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by throw_away2 2699 days ago
This mimics the mac vs windows argument I had with my brother-in-law where it boiled down to the fact that you could run windows on something cheaper than a macbook. Even though in order to remap caps lock to something reasonable you have to edit the registry. In 2019. The best answer I think involves windows server 2003 resource kit and its UI, which is so old it could get a driver's license.

You save money but what kind of life is that?
2 comments
skriticos2 2699 days ago
It's not even about the price. I have no problem tweaking my Linux desktop to use an international Dvorak layout (useful for those European languages with ä's and é's) and switching the caps and ctrl keys. Say what you want about Gnome 3, but this works just fine.

On Windows.. I get a US only bare bone Dvorak layout and few ways to remap the caps/ctrl keys. Messing with the registry is at best annoying on my gaming (only) PC but impossible on a corporate locked down desktop. Then I'm lucky if the corporate package repo comes with AutoHotkey that can remap keys in a very hacky way.

A lot of Windows 98 still shines through in the basic usability suite even on the newest versions of Windows. Even the on-screen keyboard on a (Android) phone is more fun than the HID mess in Windows.

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throw_away2 2698 days ago
I would love to find an .xinitrc in some dark corner of windows 10 where there are a bunch of options commented out and you have to pick the right ones or else your monitor explodes.

This would be an upgrade as at least I would kinda trust that a file I found on my own system from the vendor can probably be trusted. I trust the options would be at least mostly self documenting (more self documenting than a random list of hex digits). And, if I'm going to use software written in the 90s, I'm going to go with good old vim.

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skriticos2 2696 days ago
I love vim, but that .xinitrc stuff is really out of date by now. Gnome 3 now uses Wayland fairly well and the setup is done with the GUI app Tweaks and the system settings.
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chupasaurus 2699 days ago
> useful for those European languages with ä's and é's

As I'm not typing them frequently I'm happy with a Compose key binded to Scroll Lock.

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mycall 2699 days ago
https://www.autohotkey.com/
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