Posted on June 29th, 2009 by Barry Collins

Would anyone miss the Break and SysRq keys?

If there’s one PC peripheral that’s seen about as much change as the Queen’s hairdo over the past 20 years, it’s the keyboard. Sure there have been attempts to jazz it up with ergonomic layouts, wireless transmitters and models with flashy shortcut buttons, but by and large, if someone plugged a 1989 model keyboard into your PC you’d barely notice the difference.

The deathly pace of keyboard evolution is actually a barrier to progress, according to HP vice president Phil McKinley, who I met last week. “The keyboard is still a hugely intimidating factor for users,” he told me, referring especially to users in developing countries who haven’t grown up with computers. “It still has a System Request and Break key on the keyboard. When was the last time you touched the Break key?” he asked.

I honestly can’t remember. If I’m being truthful, I didn’t even know what it did until I just looked it up on Wikipedia. It is, apparently, a carry-over from the days of teletype machines, used (literally) to give operators a break from the noise of the clattering mechanism. Nowadays, the Break/Pause key is largely used to interrupt the flow of data pouring out of the BIOS. Does this indisputably niche feature still warrant its own key? Or could that precious keyboard real estate be put to better use?

HP’s clearly been giving it some thought. It showed us a hush-hush computer that I’m not allowed to talk about just yet, which replaces all the function keys (F1, F2 etc) with actual functions, such as volume up/down and screen brightness. The old function keys have been relegated to secondary status, only available when you hold down the Fn key first, which could be a pain in the rump if you’ve grown accustomed to refreshing your web browser with F5.

Lenovo’s been revamping its keyboards too. The company reportedly installed keystroke logging software on the PCs of 30 employees, and discovered that they were using the small Escape and Delete keys about 700 times each week. So the company’s decided to make both keys double size on its new keyboards, and is also considering doing away with the rarely-used CAPS LOCK key, which is bad news for The Sun headline writers and shouty teenagers on internet forums.

What other keys could be done away with? I personally never touch the Context Menu key (the one with the cursor and the drop down menu picture, normally found between the Ctrl and cursor keys) or the Windows key, but I’d be interested to hear your views. And what would you replace them with? You never know, we might actually have a PC Pro Keyboard by the end of this!

Tags: HP, keyboard, lenovo

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37 Responses to “ Would anyone miss the Break and SysRq keys? ”

dark hared lord Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 10:07 am
A Chinese IT company using keyloggers on its employees?
er, yeah, just to see if you use the escape and function keys, honest!
dark hared lord Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 10:13 am
As a design engineer I would prefer to see the caps lock stay as text on engineering drawings should be in capitals. I would lose the number pad and have that as a seperate keypad (for left hookers like myself) with the numbers the same a telephone (1 in the top left)
benny peebles Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Double tap Shift key for Caps Lock – (similar to iphone screen keyboard)
MJ Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Err, this Microsoft keyboard I’m using now, some years old, has this “new” function key idea already. Fortunately it also added an “F Lock” key so that you can keep the old form of operation. Have you actually looked at any of the keyboards going through your labs? I’ll be this is common.
Michael Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 11:23 am
I’m actually using the Break key quite often. For one, it’s a nice key to put shortcuts on, as within Windows it is basically never used.
I also use it regularly to check BIOS POST messages.
James Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 11:25 am
As a developer for legacy systems those keys are still very useful. Particulary the caps lock key. However the system is setup it has different character codes for capital letters produced using the shift key and the caps lock and commands which have to be type in capital letters won’t work if you use the shift key.
pdex Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 11:37 am
A key for safely removing hardware would be useful, perhaps one for each usb port.

Perhaps also a “Search” button, in a similar place to the Ctrl key. When the search button is held, the letters typed would be displayed in large font on screen. When released the letters disappear and your default web browser loads (or a new tab in your open one), with the search result of your word in your search engine of choice. Would save a little time, lots of times a day.
Ian Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 11:46 am
The key to the right of the right Windows key: what is it for? I’ve never used it, the sooner it goes, the better.

