[hyperhopper]

Shame on Ars for this. Would have thought they would be better. ESPECIALLY since the "since 1994" is not important for the headline at all, but they just wanted to pull something out of their ass to embellish the headline, but actually ended up making it wrong by doing so.

I miss terse but descriptive headlines. Everything now has to be 11/10 wild or clickbait that doesn't actually give a full piece of information.

[ziddoap]

I see the word "clickbait" on HN so often it's lost all meaning. The headline is fine, not 11/10, and not wild.

"Microsoft is adding a new key to PC keyboards" - true, descriptive.

"for the first time since 1994" - provides context to the weight of the decision of adding a new key, absolutely fine.

The headline is not wrong, this is the first key added that will be required as part of the standard keyboard layout since 1994. No shaming needed.

[jay_kyburz]

> "the company told us that the key isn't mandatory now, but that it expects Copilot keys to be required on Windows 11 keyboards "over time."

It's not mandatory, and there is a chance it never will be. Just like the office key.

[ziddoap]

It's not mandatory yet, but they expect it to be.

I don't recall seeing similar statements from Microsoft about the office/emoji/etc. keys being expected to be mandatory. Was there statements along those lines?

[godelski]

> this is the first key added that will be required as part of the standard keyboard layout since 1994.

Is it? I thought they are just remapping the right menu key and putting a new logo on it.

[bombcar]

I believe the key (maahahaha) is the requirement.

Microsoft famously required the Windows key for branded OEM computers/laptops, and now they're trying to require a Copilot key. We'll see if it flies.

[amlib]

I wished OEMs just crossed their arms and required Microsoft to pay a fee for each keyboard with this silly key...

[bombcar]

That's effectively what "happens" but it's reversed; Microsoft gives a 'discount' if you're OEMing with the key ...

Perverse incentives all the way down. I remember having to work a bit to find "Apple" keyboards that would have the correct words because the Windows key was confusing (and in the wrong place until OS X easily supported remapping).