I use it to get out of the full screen mode when running applications that use it. The idea of having a hardware element (a key) that clearly mentions an element of software kind of bothers me, but this particular key is useful.
Ooooh! I want that! I am forever getting annoyed by word processing and editing programs that insist on pasting formatted text when you use cntrl+v. I much more often want to paste unformatted text (usually from another program), but it generally takes about 4 clicks (or else first pasting into notepad and then copying again) to do so. Can you please tell us where to get this utility and how to map it like you said?
My first computer, a BBC Micro had both a Caps Lock and a Shift Lock key. The Caps Lock was in fact very useful as the built in BBC BASIC language (which one used a lot - quite apart from actual programming, you could use it from the command line as an excellent calculator, much better than the little toy you get in Windows) required all its commands to be in upper case. The Shift Lock was quite useless, though. Since there was no numeric keypad, you could not type numbers with it on, just the symbols above them.
On my PC I do find a use for Caps Lock occasionally, but then I get annoyed when I find I have left it on and I am getting lowercase when I hold down shift. I use windows+E to open explorer all the time, and occasionally windows+pause for system properties, but I can never remember all the other combinations. From now on I will try to remember that windows+D one though, That could be handy. I have never had any use for the menu key on the right, however.
But let me reiterate. Please tell me where to find that paste unformatted text utility.
According to the emacs manual, you can use this registry file to turn caps-lock into an extra control key (which is how I set up all my machines, except I don’t use windows):
http://ftp.gnu.org/old-gnu/emacs/windows/docs/ntemacs/contrib/caps-as-ctrl.reg
More info on that file about half-way down this document:
http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/windows/Installing-Emacs.html
Check your BIOS, mine has a setting to disable it.
I find CapsLock mildly annoying. So what I do is turn on the built-in sound alert. that way when I hit it the machine makes a noise, alerting me to the fact I just goofed. But the key’s still there for the times I do need it. pulling teh keytop off is stupid.
In XP: Start >> Control Panel >> Accessibility Options. On the Keyboard tab, check the “Use ToggleKeys” box and [OK].
My only complaint with the built-in feature is that I can’t add the Insert button to its noisemaking.
It’s freeware; rated 4/5 stars at download.com. The program lets you choose your own hotkey; Windows + V is the default. Works a treat!
Me too, but that’s the whole point, isn’t it? Microsoft doesn’t want you to think of your hardware and Windows as being two distinct things. They want you to see it as an integrated whole–that plus the Internet (many keyboards have buttons that do browser things, like page back).