Windows Key to access Ubuntu Start Menu

I was so used to using the Windows Key on the keyboard to open the Windows Start menu, I just expect it to work on Gnome panels too.

If you don't already have an Ubuntu "Main Menu" item on your panel, you can add one by right clicking on the panel, choose "Add to Panel," then scroll down to "Utilities" and click the "Menu Bar" item and then the "Add" button. If you want to move that item around on your panel, you can figure out how to do that by right clicking it.

Now to bind the Windows Key to that item. Click your panel's "Main Menu" item, then "System," "Preferences," and "Keyboard Shortcuts." Under the "Desktop" group, click "Show the Panel Menu," then press your Windows Key and you will see the associated binding change to "Super_L". Click the "Close" button on this dialogue and you are done.

Now when you hit your Windows Key, it opens the Main Menu, equivalent to the Windows Start button.