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Comment by VerifiedReports

2 days ago

"You're the one who's provided zero evidence that the Del key is used with any appreciable frequency at all."

I never said it was. You're the one who pompously declared the opposite. I merely pointed out an easily-verifiable fact: Apple neglects to provide it.

But since you've exposed yourself to statistics-based ridicule now, I'll lazily rely on Google's so-called "AI"-based indictment of your absurd position:

"Apple's global PC market share generally hovers around 8% to 10%"

This indicates that 90% of the world's computer-using population apparently DOES find Delete to be a compellingly distinct function from Backspace, and sees fit to include a dedicated key for it on its keyboards.

So you can continue to protest and cry about the harmless inclusion of a useful key that doesn't impede YOUR mode of operation at all, while the vast majority of the computer-using world demonstrates its disagreement with you by including it.

How about you lay off the insulting language like "pompous" and "ridicule" and "protest and cry"? It's completely inappropriate for HN, and demonstrates a severe lack of maturity on your part. I think you can be better than that. Maybe re-read:

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

I don't know what you're bringing up market share for. The idea that most people buy non-Apple because it has a DEL key is not plausible. Like INS, it's a vestigial key maintained mainly for backwards compatibilty with legacy enterprise software used by a tiny minority of businesses. Not for everyday use by normal users.

Now, you started this conversation by complaining about the lack of a DEL key, yet you're the one going on about how I'm continuing to "protest and cry"? Honestly, you might need to look in the mirror there. You're the one asking for a feature almost nobody uses, and all I'm doing is pointing that out. It's much better to respond to disagreement in a productive way by engaging in substance, not defensively by hurling insults.

To reiterate: no, it shouldn't be included on Macs because it's completely and utterly unnecessary. If you need Del functionality, just use the Fn modifier. That's what it's there for. And it's more ergonomic, as established.

  • "I don't know what you're bringing up market share for."

    Says the guy who declared, without evidence, that "Not many people use forward-deleting."

    And who, after complaining about my digging-up of statistics, doubles down by crowing about "a feature almost nobody uses," again without any evidence.

    See, when rebutting an argument, you gain credibility if you at least make an effort to back up your assertion with facts. It's a fun and useful exercise, because everybody learns something... if they're willing to.

    Meanwhile, your comments provide an amusing clinic on hypocrisy.