[justsomehnguy]

> those bloody useless Windows and Menu keys between the AltGr and the right Ctrl?

If you didn't learn to use them for more than a quarter of century thrn it says more about you than of the usability of those keys. Maybe you are that ... person what shoves PrtScr in the place of ContextMenu on ThinkPads.

[flohofwoe]

Not unusual though? FWIW I use Windows since Win95 and never use the Windows or Menu key (I typically live in the terminal, but can't imagine navigating the start menu or context menues with the keyboard).

[justsomehnguy]

I use Windows since 3.1. At the very-very least there is always Win+L.

There is a navigation block (arrows, Home/End, PgUp/PgDown) which is used extensively with Ctrl and Shift when editing text and navigating files and ContextMenu is used when I need a context menu without changing my hand to the mouse to RMB.

Also you can use RWin+ many keys on the right side for your own hotkeys, without clashing with the built-ins.

> but can't imagine navigating the start menu or context menues with the keyboar

My condolences?

There is absolutely nothing wrong doing it with a keyboard. On a notebook it's even more convenient.

Honestly, OP and your comments sounds like you don't use your right hand on the keyboard.

Edit: and to clarify, RWin, arrows, Enter is the fastest way to open an app which is pinned in the Start Menu.

If you don't pin apps there then see my previous comment.

And to both of you: if you never use something it doesn't mean nobody ever in the whole universe does not use it too.

[flohofwoe]

I'm actually a heavy keyboard user, but in my case that just means terminal stuff and using the vi/vim input model in text editors, and that's mostly limited to Ctrl, Shift and Alt for Alt-tabbing and Alt-F4, but that's about it.

But that also means that I pretty much use only 3 or 4 applications: a terminal window, VSCode, a browser, and Steam, so all the fancy start menu and Explorer features are also wasted on me.

Now that you mention it I actually remember Win+L to lock the desktop back when we still worked in an office, but when working from home that's hardly relevant.

[Joker_vD]

> RWin, arrows, Enter is the fastest way to open an app which is pinned in the Start Menu.

No, the left-right arrows don't let you pick the pinned apps after you press a Window key.

Oh, and now that I am at home and can look at my keyboard, apparently I am not the only one who thinks that RWin is a useless key, but A4Tech as well: [0]. I didn't even notice that before!

[0] https://i.imgur.com/Qjf0M4X.jpeg

[justsomehnguy]

> No, the left-right arrows don't let you pick the pinned apps after you press a Window key.

In Windows 10. You know, there were other versions before Win10. From 1995.

And if I have both hands on the keyboard, left on the home row and right on the navigation area - RWin is right under the right thumb. And Tab under the left pinky. But sure, your unique inability to use your keyboard is the default for the whole mankind.

[NikkiA]

Win+1..Win+0 for taskbar pinned apps is the fastest way...

[justsomehnguy]

While this is true (and RWin+7..0 is sometimes a better combo for the right hand), it's only limited to the apps on the taskbar.

I don't need eg IrfanView or VLC in my taskbar all the time, so they are pinned in the Start Menu instead.

[NikkiA]

I use Keypirinha* for launching (almost) everything that's not on my taskbar...

* and yes, I know it's essentially abandoned, I've tried the 'spiritual successors' and never found one that is quite as close to ideal workflow for me

[whywhywhywhy]

If you “live in the terminal” it’s weird you’re using windows to begin with since 95

[mcswell]

Can you say <Ctrl><Esc>? I didn't think so.