The Caps Lock key predates the electronic marvels we type on today by about 100 years. Talk about your legacy hardware.
Originally called “Shift Lock” on mechanical typewriters, it was quite useful back when the shift key actually shifted something; a lever that physically raised the typing bar. The weight of the typing bar was difficult to hold for very long with only a pinky finger. Pressing the “Lock” key flipped a hook mechanism over the shift lever allowing you to type a series of capital letters without excessive digit fatigue.
I seldom use Caps Lock key intentionally. Usually I discover having pressed it by accident by noticing that ALL MY TYPING LOOKS LIKE SHOUTING. In an era of effortless key presses and compressed netbook keyboards, we have outgrown Caps Lock usefulness and it has overstayed its welcome.
Ruffling the Registry
John Haller mercifully provides us with a Windows system-level method to change evil Mr. Lock into more friendly Mr. Shift. You may prefer to change to a different key or disable it entirely. Visit the Disable Cap Lock web page at John’s blog to download a Windows .reg file that will bring the era of accidental Cap Lock to an end.
The Mac Attack
Lets not leave out my Mac friends. They can go to System Preferences, click on Mouse & Keyboard, click on the Keyboard tab, then click the Modifier Keys… button and finally select No Action from the Caps Lock drop down menu. Five clicks and your done.
A Window of Warning
As John warns on his web site: “Incorrect changes to the registry may damage Windows or other installed software. Be sure you know what a given .REG file contains before merging it into the registry.” I have used these files successfully on my Samsung’s XP install with no adverse effects, but this doesn’t mean you can come crying to me if they break your computer. DO NOT INSTALL ANY REGISTRY PATCHES WITOUT FIRST UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY DO. (I typed that with my pinky.)