> I don't know what the 'super' key in GNOME is, and don't care
This is like having someone tell you that they refuse to use an iPad because the home button confuses them. That's your choice.
I've used GNOME professionally for 7 years now, and I've taught kids to use it at robotics workshops. If you can believe it, many of them are unable to use macOS and Windows at all, because their school districts don't buy them laptops anymore. I'm sorry that GNOME isn't a carbon copy of your favorite OS, but it's not hard to use whatsoever.
So you really couldn't figure out what "Super key" meant, even with context? I feel like you are being hyperbolic. This isn't magical hidden Linux knowledge. Honestly, if not being able to find what applications you have running, and not even trying pressing the large button on your keyboard with the windows logo on it was so traumatizing, you might want to just avoid Linux entirely.
No, I didn't realize that the "Super key" was the Windows key, and no, I didn't think to try it. I never use the Windows key myself, because it's never needed. I'm either in a DOS or PS box, or if I'm working at the desktop, the taskbar gives me all the affordances I need including a 'Type here to search' box.
Key point is that I don't want to press any keys to maintain my awareness of what's running on the machine. Processes with windows associated with them should always be apparent in one way or another. Ubuntu got the less-useful part of the taskbar right -- the quick-launch icons on the column at left -- while failing to do the important thing, which is to show, well, tasks.
I remember when they first started putting Windows keys on keyboards. If you think AI pisses people off, LOL... you weren't reading Slashdot and other Linux-adjacent sites when those keys started showing up. It's amusing to see that they've been embraced (if not extended) by the haters.
> Processes with windows associated with them should always be apparent
KDE and GNOME both solve this with a dock, the same way that Windows and macOS solve it.
> It's amusing to see that they've been embraced (if not extended) by the haters.
The haters by-and-large don't use it. Those haters use esoteric tiling WMs that don't bind anything to super by default.
The KDE and GNOME developers have a direct usability goal. With respect to Slashdot's opinions, the Linux desktop would still be stuck in the 90s if we listened to them. Your perspective as a DOS/PowerShell user is not any more valuable, considering you barely use Windows as-is.
KDE and GNOME both solve this with a dock, the same way that Windows and macOS solve it.
Not by default, GNOME doesn't. Try installing Ubuntu. You get nothing but a blank desktop by default. The bar at left only shows shortcuts for launching tasks, not running tasks themselves.
Your perspective as a DOS/PowerShell user is not any more valuable, considering you barely use Windows as-is.
Those advocating an OS with 5% market share might do well to listen to other perspectives once in a while.
And that this key is called "superkey" is a widespread standard on computers?
Or just linux?
I think the latter. And it might surprise you, but there are computers with no linux installed. I think the vast majority actually. So why the need for insults?
Pretending like the person I'm responding to isn't being willfully ignorant isn't helping. It's pretty simple to guess what "super key" means just from context, if not, it's a very quick (in the op's case) llm query away. Let's be real here.
As someone whose last interaction with Windows was 98 and have been on Mac ever since I also had no idea what a super key was. Also Googled “Windows key” and realized I had seen it before in pictures but never thought about it.
I used some sort of *nix on a VAX terminal in college and ran SUSE on my machine once I realized I hated Windows 98 but all of that is ancient history at this point lol. All of that is to say that it is possible for someone to be peripherally interested in this topic and not be aware of what a super key would be even in context. Maybe someone that uses Windows could pick up on it earlier but I certainly didn’t:)
I am real. I used computers for a long time. Also linux, but not exclusivly.
Guess what, I also only learned recently (some years now I think) after making it mire default, that on linux the windows key is called super key. And the person you insulted clarified he did not use linux at all.
So, how should he have known, despite working with computer extensivly?
On GNOME? Alt-tab, super overview, or click the dock icon. It's literally not any more complex than multitasking on an iPad.