The windows/super key on my new laptop was disabled by the manufacturer.

This removes the default behavior of left maximize and right maximize and the search function.

Dell has to include a package to disable the super key called dell-super-key because of licensing for a button that has the windows logo on it.

I removed this package with

sudo apt remove dell-super-key

and then enabled its default behavior with the compiz config manager.

  • Desktop → Ubuntu Unity Plugin → Launcher → Key to show the Dash ⇒ <Super>
  • Window management → Grid → Bindings → Left/Right Maximize ⇒ <Control><Super>Left/Right

And now my laptop works as it should. Why Dell doesn’t just print a different logo on that key is beyond me.