Why Ctl-Alt-Del
I was at Gartner when an inquiry came to us from Microsoft on this issue. They really wanted a one-button answer! I suggested that if they chose to go that way, they should label it the "Any" key - from "hit any key to restart." They took my comments grudgingly.
In the 1980s I was with IBM in Poughkeepsie. IBM's S/370 mainframes required Ctl-Alt-Del specifically to avoid operators accidentally hitting the IPL (Initial Program Load) button, forcing a restart. The PC was used as a console, replacing the exotic and expensive technologies used earlier.
If trained mainframe operators could make that mistake often enough to justify the three-button solution, I heartily affirm that it remains a good safety mechanism for the general public.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