Scroll Lock is also another key I never use…as is the key that produces ` and ¬ to the left of 1.

Bad decision by HP to relegate F5 though, if that goes through I’ll be avoiding HP computers until they either switch back or can convince Microsoft to remap refresh to something else… and why not just add keys to a keyboard? It may not work on netbooks but for normal laptops there’s more than enough room to add the necessary.
Ben Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Like MJ I use a Microsoft keyboard that has the function keys with second functions like help, undo, redo, new, open, etc. and the F-Lock key toggles these between the ‘new’ functions and the traditional F1, F2, etc. I lasted about a day with the new functions before switching them back and have ignored the new function completely ever since, when F2 does and undo instead of a remain or F5 does open instead of refresh, or if you dare to use programs like Adobe Flash that use pretty much all the F keys the new ones are a real pain. The only time I switch the F-Lock back on (or off, or whichever way it is) is to use print PrtScn, which is a first function (sharing a key with SysRq and insert).
However my keyboard does have a double sized delete key which is nice, although I’ve never found I’ve missed esc and wished it was bigger.
But losing Caps Lock would really annoy me, for programming it’s a must have really be it Java, HTML, SQL or pretty much any language, but I may cope with a double tap of shift replacing it.
Darien Graham-Smith Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I last used the Break key around five minutes ago. I’ve used it probably twenty times in the past week. That’s because Windows+Break opens the System Information window, from where it’s a single click to open the Device Manager.

I also press SysRq several times a month, because in Windows (even if you don’t hold down shift) it acts as a Print Screen key, taking a copy of the screen and placing it on the clipboard.

Perhaps there is an argument for simplifying the keyboard, but when McKinley scoffs at the Break key he’s only showing his lack of expertise!
Yiannis Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I would keep the “Caps Lock”, I don’t think “Esc” needs to be bigger and I use “F5″ all the time to refresh.
I use “Break” to read POST codes and when I do a “ping -t” over a long period of time (diagnosing network links or servers up/down time). When you do a ping -t and press “Ctrl + Break” it will show the up to now stats and continue pinging whilst a “Ctrl + C” will stop the pinging and show the stats.
Finally, “Caps Lock” is being used in programming (HTML, ASP, SQL) quite a lot.
Richard Crawshaw Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
A while back I was cursed with a keyboard with a set of function keys as you describe, with a combined insert & delete key! With the normal F-keys I had access to Insert with the weird and wonderful functions I had Delete. I was never so pleased to get a new keyboard! I can’t actually think of a key that I don’t use, even the back-tick key (to the left of 1) and the context key (to the right of right-windows key). Back-tick is used in SQL, particularly mySQL. The context key is great for when doing a lot of repetative keyboard work when a context menu is required from time to time. I use Caps Lock lots of the time; straight typests might not, but anyone doing programming probably will.
Rob Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Lose the Windows key? Noooooooooo!
Windows-E > Windows explorer
Windows-F > Search
My favouritest [sic] shortcuts…
Tim Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Ctrl + Break can be used in Lotus Notes to stop the currently running operation, although whether many people use it I’m not so sure.

With a suggested license base of around 145 million (Wikipedia), there’s a potentially high number of users to suddenly alienate by removing a key from a keyboard.
Bod Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I’m with Rob on this one. The windows key is invaluable and I cannot believe that more people don’t use it.

Windows+D drops to the desktop
Windows+M minimizes all windows.
Windows+L locks the PC

As for the context menu key, why reach for the mouse when typing when you could just hit one key? Comes in handy too when trying to use work PCs when someone has “borrowed” the mouse…
Splodgebucket Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Ian – The key to the right of the windows key is the equivalent of clicking the right mouse button (ie opening the context sensitive menu in most applications).
AHinMaine Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Don’t dare get rid of the SysRq keys. I don’t use it often, but it’s important when I need it. In Linux, holding [SysReq] then, in sequence, [R][E][I][S][U][B] will force a graceful reboot if your gui or console is completely hung.
Steve Cassidy Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I’m a notes user and I never hit Ctrl-Break… what I really want is a footpedal for the modifiers – the shift, ctrl, alt grouping.
big_D Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
“, if someone plugged a 1989 model keyboard into your PC you’d barely notice the difference.”

