The Evolution of Logitech's Command Key

In the early days of personal computing, keyboard design was still in its infancy. One of the most significant changes to the keyboard layout came with the introduction of the Apple II GS in 1984. Apple changed the keys on this computer's keyboard to Command and Option, a move that would become standard for future Macintosh computers.

The Command key, also known as the ⌘ symbol, was originally introduced on the original Macintosh computer in 1984. However, it had a slightly different design than its modern counterpart. Instead of featuring the closed Apple logo, the command key displayed an open-Apple logo. This design choice was made by Steve Jobs himself, who believed that using the Apple logo as a keyboard shortcut was 'taking in vain.'

The Apple Lisa, introduced later in 1984, also featured a Command key with a solid or opaque Apple logo. The unique design allowed for flexible combinations of modifier keys and base keys without requiring any changes to the computer's ROM. This was particularly important for the Apple II series, which could only register one key press at a time.

The use of two Apple keys, one outlined and one solid, became a standard feature in many early Apple computers, including the 1982 Apple IIe and the 1984 Apple IIc. These keyboards mapped the left and right Apple keys to the first two fire buttons of an attached joystick.

The Command key's evolution continued with the introduction of the 1980 Apple III, which featured two monochrome Apple keys on the lowest row of the keyboard. For many years, computers up through the 1979 Apple II Plus did not have a command key at all.

In summary, the Logitech command key has its roots in the early days of personal computing, when Apple introduced the Command and Option keys to its keyboards. The unique design of the command key, featuring an open-Apple logo, was a deliberate choice made by Steve Jobs himself. Over time, the design evolved to feature a solid or opaque Apple logo, and eventually became a standard feature in many early Apple computers.