Removing the Windows Key

[Johnny K]

Have any of you had any success removing the Windows logo from the super key?

[dmb]

Why would you want to remove the windows key from the super key? I'm sure its easilly possible, by removing it and sanding it off, but why go through the trouble?

[MGStreak]

Why would you want to remove the windows key from the super key? I'm sure its easilly possible, by removing it and sanding it off, but why go through the trouble?

I'm not the thread starter, nor suggesting that someone do this... but it did bring a smile to my face.

I believe the answer to "why go through the trouble" is fairly straightforward: spite!!!
;-)

[Johnny K]

Why would you want to remove the windows key from the super key? I'm sure its easilly possible, by removing it and sanding it off, but why go through the trouble?
I don't know. I guess it would just bother me to have to see the Windows logo every time I'm using my Ubuntu PC.

I googled around and people seemed to be having a little trouble removing the logo without damaging the key. Some people recommended sandpaper, others recommended nail polish remover, others recommended other chemicals.

[MGStreak]

I don't know. I guess it would just bother me to have to see the Windows logo every time I'm using my Ubuntu PC.

I googled around and people seemed to be having a little trouble removing the logo without damaging the key. Some people recommended sandpaper, others recommended nail polish remover, others recommended other chemicals.

If you do find a reliable/non-destructive way to do it, please be sure to post it back in here so other spiteful anti-Micro$oft Ubuntu converts (like me!) know about it!

:-D

[Ek0nomik]

They do make keyboards with Tux on the key instead of the Windows logo. I think System76 might have something without the Windows key.

[earobinson]

or you could set it so that when the user pushed the windows key the BSOD screensaver started :)

[Gun_Smoke]

Maybe this is something Dell could take care of from the factory. How hard could it be to order a few thousand keyboards minus the Windows key, or heck even replace it with Tux or Ubuntus logo?

[jgrabham]

Do what I do - use a pre 95 keyboard :]

[Ek0nomik]

Do what I do - use a pre 95 keyboard :]

You smart... *ehm*...

;)

I probably would have spilled hundreds of soda's on it by this point in time.

[phr0ze]

I'm with the others, Fine grain sandpaper shouldn't do any damage, other than make the key smooth. Thats ok though I normally smooth out most of my keys just by typing too much.

[GNUser]

I don't know about the sanpaper, I tried with an older Dell keyboard of mine. It removed the logo, but it also removed the varnish covering the keys. It's a little visually distracting, especially when illuminated by my monitor :P

[igknighted]

I've heard sugar cubes can be used to scratch it off. They aren't hard enough to scratch the key, but take the paint off just fine. Also can be used for the dumb logos on cell phones or other such devices.

[Sunnz]

I've heard sugar cubes can be used to scratch it off. They aren't hard enough to scratch the key, but take the paint off just fine. Also can be used for the dumb logos on cell phones or other such devices.
Why not just put an Ubuntu sticker over it?

[kihai]

What about getting a ubuntu sticker and cover the ugly windows key with that? There are several Sites which sell Tux-Stickers for your keyboard. Google them and forget the sandpaper... :)

[PriceChild]

Stickers on keys *yuck*

*moves thread*

[Spr0k3t]

I've popped a few keys off to repaint them or change the texture of the keys. I really like the layout of the MS Natural Pro (prior to the "web version") as all the keys are in the correct place. However, since that keyboard died I had a search for over a month before I could find anything similar with the same feel. Anywho, I really hate the association with the my this or my that so I shaved off "my documents" and replaced it with the word home. I had a local print shop make the label for me so it looked like it fit. Back when I was a huge Amiga nut, I took an old A1000 metal logo and used a dremel to take out a windows logo to place the Amiga logo in it, looked smooth. One of the print shops I know of can do custom plastic prints (think model airplane "stickers"), perhaps I should do a shave on my current keyboard... give it a better look. Anyway, there's a disolving agent you can use with the plastic prints to fuse the plastic together. It takes time but done right it looks OEM.

[information_entropy]

It is interesting that Linux users are trying to do this.

In day of old, before keyboards were standardized, when you bought a keyboard you got a couple of extra keys. If I recall correctly there was some disagreement about the placement of the 'ctrl' and the 'alt' key so you got key caps that allowed the user to change them.

