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Description
This would reduce confusion. I didn't even think Ubuntu had a key combo for that menu for the longest time. Turns out it's alt+F1. Two keys? Having to span the keyboard with your hand? Fail.
This idea isn't 'windows-like' or 'mac-like'; it's behavior expected from every 'human being' that's used a computer via the keyboard before.
If you have a really good reason to be different, do so. As far as I'm aware, not using super for the Apps menu does not.
...and if you're using super as a modifier, you will have pressed another key before letting up on it. That would be the only potentially sensible opposition I can think of for this. All the people that use alt+F1 now will be grateful, once they figure it out.
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ethana2 wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 07:34
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If you do vote this down, naturally I'm most interested in your reasoning. If there's something I've overlooked, I'd like to know. Thanks.
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XVIIarcano wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 08:39
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I vote up, I have tought of this myself in the past. The combo issue remains, however, but perhaps could be solved by displaying the menu on key release instead of key press (i don't know if it is possible as with the mouse). This way the combos are safe because other keys are pressed while super is down.
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takdavid wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 08:40
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Have you tried out System/Preferences/Keyboard shortcuts?
Or you mean this should be the _default_ behavior?
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 Alan Pope (Ubuntu Developer) wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 09:27
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My keyboard has no windows key. If it was the default behaviour then I'd be stuck.
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XVIIarcano wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 09:33
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@takdavid, it is always possible to remap a key trough System/Preferences/Keyboard shortcuts, but having it by default would be just a nice touch.
@Alan Pope, the majority of keyboards do have a "super" key, wether it is windows or apple... or ubuntu logo as some sticker program allows, in the case of a keyboard without it nothing would change, you can always remap it back to Alt+F1 trough System/Preferences/Keyboard shortcuts ;)
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lynx wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 10:08
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it's not so hard to detect if a keyboard has 101/102-keys or 104/105-keys, but the best would be that ubuntu should sign a license agreement with keyboard manufacturers and put a new logo (ubuntu or tux) instead of windows logo.
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arch0njw wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 11:12
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The "super key" is a modifier key like Shift, Control, and Alt. I disagree with having it drop down the menu or being able to be mapped to drop down the menu. I use the "super key" to be used in combination with other keys for favorite things like "run", "konqueror", "dolphin", and switching desktops (super+up, super+down, super+right, super+left, super+F#, etc.).
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djh2400 wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 13:14
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arch0njw, did you even read what ethana2 wrote? The Apps menu wouldn't drop down from pressing the super key until the key was /let up/ without another key being used in combination with this. In no way does this degrade it from being a modifier key, and it helps to not confuse new users.
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wolfwitch wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 13:34
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Using the super-key as a modifier (like Shift and Alt) generally has to be manually set up through they Keyboard Shortcuts utility (for example). Setting the menu dropdown as a default behavior really wouldn't hurt anyone, since those that want to use it for something else will be tinkering around there anyway.
This can be really easily set up, even by a novice, but it would be nice to see as as a default- only because it is what a lot of people weaning themselves off Windows will be used to.
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Ralf.Nieuwenhuijsen wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 15:50
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Actually i prefer the idea where all window related functions are mapped to that key.
So:
Super + up/down would switch between apps
Super + left/right would switch workspaces
Super + pageup/pagedown would minimize/restore/maximize
Super + delete would close the app
Super + home/end would bring the desktop up front or restore all windows
Super + plus/minus would zoom in on current app or zoom out to view all desktops at once
Super + ? would bring up help
Super + n would negatate the colors of the screen
Super + insert would bring up the run-me dialog
Super + space would bring up gnome-do or deskbar
Super + escape would bring up the log-out/quit dialog
And holding super for 2 seconds without any modifier would bring up an overlay where all these keyboard shortcuts would be shown.
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adityakavoor wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 16:04
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alt + f1 does that
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blairnic wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 17:09
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the simple fact is that most keyboards you buy today include the Windows start key. Ubuntu should leverage it by default when it is there as it will help users migrating from Windows to Ubuntu and because they are used to the feature.
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wladston wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 18:54
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+1
@ Alan : I'm sure that the majority of keyboards out there got a super key. Default procedures should support the majories, not the minorities ... You could always map it back to alt+f1
@idea's author : I think that what would make SUPER really productive would be to map it to the tracker tool (like it's being done on windows vista). It's the feature that I most admire on windows - to find a program or file, just press the super key, type in the name, choose with up/down keys, and press enter. What do you think about it ?
