The new Microsoftslop copilot key always sends the following key-sequence when pressed:

copilot key down: left-shift-down left-meta-down f23-down f23-up left-meta-up left-shift-up
copilot key up: <null>

This means there’s no real key-up event when you release the key --> it can’t be used (properly) as a modifier like ctrl or alt.

The workaround is to send a pretend key-up event after a time delay, but then you mustn’t be too slow / fast when pressing a shortcut.

tldr: AI took a perfectly working modifier key from you.

— edit —
Some keyboards apparently do the “right” thing and don’t send the whole sequence at once, you can remap those properly with keyd, see: https://github.com/rvaiya/keyd/issues/1025#issuecomment-2971556563 / https://github.com/rvaiya/keyd/issues/825

copilot key down: left-shift-down left-meta-down f23-down
copilot key up: f23-up left-meta-up left-shift-up

this will still break left-shift + remapped copilot and left-meta + remapped copilot, but RCtrl remaps should work as expected

    • FireWire400@lemmy.worldEnglish
      311·
      2 months ago

      I do that all the time.

      There’s nothing weird about it, stop looking at me like that

    • attero@discuss.tchncs.deOPEnglish
      19·
      2 months ago

      It’s arguably worse, because Samsung has full control over software, hardware, and firmware of their devices.
      Even if MS would like to fix this mess, they can’t.

      • [object Object]@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        2 months ago

        Theoretically I think they could redefine it as a new distinct key instead of the combo — as is done with the windows and context-menu keys. That would allow it to be remapped properly.

        • Pup Biru@aussie.zoneEnglish
          2·
          2 months ago

          well that’s what they should have done but now what it’s implemented there are a lot more parties that need to come to the table to fix the mess… some hardware might not be able to fix the mess, but i’d be surprised if this shit show were implemented on hardware rather than firmware

          • [object Object]@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            2 months ago

            Eh, MS can just issue new requirements for their compatibility stamp, just like they did in the first place and many times previously. Newly produced laptop and keyboard models would have the fixed behavior, the same way they got the broken behavior.

            • Pup Biru@aussie.zoneEnglish
              2·
              2 months ago

              new ones sure but there are a bunch of these broken machines out there now: far more than there otherwise would be, because microslop forced the upgrade for windows 11

              i guesssss if they do it soon enough the existing models will still be in their support period and they’d kinda be forced to update, assume it’s a software or firmware fix

  • Sims@lemmy.mlEnglish
    301·
    2 months ago

    “tldr: AI took a perfectly working modifier key from you.” - ‘AI’ ?? I can’t see how this is anything but Microshit and Capitalism that 'takes away" anything…

    • HertzDentalBar@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      121·
      2 months ago

      That’s the former right click button location. They took it away to implement a AI button. So it’s AI that’s done it, not literally but figuratively.

      • JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        8·
        2 months ago

        They (Microsoft) did actually also originally implement it, the application key was added to Microsoft keyboards in 1994 along with the Windows key. It’s meant to give compatibility to the Windows user interface when your PC had a mouse with only one button. Don’t remember those being very relevant in the recent years.

        So it’s Microsoft deciding that their right-click button isn’t necessary any more after 32 years, and swapping it for a Co-Pilot/Windows Search button.

        • cheesybuddha@lemmy.worldEnglish
          4·
          2 months ago

          I use the the ‘right click button’ literally every single day. It’s super useful for not having to move between the mouse and keyboard for tasks.

          Also, this is on Linux, and I think it’s fair to say that the key has evolved to become a fairly standard part of keyboards and operating systems. Just because MS were the first ones to use it doesn’t give them some kind of say control over the idea, at least beyond the scope of their own hardware, and I don’t think anyone is arguing that they don’t have the right to change their own hardware. It’s just a bad decision.

        • [object Object]@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          2 months ago

          The ‘application key’ is useful for remapping as a modifier, regardless of the OS. It’s recognized as a distinct key in both MacOS and Linux, just like the ‘windows’ key.

  • QuandaleDingle@lemmy.worldEnglish
    222·
    2 months ago

    Just don’t buy an AI slop PC and get a Thinkpad, or a Framework laptop instead. Vote with your wallet. If you already own an AI PC, well, OP’s post might help.

    • helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.worldEnglish
      15·
      2 months ago

      Pretty sure MS made this a “standard keyboard” button, which could mean it needs to be included for the OEM to be able to put windows on the machine.

    • Pycorax@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      3·
      2 months ago

      Frameworks aren’t available where I live and I’m not getting anywhere near Lenovo after they shipped laptops with malware installed.

    • fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      43·
      2 months ago

      Lmao. All non shit PCs are “ai PCs” now. It’s already built into the CPU. All you need is not 8 gigs of ram and to put that button and Microsoft hands you that sweet sweet dosh.

  • texture@lemmy.worldEnglish
    20·
    2 months ago

    happy to be typing this comment on a framework laptop, where no such key is to be found.

    interesting post, and thanks for the info. i cant believe the crap MS pulls. Linux is easier than ever. Join us.

  • ColdWater@lemmy.caEnglish
    14·
    2 months ago

    If this garbage is on my keyboard I will drill that motherfucker out no second thought

    • Wispy2891@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      2 months ago

      I have a Lenovo usb keyboard with a fn Key in place of the Ctrl key that has absolutely no purpose. It’s for volume control like fn+F7 BUT… IT ALSO HAS DEDICATED BUTTONS FOR VOLUME CONTROL!!

