Why the Apple Logo Isn’t on the New Keyboard’s Command Key

Scott McNulty, among many others, observes that the Apple logo is no longer on the Command key on the new keyboards. There was no Apple logo on the original Macintosh keyboard, either — just the cloverleaf.

At one point during development of the original Mac, the Command key symbol was an Apple logo — both on the keyboard and on-screen, for menu key shortcuts. According to Andy Hertzfeld it was nixed by Steve Jobs in 1983:

“There are too many Apples on the screen! It’s ridiculous! We’re taking the Apple logo in vain! We’ve got to stop doing that!”

I’m just happy they added the word “command”. I’ve lost track how many times over the years I’ve been asked, “What’s the ‘Command’ key?”

★ Wednesday, 8 August 2007