I beg to differ, you would notice a huge difference! The old keyboard would be solid, well made, have a good, firm action with a decent amount of travel, making a satisfying click, to let you know it had been pressed. New keyboards are dead and require a software driver to make a clicking sound through the PC’s speakers!

I use the alt+ key combinations most of the time, I use the F-keys a lot. Like others, I have a Microsofto keyboard and the first thing I do is disable MS’s idea of what the F-keys should do and resort to what the application developers think they should do…

Break was used on DEC equipment ( and emulators running on PCs) to send a serial break signal, which would cause a session break. It was also used to stop program execution under DOS, CTRL-C was the “nice” claw hammer to stop a program running, Ctrl+Break was the sledge hammer approach, if Ctrl+C didn’t work, followed by alt+ctrl+del, followed by BRS…

I’d quite happily get rid of all of the poxy media keys, if I could get a keyboard with a decent feel (think DEC VT100, Apple Mac keyboard (series 1, 1984 to 1988 or series 2, which came with the Apple Mac II), or the original IBM PC or AT keyboards…
Pseudo Nym Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
@b. peebles
That feature is also on Windows Mobile, and always has been
Bob Amsbury Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I use CAPS LOCK frequently for coding type work. As mentioned above SysRq is useful for the Print Screen functionality and Windows+Pause / Break for getting to System properties. The very suggestion of trashing the Context menu key is alarming never mind losing the function keys!

The one key I never use is Scroll Lock.
Bod Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Scroll-lock is frequently used with other keys to change channels on a KVM switch.
imajes Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I use both Macs + PCs and one of my favourite things on a Mac is the ability to turn off the wretched CAPS lock key. A little thing, but very useful if like me you are a clumsy typist, which is very probably a large percentage of computer users. You can also have F keys to be F keys or to do the multimedia stuff with the Fn button being used to access what ever you choose to be the secondary set. One area where Macs have better customisation than PCs.

The esc key probably doesn’t need to be increased in size as its location, top left makes it very easy to find. Though if you use a Mac laptop, there is no delete key of any size and you have to use a clumsy two handed keystroke to access the command – very annoying.
stasi47 Says:
June 30th, 2009 at 12:31 am
Richard Crawshaw Says:
“(…)The context key is great for when doing a lot of repetative keyboard work when a context menu is required from time to time(…)”

Bob Amsbury Says:
“(…)The very suggestion of trashing the Context menu key is alarming(…)”

The context key is redundant as you can use [SHIFT] + [F10] combo. So i say get rid of it!
Break key on the over hand I am using at least 100 times a day…

And the removal of CAPS LOCK will be the best news since introduction of UNIX
Darrell Says:
June 30th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Get rid of the keyboard all together.
The more ways I can stop users using their computers the better.

p.s. I use the Pause button… occasionally. But the CAPS lock is an annoyance.
magicmovingimages Says:
June 30th, 2009 at 11:50 am
As a graphic designer I use cut and paste a lot for image manipulation. Over many years I have found it a physical strain on the fingers using the CTRL and C, V combination because of the stretch over the ill placed left Windows key (pressing the CTRL key with my little finger and the C or V with my index finger). If this key was moved to another area of the keyboard as a functional entity of its own the CTRL C/V keys could be moved closer together and thus prevent further finger fatigue of harmful RSI’s occuring for long term keyboard users.
stasi47 Says:
July 1st, 2009 at 12:52 pm
@magicmovingimages

That’s why I am using [right CTRL] + [Insert] and [right SHIFT] + [Insert] for copy and paste respectively (I am doing it by using Thumb+MiddleFinger or IndexFinger+ MiddleFinger, while holding a mouse in my left hand so you can point directly at the right place on the screen (for graphic application or longer distances between lines/rows/record) or use I use my MiddleFinger the RingFinger and LittleFinger to operate the ArrowKeys .

