[kalsk]

That doesn't look very different from the letter x though, I think I'd still prefer the asterisk even if there was a × button on my keyboard.

[teddyh]

There has been a × key on the normal PC keyboard since 1986, on the numeric keypad section.

[Coding_Cat]

[citation needed] I'm looking at my 1992 Model M right now and it has just a "*", unless you count "+" as a lopsided "×".

[teddyh]

Depends on the manufacturer – some, like a Keytronic I can see from here, definitely have a × glyph.