Ask HN: Why do keyboards still have the CAPS LOCK key?
It's unnecessarily large, takes up a very good position on the standard keyboard layout, and seems NOBODY USES IT. Why is it still there?
And I'd guess there are still some old data-entry applications that use uppercase only.
There are also headings in all-caps on certain legal documents.
There are even less useful keys, like the "Scroll Lock" key (and its associated LED) on the standard PC keyboard. This serves no function that I know of in any modern Windows application, but enough old programs use it that manufacturers don't want to get rid of it.
Now, as far as the standard position, I agree. I'd be fine if the standard were in a more out of the way location, because I rarely use it in a hurry and happen to do enough accidentals to turn on a sound letting me know it was hit. I'd personally replace it either with symbols (non-english punctuation, perhaps) or use the space for one of the more common non-english letters (ø,æ,å,ô)
Right alt can be used for non-english symbols.
Some examples from keyboard mashing while holding right alt: ¡²³¤€¼áðäéå®þæ©ñ
For the most part they are in sensible positions too, making them easy to remember. Right alt+2 is ² and n becomes ñ and s becomes the German ß. © is c and ® is r.
Optionally you can set your keyboard to use English - International to type Pokémon properly. Or português. Although it can get annoying trying to type an opening quote " because you need to press space afterwards (it's waiting for the following character to modify: ä)
Re-map it if you don't like it. http://www.howtogeek.com/194705/how-to-disable-or-reassign-t...