Tuesday, Google announced they're finally releasing their own netbooks in 2011, complete with an operating system based on Google's Chrome browser. The news means that Google is one step closer to world domination—and their first war is on the caps lock key. You see, these netbooks won't have one. The reason? To "improve the quality of comments across the web."
In what we can imagine is same way Steve Jobs' hatred for Flash dictates the design of our iTech, somebody at Google has decided that they're sick of all-caps comments on their baby panda YouTube videos and made the choice to ban the caps lock key from the new Chrome netbooks.
Sure, we here at Unplggd are not big fans of spotting remarks like "OMGZ DAT WUZ A CRA-Z PANDA BURR!!!1! LULZ!11!" all over the web. But we're also not really fans of the Silicon Valley big-wigs telling us what we can and can't use on our personal devices. Would it be so bad to let us surf Flash websites on the iPad, Mr. Jobs?
The truth is that there's plenty of smart, constructive-web-commenting people out there who use caps lock in completely legitimate ways, making Google look a bit out of touch—a first for this tech-forward brand.
Some architects, engineers and designers work exclusively in caps for their trades. So by launching a device without a caps lock, they're alienating comment spammers and caps-lock-tradesman from their potential buyers pool.
What do you think, readers? Are you down with a caps-lock-free netbook? Tell us in the comments!
(Top Image: Flickr member gillyberlin licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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Comments (15)
Understood that some sectors of the computer using population might use caps on a more legitimate basis, but their numbers compared to the obnoxious emailers, newspaper article commenters, youtube commenters and so on absolutely pale in comparison. This will be a much appreciated by some and suck it up to others type of scenario that once released, will not be recalled. That's my prediction anyways.
I use AutoCad for architectural drawings daily. Almost all text on architectural drawings is in caps, so I certainly use the capslock. However, these are just little netbooks and Chrome OS is just a glorified browser with webapps. It will never run Autocad or any of the other software used by professionals. Its market rests squarely with those who use their computers solely for web browsing and perhaps a little work within google docs.
OMG NO CAPS LOCK?!
BUT REALLY IT'S NOT SO HARD TO HOLD DOWN A SHIFT KEY WITH YOUR PINKY AND TYPE IN ALL CAPS ANYWAY. I JUST TYPED THIS POST THIS WAY WITHOUT ANY DROP IN
WPM.
If someone desires to shout in all caps, a lack of a caps key is no real hindrance.
Correct me if I'm wrong - but the fact that there's a CAPS indicator LED light on the shift key seems to me like there's a way of "locking" caps using that key. Maybe something like double-tapping it, or some other key combo. If that's the case - I think repurposing the key for search and making caps lock a little less accessible is fine.
Except Trish, you only did this to make a point. The type of person that responds in all caps and yells in all caps is probably not the type of person who would take the extra effort to uncomfortably position their pinky. This is like forced social evolution. ;)
I don't mind the CAPS lock gone at all. I can't even remember the last time I used it.
I'm also for anything that makes my family members stop YELLING at me in emails.
My experience with caps lock; CRAP I MISTAKENLY HIT CAPS LOCK, sorry thats better.
I would use a search button way more than I would use the caps lock.
But I can still email family and coworkers in bold, red Comic Sans, right? Excellent.
I predict a spike in sales of weight sets.
http://www.amazon.com/BRASS-MASS-SET-10-PRECISION/dp/B000F8R5D2
I use the caps when typing in Postal Codes. It's a PITA using the shift key when typing T2F 4U7
Now if they would only put the Control key back there where it was on my old Kaypro II all would be well in the world.
And one handed typists everywhere collectively sigh.
Google want to improve comments?
Sure they don't only wanted to include a button for their own search engine and had no popper place on the small keyboard? Which button could be replaced the easiest?
Then quick a half hearted explanation, et voila ...
I'm with you R Davidson
I have days where I have to type up to 1000 Postal Codes.