The modern-day equivalent is yes, regular user, just do <Windows>, then write "calc", press <Return>, and you'll be ready to use the calculator. That R really killed it...
To be fair, you have to remember that the calculator is called "calc.exe" to use this method. However, when parent said "you really wouldn’t want the II of that era back" I understood "you" as "HN reader", not as "regular user".
Also, there is also a "discoverable" way to launch programs keyboard-only: <Windows>, P, A, C (Programs - Accessories - Calculator).
I just really dislike the Windows 10 start menu search. It slows down on random occasions just often enough to be too annoying for me to use, at least on my machine.
I dislike it because the autocompletions are hilariously brain-dead most of the time. Like, it usually autocompletes folder names correctly, but I can't really rely on that feature because some of them are never offered as candidates. E.g. "Work" is not only not offered as candidate (even though I have a folder named "Work"), but mysteriously autocompleted to "Word".
It's also a solution to a self-inflicted problem. Super-crowded Start menus were a problem, but not a very widespread one among people who aren't nerds. The Windows 11 Start menu is crowded but largely because it's littered with Microsoft's own apps. If I were to take out Xbox, Alarms & Clocks and all the other crap I no longer bother to uninstall because it's gonna come back on the next update anyway, I could probably use it quite comfortably.
No, it's not. For tech people, yes. For regular folks, most don't even know you can write after pressing the Windows key. Moreso, not everyone even knows the Windows key opens the menu. Folks don't use shortcuts like we do.
Also, there is also a "discoverable" way to launch programs keyboard-only: <Windows>, P, A, C (Programs - Accessories - Calculator).
I just really dislike the Windows 10 start menu search. It slows down on random occasions just often enough to be too annoying for me to use, at least on my machine.