this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[–] const_void@lemmy.ml 79 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (4 children)

This is the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard of. I'm not buying any keyboard or laptop that has this key. There's enough Linux-first vendors these days that it's easy to avoid (Framework, System76, Tuxedo, etc). It's time to be done with Lenovo and Dell.

[–] palordrolap@kbin.social 20 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (5 children)

This is the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever heard of. I’m not buying any keyboard or laptop that has this key.

Which is exactly what people said about the Windows key.

Now it's all but impossible to buy a keyboard that doesn't have it. Worse, most of us use it without thinking.

Sure you can call it Super if you like, and even have a Tux key-cap on it, but there used to be a literal gap between the Alt keys and their Ctrl brethren in the lateral directions away from the space bar, and those days are long gone.

There'll be the niche users who stick with old keyboards without this new key, just like there are the die-hards who have stuck resolutely to the old IBM keyboards and the like from pre-1995, but if you want a new keyboard?

Gonna have to shell out a small fortune for a custom build or make do with that dumb new key.

(Shoutout to the Context Menu key which went as unmentioned in the above as it goes unused in day to day use, despite having been included with its Super cousin since day one.)

[–] const_void@lemmy.ml 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Gonna have to shell out a small fortune for a custom build or make do with that dumb new key.

I don't think this is true. Just buy a laptop from a company that ships it with Linux. No Windows, no Windows keys. It doesn't have to be 'custom'.

[–] kzhe@lemmy.zip 4 points 10 months ago

The post mentioned this, and argues that a super a key is basically just a windows key

[–] giloronfoo 2 points 10 months ago

The video made it look like this was the context menu key. This may just be a key cap change for WHQL certification of keyboards.

My keyboard has a Linux key. And I happily use it.

[–] cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 10 months ago

The context menu key is more useful when it's remapped to the compose key.

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[–] BaldProphet@kbin.social 11 points 10 months ago

I fully agree with you, but Framework is definitely not Linux-first. The only OS they offer preloaded on their laptops is Windows. You have to install Linux yourself if you want it.

[–] Dirk@lemmy.ml 4 points 10 months ago

Like with the Windows key, this won't be an option.

[–] Joker@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 10 months ago

I don't care as long as the placement is ok and I can map it to something useful. I'm a GNOME user so the Windows/Super key gets a lot of use. It's nice to have. A new key that I use for all my custom shortcuts would actually be kind of nice. Who cares that the default key caps are a Windows icon and this Copilot thing? Change the key caps and they are just keys.