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I'm not a huge fan it has a Windows logo printed on it, but there are good usability reasons for the key, even on non-Windows systems, and there was just a big hunk of empty space between Ctrl and Alt before. So nothing is really lost for non-Windows users. It seems to me there are more pressing matters to get angry about than the logo on a keyboard.

And whether we like or not not, Windows is the dominant desktop OS, so "OS operations key" having the Windows logo i not entirely nonsensical really. Almost every non-technical person uses Windows, and even within the technical crowd Windows is probably the most common system.

Bit less of a case for the "Copilot key", although it remains to be seen if "becomes mandatory over time" will come to pass.



The Logitech K860 keyboard doesn't have the Windows logo on the Windows key. It has "opt" and "start" along with undecipherable half-a-stew-pot icon:

https://www.imore.com/ergo-k860-split-ergonomic-keyboard-rev...

...mostly just posting this to hear what others might think that icon represents.


That symbol represents an alternative and indicates the function of the key. Its used on Apple computers.

IE: alt


Ah, so it is maybe graphically similar to the double-throw switch schematic symbol.

https://wiringengineabt.z19.web.core.windows.net/double-pole...


Or a railroad switch.


I knew someone would bring up the utility of the key as a meta-modifier.[0]

Sun keyboards had a diamond to mark that key, which is better to my mind than a third party commercial OS logo.

I wouldn't even mind if it was the keyboard manufacturer logo.

[0]: https://deskthority.net/wiki/File:Suntype7sf.jpg


I got custom keycaps for unrelated reasons that have that on the super key and I wondered what it was.

Comically to me, it has both the diamond and Apple's command key logo. Windows is the only one missing.


Originally that diamond was the Sun logo, which was diamond-shaped.


I use my windows keyboard on a mac, if that key wasn’t there then I’d have to get a dedicated Mac keyboard.


I'm not suggesting removing the key, merely that every OEM who dares to ship windows being required to place a 3rd party key is myopic.

It can even make the laptops/PC's look dated if the OS logo changes.. which has happened.


> big hunk of empty space between Ctrl and Alt

This empty space can be a feature for emacs users who use the outside of their opposite palm for actuating the ctrl or alt keys.

I personally gave up on this approach years ago because it was only viable on my IBM model M which is hard to transport. Instead now I always remap caps to ctrl, that way no matter what keyboard I'm using it feels familiar.


FWIW, on a Das Keyboard, the Windows keys have a little Das logo on them, rather than a Windows logo.




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