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nullmind wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 19:29
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Alt+F1 does this very well already, and compiz plugins make extensive use of the super key. It's a modifier key, just check the gconf or compiz syntax for declaring hotkeys that use it.
Despite the "arguments" made by the author (and the sensationalism), this is an attempt to make Ubuntu work like Windows users expect. The setting is configurable, but it may be difficult to bind it to a modifier (or may not work correctly), in which I would consider that a valid feature or bug request.
Cheers,
Kris
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nullmind wrote on the 21 Mar 08 at 02:32
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I talked to a friend and he commented on this stating that his System76 notebook came stock with this feature like this and it caused many issues with compiz and he immediately changed it.
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ethana2 wrote on the 21 Mar 08 at 05:47
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If gconf would even /let/ me make super do what I wanted it to, I don't know if I'd be bothering you.
Obviously there are some issues to resolve. That can be done. It can be made very simple to turn off. If you have all your compiz hotkeys memorized, chances are you won't have that much trouble doing just that. Also, like I said, this can be made to work without conflicting with the use of super as a modifier.
(While we're at it, can somebody /please/ implement a proper CAPS->backspace option in the keyboard prefs? I'm tired of my colemak not working right.)
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ethana2 wrote on the 21 Mar 08 at 05:54
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Oh yeah, nullmind? I beg your pardon for my 'sensationalism'.
...I can be like that sometimes.
wladston, all applets in the panel should be selectable from the keyboard. (arrow keys)
..so I think we should do that, and I'd recommend putting the deskbar applet to the left of the main menu, so you only have to hit two keys.
..sorry for the long time to response, I didn't expect this to become my most popular idea within what, 24 hours?
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BungaMan wrote on the 22 Mar 08 at 14:03
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-1
- It IS very windows-like and Mac-like. Have you looked at the image on the keyboard? I don't see a tux here.
- You are in a GUI, click on it. What are you going to do after the super key? Further navigate with your keyboard?
- If it is needed in case of mouse issues then alt-f1 works just fine as a non-frequently used shortcut.
- As been said above, Compiz doesn't like it.
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lynx wrote on the 23 Mar 08 at 10:53
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all that we want is to make ubuntu more productive, so if it is super key, windows key, meta key, tux key, ubuntu key ... any key ... it doesn't matter, i just want to push one (1) key not two (2) to bring up my applications menu, and this 'feature' should be by default.
99% of the time when you open ubuntu you just pop-up the applications menu, by mouse or by keyboard accelerators/shortcuts.
is this so complicated?
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ethana2 wrote on the 23 Mar 08 at 22:55
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BungaMan: http://www.zareason.com/shop/image.php?id=93&type=D
..I do.
So compiz has a bug, file it.
...and in case you didn't notice, windows+mac=99.4% desktop market share. That means it's expected behavior.
The best productive environment a person can have is a GUI navigable by keyboard. Just ask a blender user.
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trybowski wrote on the 18 Jun 08 at 20:22
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+1
It should behave like in Windows by default.
Super+E should allow exploring the filesystem
Super+R should allow running applications
Super+M should allow minimizing all
Super+L should allow switching users
and Super alone should open menu.
There's nothing wrong that it comes from Windows. They started it, it was their initiative to add the additional keys to keyboards, and thus they created a de-facto standard.
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Primož Papič wrote on the 18 Jun 08 at 20:28
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This and much more could be done if there was a good universal "hotkey" manager
And I totally agree with this idea. That's the one thing that's missing.
But the "hotkey" manager would give you a choice how to map your hotkeys. So people like Alan Pope could make their key combination.
Is this a dupe of my idea??
+1
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ilektron wrote on the 16 Jul 08 at 08:15
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Please don't take away my super key!
I have long gotten used to alt-F1, and all the other alt-FKEY shortcuts that do all the useful things you would need.
Holding down the super key (My IBM-M doesn't have one and it drives me nuts) to move windows is one of my most used shortcuts. I almost never pull down the menu and in fact get rid of it on most of my systems. alt-F2 works wonders for running anything you would find in the menu and more.
There are some other good points as well, that a well trained compiz user uses the super key to initiate a slew of other shortcuts.
Please keep the super key as a modifier!
-1
(PS Nobody but nerds uses or even knows of the secret 'windows' key shortcuts to open explorer or to lock the screen, so the 'better for novices' arguments are BUNK!)
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