keys, but I need all of them working. There is same situation with missing 'Application Key'.

Andrey Lamer wrote:I get uset to useful Win-Key combination with D, R, E... Of cource I may substitude one of those 6 keys, but I need all of them working. There is same situation with missing 'Application Key'.

I know I've been a little harsh, but I couldn't resist (my evil side just pops up every now and again). I just never had a personal need for these keyboard shortcuts. However, I do realize that keyboard shortcuts are important to dedicated touch typists.

I'm curious however, what is it you do that requires both shift keys, both ctrl keys and both alt keys? I can understand both shift keys as they are used in normal typing. But how often do you use a ctrl key or an alt key, where you need to reach one with either hand? The only case I can think of; is if one is inputting alot of special characters. Either mathematical or foreign language.

FWIW the ThinkVantage Keyboard Customizer Utility also allows an Application Key. Of course then you would lose another one of those six keys.

GomJabbar wrote:

Andrey Lamer wrote:I get uset to useful Win-Key combination with D, R, E... Of cource I may substitude one of those 6 keys, but I need all of them working. There is same situation with missing 'Application Key'.

I know I've been a little harsh, but I couldn't resist (my evil side just pops up every now and again). I just never had a personal need for these keyboard shortcuts. However, I do realize that keyboard shortcuts are important to dedicated touch typists.

I'm curious however, what is it you do that requires both shift keys, both ctrl keys and both alt keys? I can understand both shift keys as they are used in normal typing. But how often do you use a ctrl key or an alt key, where you need to reach one with either hand? The only case I can think of; is if one is inputting alot of special characters. Either mathematical or foreign language.

FWIW the ThinkVantage Keyboard Customizer Utility also allows an Application Key. Of course then you would lose another one of those six keys.

It is not a disaster for me to use my ThinkPad without Win-Key. Anyway I'm happy to use this machine, but using ALT and CTRL keys of both sides is approved for me when I work without a mouse. In most cases the shortcuts of ALT or CTRL with any of letter key are easer to do by both hands from opposite sides. I'm curious however, what was IBM guided by when they designed the keybord?

Andrey Lamer wrote:

GomJabbar wrote: I know I've been a little harsh, but I couldn't resist (my evil side just pops up every now and again). I just never had a personal need for these keyboard shortcuts. However, I do realize that keyboard shortcuts are important to dedicated touch typists.

I'm curious however, what is it you do that requires both shift keys, both ctrl keys and both alt keys? I can understand both shift keys as they are used in normal typing. But how often do you use a ctrl key or an alt key, where you need to reach one with either hand? The only case I can think of; is if one is inputting alot of special characters. Either mathematical or foreign language.

FWIW the ThinkVantage Keyboard Customizer Utility also allows an Application Key. Of course then you would lose another one of those six keys.

It is not a disaster for me to use my ThinkPad without Win-Key. Anyway I'm happy to use this machine, but using ALT and CTRL keys of both sides is approved for me when I work without a mouse. In most cases the shortcuts of ALT or CTRL with any of letter key are easer to do by both hands from opposite sides. I'm curious however, what was IBM guided by when they designed the keybord?

Their hatred for Microsoft probably explains it.

pphilipko wrote:

Andrey Lamer wrote:I'm curious however, what was IBM guided by when they designed the keybord?

Their hatred for Microsoft probably explains it.

I really think you hit the nail on the head. While I don't have any inside information, that has been my suspicion all along.

It would be reason enough for me.

Their hatred for Microsoft probably explains it.

Interesting. If IBM hates MS, why do they recommend and preinstall Windows XP?

Andrey Lamer wrote:

Their hatred for Microsoft probably explains it.

Interesting. If IBM hates MS, why do they recommend and preinstall Windows XP?

it is called "MONOPOLY" and i don't mean the board game..
aka
the only game in town..

Andrey Lamer wrote:I'm curious however, what was IBM guided by when they designed the keybord?

DOS, Win31, and OS/2.

Andrey Lamer wrote:Interesting. If IBM hates MS, why do they recommend and preinstall Windows XP?

It's what the customers demand.

If you read the history back in the early-to-mid 90's, IBM was developing and deploying OS/2 jointly with Microsoft. BG thought it was too slow coming out of the gate and he wanted a faster solution. Microsoft broke off developement of OS/2 with IBM - enter Windows 95. Microsoft was always a marketing genius, so it was Windows 95 that sold and OS/2 languished. It is my belief (and many others) that OS/2 was superior to Windows 95.

I still wish it was OS/2 that had taken off, but eventually I came to realize that the software I and my family wanted to use was only available on Windows - not OS/2. Additionally OS/2 had trouble signing on the hardware vendors. Part of the reason for this was BG's strongarm tactics. It was reported that he would not sell Windows to hardware vendors that wanted to sell alternate operating systems as well. The vendors were forced to sell Windows or else everything else. The vendors bean counters won out - to no surprise. OS/2 is only used by a few organizations now (Kaiser Permanente is one). OS/2 has become virtually extinct as far as a consumer operating system.

IBM is sore that Microsoft wouldn't stick with the joint developement of OS/2. Hence IBM's dislike for Microsoft. But for IBM to continue to sell consumer x86 computers, they had to include Windows.

I hope my brief history discussion is more or less accurate. It's how I remember it anyway.

Just create the shortcuts on your desctop, then set some shortcut keys to them, and then apply your ctrl-alt-shortcut_key and you're done.

Andrey Lamer wrote:

14) Hey! Where's my Windows key?

IBM realizes that some customers want the Windows key functionality and
provides this utility to create one:

IBM provides the utility instead of hardware Windows Key. Why? What is IBM's idea? It is more convenient to operate Windows Key running Windows OS. When we use the utility we lose existing keys.

The fact that most Thinkpads come with Windows preinstalled doesn't mean they only run Windows. Thinkpads are the most popular Linux laptops since they have excellent Linux compatibility, and lets not forget DOS and OS/2. In the average Joe world Windows is the monopoly, but in the business world it is just another player.

stgreek wrote:

Andrey Lamer wrote: IBM provides the utility instead of hardware Windows Key. Why? What is IBM's idea? It is more convenient to operate Windows Key running Windows OS. When we use the utility we lose existing keys.

The fact that most Thinkpads come with Windows preinstalled doesn't mean they only run Windows. Thinkpads are the most popular Linux laptops since they have excellent Linux compatibility, and lets not forget DOS and OS/2. In the average Joe world Windows is the monopoly, but in the business world it is just another player.

Linux users may also take advantage of Win-Keys when they run KDE or another environment. Ok, lets hate Win-Keys instead of using them But what about 'application key'? Is it also an MS invention and is also disliked by IBM?