And what about all those Apple-centric programs that doesn’t support CTRL/SHIFT + Insert combo? – well, I boycott them.
BassoProf Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:41 am
I use Ctrl-Break to stop more than just Excel. Couldn’t do without it.

Alt-PrintScreen is also a great combination – just copies the window that has focus rather than the whole screen.

Have learned some good stuff here though!
Ofsted Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:29 am
I can’t do without the PRT SCRN part of SYSREQ – I create hudreds of screen dumps. The ALT key is essential for Photoshop (which hasn’t fully implemented a two button mouse!)
Gindylow Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:01 am
I keep pressing my FLock key but haven’t sighted any Seagulls as yet…

I honestly use every key on my Microsoft Keyboard, and absolutely love the fact that new keybaords are damped and dont make really loud clickety clack noises all the time.

My business partner hits each key hard enough to knock out a boxer, so quiet keyboards are invaluable to my sanity.

Why are we trying to Scrap old keys? I’d be for adding new FLock keys that add extra functions to the main keyboard letters.

Why with extra keys and more functions I could rule the world….Muhahahhahahhh.
JH Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:30 am
The Ctrl and V keys aren’t that far apart. Many businesses program the Fn keys so there’s not a lot of point in the manufacturers doing it. As the discussion has shown, it is senseless trying to slim the keyboard as although not everyone may use a key, every key is used, and if one ordered a keyboard sans a key, the time would come when one would need it. Maybe if OLED keyboards got cheap, they would be a better alternative?
David Wright Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:42 am
@GIndylow I don’t care about the noise, it is the feel of the key which is important. The short travel and membrame yukiness of current keyboards, especially the laptop style desktop keyboards is dreaful. If I am going to be doing a lot of typing when travelling, I generally carry along a “real” keyboard to plug into my laptop! Currently an Apple crumb-catcher, because it is relatively compact, but the feel isn’t too bad.

I have had a string of MS Natural keyboards. The 1994/5 was the best. Each successive generation has added new “media” keys, whist destroying the quality of the keyoard itself. The current one (4000 series) is dreadful in comparison, although it looks much better than the older ones.

Currently the more expensive Cherry keyboards and the Logitech G series (G10 and original G15, the “refresh” model is dreadful) are probably the best of the generally available and “resonably” priced keyboards.
David Says:
July 4th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Having been used to a 1995 Gateway keyboard until it died just a few months ago, I never use the Windows keys. Maybe I will now!

The keys I would drop – and I see nobody here has defended yet – are the two to the right of the space bar: Alt Gr and the second Windows key.

Meanwhile, I’d like to see 3 new keys appear under the Insert/Del | Home/End | Page Up/Down block, which would be respectively Cut | Copy | Paste.

Yes I know you can do Control-V etc., and Control-Insert, but I do cut and paste SO OFTEN that they ought to have their own keys.
Jeffery Johnson Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I personally feel that the standard keyboard is just fine. There is no need to change it. Even though not everyone uses all of the keys on the standard keyboard, there are many people that do… I use Ctrl-Break, Pause, and the Context Menu key.

Sometimes it’s best to leave good enough alone or you can cause havoc.
Jeffery Johnson Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Maybe instead of changing the standard keyboard for everyone, maybe you could make a programable keyboard. One that out-of-the-box funcions like a standard keyboard, yet allows users to program any key to do other funcions. Then a user could program their secondary Alt or Windows Key to Cut and Paste.

I myself use the secondary ALT and Windows Keys just as I use the secondary SHIFT keys. It makes since that keys that change the funcion of other keys should be duplicated on both sides of the keyboard to provide easy access to 2 or 3 key combinations.
Davi d Foster Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I completely agree with big_D – which is why I’m typing this on a keyboard which came with a LASER 286 powered PC circa 1990!
A combined Ctrl+Alt+Del key would still be useful!
Kev Waite Says:
August 18th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
My laptop keyboard doesn’t have an ampersand key: Dell kindly did give me two caret keys though above the 6 and 7 keys. Took a while to get logic statements to compile…