Time: 2024-06-25
Microsoft recently launched Copilot Plus PCs, featuring a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard. This keyboard key is the first significant change to Windows keyboards in the last three decades. However, the key now only launches a Progressive Web App (PWA) version of Copilot, which does not integrate into Windows settings and cannot be used to control Windows 11 settings or docked as a sidebar anymore. Even the previous keyboard shortcut to Copilot, WINKEY + C, has been removed on these new Copilot Plus PCs.
Microsoft users were hoping for the Copilot key to evolve into something more versatile, like the Windows key, allowing for the launch of shortcuts to apps or AI-powered features in Windows. The Copilot PWA lacks integration with Windows settings, as Microsoft has shifted the Copilot experience from a more integrated Windows experience to a web app that no longer controls Windows settings. The Copilot experience is being transformed into an app that will be pinned to the taskbar, giving users a traditional app experience with the ability to resize, move, and snap the window.
Despite Microsoft's strong push for Copilot+ PCs, the stringent hardware requirements, including 16GB of RAM, at least 256GB of storage, and a fast neural processing unit (NPU), will limit their adoption among the PC install base. Features like Recall are restricted to new PCs, making them inaccessible on current Windows 11 PCs. The Copilot chatbot remains supported on all Windows 11 PCs, but recent changes have made it less useful and accessible in Windows 11 Insider Preview builds.
The changes to Copilot include a shift from a persistent sidebar to an app window that can be resized, minimized, and pinned to the taskbar. However, this version of Copilot no longer adjusts Windows settings and does not respond to the Windows + C keyboard shortcut. These modifications will be integrated into Windows 11 PCs with the 24H2 update, affecting both Copilot+ PCs and standard Windows 11 devices.
The Win+C keyboard shortcut has a storied history, with various assignments over the years. In Windows 8, it was linked to the "Charms" menu, while Windows 10 reassigned it to the Cortana voice assistant. However, both initiatives were phased out over time. Users of Microsoft Natural Keyboards in the Windows 95 era could utilize Win+C to open the Control Panel with Microsoft's IntelliType software. Despite its ever-changing assignments, Win+C remains a symbol of innovation in keyboard shortcuts, constantly evolving in response to new features and technologies.
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