engst@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Adam C. Engst) (06/30/88)
Adam,
In reply to your question about keyboards, I am using a Tangent
Technologies Professional Keyboard on my Mac+. I like the thing
a lot -- it works very well.
The thing looks like an IBM PC keyboard, 10 function keys one one side,
a numeric keypad on the other side. Big shift keys, and a huge return
key. The keypad itself has 0..9 just as the PC, complete with arrows,
home, end, pageup pagedown, insert, delete. Outside of the number keys,
it has an enter, 4 more arrows (to duplicate the new ADB/][GS arrows),
+, *, -, /, and clear.
Most of the keys do what is expected. The shifted-numberpad keys are
not recognized by any normal Mac programs, but the rest of the number-
pad goodies work on any application that allows the normal Mac+
extended keyboard. Control key works as the Mac command, while Alt
is the option key.
Tangent supplies software to activate the function keys, but it has
never worked for me. I think the problem is they expect an older
system -- I never bothered to try to get an update.
The keyboard is not compatible with Apple Easy-Access.
The actual "feel" of the keyboard is quite nice. It is sort of firm
like the PC, but does not click or bounce as the PC tends to do.
Where this keyboard really shines is that CE Software choose to
support it with their "QuickKeys" program. QuickKeys recognizes all
of the keys, including F1 thru F10. I can then program the keys to
do whatever I want. F1 = Cut, F2 = Copy, F3 = Paste...even
Alt-F9 pops up MiniWriter while Alt-F10 does Atca.
When using Kermit, my Sun/UNIX machine frequently needs ESC and
CTRL. The ~ key is ESC, and Ctrl happens to be CTRL.
I paid $119 for the Tangent at ICON Review. I am very satisfied
with it and highly recommend the device. And using it with
QuickKeys makes my IBM friends green with envy.
John Weeks
Adam:
Try the DataDesk 101 keyboard (Available from MacWarehouse for about
$140.00). It's a great keboard... lots of function keys, and a great feel.
I love mine. It comes with macro software to use the function keys, but I
prefer Quickkeys from CE Software.
Have fun
John Boswell
Dept. of Chemistry
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755
boz@eleazar.dartmouth.edu
I use the DataDesk MAC-101 keyboard (beige for the Plus). It takes about 15
minutes to get used to the improved feel (over the Plus keyboard). The only
thing I don't like about it is the Caps Lock key, which I sometimes roll over
when I go for the TAB key (about once per day).
You might as well get QuickKeys for it when you get it.
---
Rich Straka ihnp4!ihlpf!straka
Avoid BrainDamage: MSDOS - just say no!
--
Adam C. Engst engst@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu
pv9y@cornella.bitnet
"If it's not interactive, it's not fun."