How to use windows key to open Start menu in Ubuntu
The default short cut to open the “Start” panel in Ubuntu is “Alt+F1”, however you may wish to change it to the windows key. If you want to change it to something other than windows key, a combination of keys for instance, you would go to System > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts and click on “Show the panel’s main menu”, then, once selected just press they keys you want to use.
However, it doesn’t seem to do anything when you press the windows special key. In order to use it, you would have to open the terminal window or Run Application window (Alt+F2 by default) and execute this command:
gconftool-2 --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/panel_main_menu --type string "Super_L"
where Super L is the left “Super” key, which is left windows key.