Slashdot Mirror


Where is the Any Key?

ricembr noted that compaq has finally provided a FAQ to the world to ask that long standing question where is the any key? Pray that this was added to the FAQ as a joke, and not in response to legitimate need ;)

15 of 369 comments (clear)

  1. Finally!? by Drakin · · Score: 5, Informative

    Read the bloody thing! It was added in 2001!

    1. Re:Finally!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      They added the "or handheld screen" part.This is really old news...

    2. Re:Finally!? by fallacy · · Score: 4, Informative

      The Way Back Machine has the answers:

      It seems that it was first created in 1999. A modification seems to be the fact that the title changed from "Compaq FAQ: Where do I find the any key on my keyboard? (FAQ2859)" to quoting the "Any" key (along with the relevant change in the text).

    3. Re:Finally!? by Bert64 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Because now it mentions a touchpad screen, so it`s applicable to ipaq users etc... Originally the faq only mentioned a keyboard, i remember reading it back when it was first posted up there.

      --
      http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
  2. Old solaris keyboards by zerocool^ · · Score: 1, Informative

    Old solaris keyboard (type 4 I think?) had actually two any keys. They were next to the space bar and were mappable to anything you needed. They had a little diamond on them.

    I mean, I guess a key with no specific function is an any key, right?

    ~Will

    --
    sig?
    1. Re:Old solaris keyboards by ShortSpecialBus · · Score: 3, Informative

      I believe those are the meta keys, which do have many functions in emacs and the like.

      --
      //FIXME: Bad .sig
  3. Re:"Press Any Key" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    This is slashdot. Moderators shouldn't mod down a perfectly good reference to Simpsons, what the hell is wrong with you?

  4. Re:Viral Marketing by gl4ss · · Score: 2, Informative

    it's first created in sometime in 2001.. and modified in 2002..

    it's just stupid ass monkey wrenches that post these news and others who write it with 'teh anykyey'

    the 'teh' might have been a joke though.. dunno. it was so bad. maybe taco is having a huge hangover.

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  5. The FAQ is wrong by terminal.dk · · Score: 4, Informative

    Unfortunately, I have discovered that the FAQ is wrong.

    As I am lazy, I often pick a key near the edge of the keyboard, and I have found that ctrl, caps lock, alt, and shift are not any key at all.

    The FAQ should be updated to reflect that some keys just are not any key.

  6. THEY ARE LYING ! ... it exists ! by mxpengin · · Score: 2, Informative

    The "any key" really exists ... you can buy it at : userfriendly

    --
    "We all know Linux is great...it does infinite loops in 5 seconds." -- Linus
  7. Better answer: by Alsee · · Score: 5, Informative

    If anyone ever actually asks you that question it is vital to give the simplest answer possible. Compaq's FAQ answer is still "too complicated" and may cause the loss of your own sanity when they still get confused.

    Better answer:

    "Any key" is another name for the space bar.

    At this point they will inevitably make a second second assault on your sanity. It is vital to be prepared for this devious one-two combo attack. The deady follow-up question is generally some varient of 'why', such as "why didn't they just say to press the space bar?" or "why isn't the spacebar propery labeled?"

    No matter what the exact question is, the only safe answer is:

    "I don't know."

    If they keep asking about it just keep repeating "I don't know" until the psych-assault ends. Trying to give any other answer will result in severe pain and possible loss of sanity.

    -

    --
    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  8. Re:Obligatory Simpsons joke by whovian · · Score: 2, Informative

    Hrmmmmmm...scratch those links. These should work: WAVE
    Other sounds of Homer

    --
    To-do List: Receive telemarketing call during a tornado warning. Check.
  9. A problem with the FAQ entry... by VesperDEM · · Score: 2, Informative

    Sure, they say it means to press any key on the keyboard... The problem is they don't say not to use the Shift, Ctrl, or Alt keys since they are "modifier" keys. So someone may actually press the shift key and it still won't work. :)

  10. hmm.. by abhisarda · · Score: 4, Informative

    nobody thought of this link? or did somebody already post it?
    Computer stupidities.

  11. Re:Obligatory WP Post by Rojo^ · · Score: 4, Informative

    That particular story has been told not only regarding Word Perfect's tech support, but several other service providers and software support lines. Check out this explanation of the origins of this particular story, which probably didn't really happen at all.

    Good story though. Quite relevant =) I wish I could tell my users that just about every day.

    --
    <: