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Ask HN: Why do keyboards still have the CAPS LOCK key?

3 points by inDigiNeous 11y ago

It's unnecessarily large, takes up a very good position on the standard keyboard layout, and seems NOBODY USES IT. Why is it still there?

proyb2 11y ago
I use it everyday while at work of course and not to forget disabilities group.
DanBC 11y ago
I use it. Re-map it if you don't like it. http://www.howtogeek.com/194705/how-to-disable-or-reassign-the-caps-lock-key-on-any-operating-system/ http://www.howtogeek.com/194705/how-to-disable-or-reassign-t...
vortico 11y ago
I OFTEN USE THE CAPS LOCK KEY. But not really, I've remapped it to Ctrl, the most useful modifier on my keyboard.
greenyoda 11y ago
There are still some old languages (e.g., legacy FORTRAN or COBOL; IBM JCL) that are all uppercase. And I'd guess there are still some old data-entry applications that use uppercase only. There are also headings in all-caps on certain legal documents. There are even less useful keys, like the "Scroll Lock" key (and its associated LED) on the standard PC keyboard. This serves no function that I know of in any modern Windows application, but enough old programs use it that manufacturers don't want to get rid of it.
Broken_Hippo 11y ago
The button exists because people do use it. If I need to write a sentence in capitals - generally labeling/headers/outlineish stuff - it is Much easier to use than to hold the shift key for each and every letter. Now, as far as the standard position, I agree. I'd be fine if the standard were in a more out of the way location, because I rarely use it in a hurry and happen to do enough accidentals to turn on a sound letting me know it was hit. I'd personally replace it either with symbols (non-english punctuation, perhaps) or use the space for one of the more common non-english letters (ø,æ,å,ô)
- Nadya 11y ago
  This might already be something you personally know - but I feel it's a great opportunity to bring it up and hopefully teach others. Right alt can be used for non-english symbols. Some examples from keyboard mashing while holding right alt: ¡²³¤€¼áðäéå®þæ©ñ For the most part they are in sensible positions too, making them easy to remember. Right alt+2 is ² and n becomes ñ and s becomes the German ß. © is c and ® is r. Optionally you can set your keyboard to use English - International to type Pokémon properly. Or português. Although it can get annoying trying to type an opening quote " because you need to press space afterwards (it's waiting for the following character to modify: ä)

3 points by inDigiNeous 11y ago

It's unnecessarily large, takes up a very good position on the standard keyboard layout, and seems NOBODY USES IT. Why is it still there?

proyb2 11y ago

I use it everyday while at work of course and not to forget disabilities group.

DanBC 11y ago

I use it. Re-map it if you don't like it. http://www.howtogeek.com/194705/how-to-disable-or-reassign-the-caps-lock-key-on-any-operating-system/ http://www.howtogeek.com/194705/how-to-disable-or-reassign-t...

vortico 11y ago

I OFTEN USE THE CAPS LOCK KEY. But not really, I've remapped it to Ctrl, the most useful modifier on my keyboard.

greenyoda 11y ago

There are still some old languages (e.g., legacy FORTRAN or COBOL; IBM JCL) that are all uppercase. And I'd guess there are still some old data-entry applications that use uppercase only. There are also headings in all-caps on certain legal documents. There are even less useful keys, like the "Scroll Lock" key (and its associated LED) on the standard PC keyboard. This serves no function that I know of in any modern Windows application, but enough old programs use it that manufacturers don't want to get rid of it.

Broken_Hippo 11y ago

The button exists because people do use it. If I need to write a sentence in capitals - generally labeling/headers/outlineish stuff - it is Much easier to use than to hold the shift key for each and every letter. Now, as far as the standard position, I agree. I'd be fine if the standard were in a more out of the way location, because I rarely use it in a hurry and happen to do enough accidentals to turn on a sound letting me know it was hit. I'd personally replace it either with symbols (non-english punctuation, perhaps) or use the space for one of the more common non-english letters (ø,æ,å,ô)

Nadya 11y ago
This might already be something you personally know - but I feel it's a great opportunity to bring it up and hopefully teach others. Right alt can be used for non-english symbols. Some examples from keyboard mashing while holding right alt: ¡²³¤€¼áðäéå®þæ©ñ For the most part they are in sensible positions too, making them easy to remember. Right alt+2 is ² and n becomes ñ and s becomes the German ß. © is c and ® is r. Optionally you can set your keyboard to use English - International to type Pokémon properly. Or português. Although it can get annoying trying to type an opening quote " because you need to press space afterwards (it's waiting for the following character to modify: ä)