      After the nth time I accidentally switched fn and Ctrl I took a screwdriver and popped it out permanently (being USB it doesn’t report fn status to the os and of course the BIOS doesn’t allow FN remapping because it’s not a laptop)

  • PolarKraken@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    13·
    2 months ago

    An embarrassing new low, even with the bars they’ve already set. And fitting, for this being the (egregiously multiply-) branded button to launch the shit show. Christ, this has been a fucking carnival lmao.

    Microslop has now regressed to implementing “features” very closely resembling - in sophistication and effect - my own bumbling, desperate, ignorant attempts at similar (“making a button behave like a macro”), using AutoHotKey, somewhere between 15-20 years ago.

    And do I understand that they both shipped that, on hardware, AND it’s broken so badly it can’t be easily remedied?

    I don’t know what to say. It’s like all the geniuses of comedy who died too young are doing this, all of it.

    (No shade whatsoever to AHK, it was, probably still is, awesome at its job!)

    Edit: suddenly realized it’s just on purpose, probably. Anyway, rant remains lol

    • TheFeatureCreature@lemmy.caEnglish
      162·
      2 months ago

      Base model Macbook Airs are very hard to beat for price:performance, especially now the new base model has 16gb of RAM. I’ve been to numerous local computer shops and felt and tried numerous Windows laptops that were around the same price and they all felt like flimsy plastic trash.

      The Mac Mini is also very good for its price and size. My dad is considering a base model Mini to replace his Windows office computer which is on 10 and reached EOL and he doesn’t want 11.

      • bagsy@lemmy.worldEnglish
        51·
        2 months ago

        Just the battery life alone will be enough to hook you on macs. The air is such a nice piece of hardware for the price.

      • otacon239@lemmy.worldEnglish
        51·
        2 months ago

        I have an M1 Pro that’s still going strong without issues, even with 8GB RAM. They’re insanely durable (repair issues aside) and MacOS is wildly good at resource management.

      • kernelle@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        41·
        2 months ago

        When you realise the main difference between an Air and a Pro is active cooling on the CPU on the Pro, it makes sense why the Air is a powerhouse. Knowing the M-series is very efficient, you’ll only notice the difference on heavy loads. (I know the Pro has more options, but it only makes a difference in specific workloads)

        Paying the exuberant Apple tax for more soldered RAM and storage is something you’ll never see me do as long as there are ultrabooks without permanently attached storage.

      • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        31·
        2 months ago

        Can confirm. Decided to pop for a base MBA, but with 32g ram, about a year ago, and it’s fantastic. Unbelievable battery efficiency, completely silent (passively cooled), and still decently performant for when I want to compile something/do a cpu intensive thing. I’ve used MBPs as corp-issue dev machines for nearly a decade and a half now, so I’m quite comfortable in the ecosystem.

        I still have my old T14g2 running fedora, though (in addition to a plethora of non-mobile systems). Also snagged one of those silly-cheap Acer laptops with a fairly late model i3 in it, because it was $200 and had a SODIMM and m.2 slot, just as a spare/extra (it’s running kinoite)

      • wjrii@lemmy.worldEnglish
        32·
        2 months ago

        I was using a 2012 “vintage” minitower PC that originally came with Win7 as a crappy little plex/local FTP/Minecraft server, and I had been wanting to try MacOS after not seeing it for a while, so I got a Mac Mini with an M2 in it, and while I’ve hardly stressed it, it seems really nice. It’s small and completely silent, and if I did want to use it more, Apple has certainly tried to keep their walled garden pretty and well-organized.

    • attero@discuss.tchncs.deOPEnglish
      73·
      2 months ago

      You might wanna start getting used to pressing command with your thumb, instead of ctrl with your pinkie then:

      Here’s my rant about inconsistent keyboard shortcuts on non-macOS systems:
      https://mastodon.social/@attero/115771231064736124

      • thejml@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        41·
        2 months ago

        I prefer it, however there are apps for Mac to remap it if you like. I use Karabiner to remap my Capslock to Escape. I have Capslock and moving the escape key there is much more ergonomic and where i have it on my custom mechanical keyboards.

      • [object Object]@lemmy.worldEnglish
        21·
        2 months ago

        After using Mac I’m never going back to pressing modifiers with the pathetic pinky instead of the strong thumb. It’s especially nice with an MS Natural keyboard with its gigantic alt keys, remapped to cmd.

        Supposedly some early keyboards had ctrl under the thumb, which is why Emacs employs it quite a bit. I wonder if other apps and systems also had the same logic initially, or borrowed it from Emacs, leading to ctrl being used as the main modifier in Windows and Linux.

    • neclimdul@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      2 months ago

      Yeah… All the tools in Linux are going to do this weird thing where they expect it to behave like a normal key. So you’d have to do all the hacks mentioned to make it work. For example, GNOME keybind stops detecting the key bind when you release. Etc. Maybe the kernel will accept a “broken copilot key hack“ that implements it but it’s not good.

      Even with hacks, it still won’t work like a modifier like most people use alt/ctrl/win because those rely on knowing the key up to see multiple keys pressed together before release. So… Broken.

      • wltr@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        3·
        2 months ago

        It’s much worse than I anticipated! Thanks for explaining! I hope to see as little laptops with the key as possible.

  • FireWire400@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    2 months ago

    My ThinkPad has one and it is just kinda there… despite it supposedly being remapable since Kernel 6.16 or so I can’t get it to properly remap.

    I’d love to map it to open LM Studio lol