In even older time, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, many terminals came with a whole bag of spare keys because manufactures could not agree on a standard.

If Linux becomes more wide spread I wonder if that will happen again. Or, if someone will start selling replacement keys for common keyboards with the logo on the distribution of your choice on them.

[use a name]

Have any of you had any success removing the Windows logo from the super key?
Maybe you could spray it?

[lukew]

A customer of ours have just refreshed all their computers with HP.

HP keyboards have two windows keys; one on each side... as if one is not enough.

Luke

[forrestcupp]

Do what I do - use a pre 95 keyboard :]

I like having the extra super keys. I have one on each side, too.

The super key is the default in Beryl for the zoom plugin, which is useful to me sometimes. I wouldn't want a keyboard without it.

Also, I don't hate Microsoft enough to go to all of that trouble. I'm not anti-MS, I'm just pro Linux.

[matthinckley]

i sharpied over mine.. black keyboard tho.. you can still see the logo if you look directly at it but it doesn't stick out anymore.. actually I was just bored and my wife would kill me if I sharpied over all the keys.. which is what I want to do.. poor mans Das Keyboard (http://www.daskeyboard.com/)

[Johnny K]

For those of you that are interested, I submitted an article on Dell's Ideastorm asking them to use Linux-friendly super keys.

http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/68245/Ditch_the_Windows_keys

[happy-and-lost]

For a black keyboard, Permanent marker!

[%hMa@?b<C]

my IBM model M has no such key. :)
101 keys is enough for me.

[DalekClock]

Perhaps I could also replace the menu key next to it with the any key!

[jgrabham]

Perhaps I could also replace the menu key next to it with the any key!

Theres a key there - (looks at keyboard) - WOW, so there is, never noticed it :] What does it do??

[juxtaposed]

HP keyboards have two windows keys; one on each side... as if one is not enough.

Don't all modern keyboards have that?

[LightB]

Don't all modern keyboards have that?

Yes, the ones that usually come with store computers. I did buy a really cheap one by itself once that didn't have the logos but something else, like a symbol of the sun or something. Unfortunately that keyboard was a piece of junk.

[MGStreak]

For those of you that are interested, I submitted an article on Dell's Ideastorm asking them to use Linux-friendly super keys.

http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/68245/Ditch_the_Windows_keys

Excellent. +1'd on IdeaStorm.

[Turboaaa2001]

For those of you that are interested, I submitted an article on Dell's Ideastorm asking them to use Linux-friendly super keys.

http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/68245/Ditch_the_Windows_keys


Thats awesome. Another thing that can be done is to see if Zboard could make a custom Linux keyset. I know a good number of people do not like the modular keyboard because the keys are "hovering" on rubber pads and the space bar is cut in half so that you can fold the key set up when using another one.

I have had no problems with my keyboard and I like the fact that I can always replace the keys if they get too worn or broken.

I decided just for fun to ask them if I could order a custom Linux key set for my Linux PC's.

All in all Microsoft needs to stop assuming they are everything. Because assuming makes an
"@ss" out of "u" and "me"

[Onyros]

I have no problem whatsoever with my keyboard's Windows key(s).

It has none. Heh.

(Thinkpad X31)

[notwen]

Cherry Keyboard (http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/cymotion-line/cymotion-line_master_linux.htm)

=]

[matthinckley]

Cherry Keyboard (http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/cymotion-line/cymotion-line_master_linux.htm)

=]
that one is cool..

[southernman]

Use lacquer thinner, it'll cut anything... ok, most anything.

You may want to borrow (errr - steal for a moment) your wifes clearcoat polish and put a real light coat on top of the key you remove the print from.

:p

[jclmusic]

i used that wire wool stuff for washing plates lol.

[MGStreak]

Cherry Keyboard (http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/cymotion-line/cymotion-line_master_linux.htm)

I love it.

[iMav]

There are several non-Windows logo'ed keyboards available for sale. Check out:
http://www.pckeyboard.com

[Darkhack]

No keyboard should be OS specific. I would even be against a Tux logo on it (though the little guy is quite cute). Is the technical name for it "super key"? We need a standardized name and logo. Perhaps go back to the old MIT Meta Key (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta_key) since it is non-OS specific?

[a12ctic]

I have a pre-windows 95 keyboard. Its in working condition. But its ugly.