ESC should be the default button for closing things

To close an application or window, you click on the X. Why not make it simple and universal? Use the ESC button. It makes sense, and it is easy to locate and remember. Some applications use ESC to close applications, and I am thankful to use such applications. Irfanview and Editor2 are two programs I am using with ESC enabled. They should all be like this.

 

It is how we closed applications in the old days, but i have never thought about it again to be honest. I've programmed one of the buttons on my Logitech VX Revolution to close applications and it works fine for me.

 

I agree. Back in the day almost all programs would close with ESC except for the important ones. In today's age all the programs think they're important.

 

It's called Alt+F4. I don't want to accidentally brush my keyboard and my Word document that I've been typing to close.

 

I also use alt-f4. I am very mouse dependant on my desktop but on my laptop I tend to use the keyboard more often and use the alt-f4. On different laptop models the esc key is located in the middle of other often used keys (delete or backspace) i would definately hit it on accident. GL

 

Your word document won't close directly before giving u a warning if it wasn't saved

 

agreed. too risky to rely on esc key for closing application. i like the current windows convention (alt+f4 closes apps, ctrl+f4 closes document). thank you very much.

 

Yes, one key exit is too risky. I've gotten used to Alt+F4.

 

I agree with Esc. It's the to make things simple again. I believe (even if it will not be done) that at least there should be an option for it.

 

i'd rather not have to keep pressing "cancel" when the window pops up asking if i really want to exit. that totally messes up the workflow. Alt+4 for a reason.

 

Esc is pretty much useless these days.

 

Not if you use linux or vi (via remote connection like ssh/putty). ESC is used all the time. That would sure be a pain of every time I pressed ESC the terminal window would close.

 

Irrelevant to the market share .

 

PF3/PF12 (or PF15/PF24) was the standard for 3 or 4 decades ....

 

What's that?