BARBER@Mit-Xx@sri-unix (08/13/82)
From: Steve Barber <BARBER@Mit-Xx>
I really couldn't agree more that extra keys where they are not
expected or wanted are a pain in the neck, and yes I get ticked when
I use different keyboards during the same day on which <rubout> and
<return> are interchanged, but the point I was trying to make is that
all this whining about an extra key on an otherwise decent machine in
a world where there is no accepted standard for keyboards is rather
silly and ineffectual. I suppose changing keyboards is one of the prices
we pay for rapidly advancing and experimental technologies.
I know this probably belongs on WorkS, but what would be really nice
would be to have terminals on which all keys are REDEFINABLE. That
way we could even rig up things to be Dvorak rather that QWERTY if
the mood struck. (I have a little program for my TRS-80 that does just
this, although I never use it.) The major problem is having the physical
keyboard reflect the current key definitions.
Steve
-------MCMANIS%usc-eclc@sri-unix.UUCP (06/20/83)
From: Chuck McManis <MCMANIS@usc-eclc> I seems to me, that the ability to put intelligence into a keyboard is so trivial now that manufactures should jump at the idea of adding saleable features with a healthy ability to raise the price of their terminals/computers. The only draw back is that in order to have a completely relocate able keyboard, all of the keytops would have to be the same size, but for solutions to simple problems like Pournelle's back-tab on the TVI-950 and IBM's misplaced '\' a simple processor in the keyboard would suffice. I personally, would like to find either a VT100 keyboard or maybe a keytronic (ala IBM and DEC) keyboard that I can plug into my Digital Group Z80 with one RJ11C connector, and that has a KEYBOARD based reprogamability (sp?) as I have only limited memory and do not wish to change the software at all. (There is no BIOS per se in the DG system) Anyone know of such a beast? --Chuck -------
mats@dual.UUCP (Mats Wichmann) (03/03/84)
.
Favorite Flame Subject has just been broached. I am extremely religious
about terminals and in particualr keyboards. Someday maybe I will work for
a company that wants to built its own terminal so that I can do it *right*
Of course, probably I will be the only one who thinks it is right........
Feel IS more important to me that layout, but not by a huge margin. Major
frustrations occur with terminals on which I can't type at the speed - and
with the sloppiness - that I am used to. I can out-type most keyboards
currently available, including esoecially my favorite gripe, the Televideo.
This is the major reason that I use a Kimtron - despite all of the strange
problems you may have heard with them, they have just about the right
keyboard feel. Layour is just about as important - a well designed keyobard
should keep you from having to move your hands around too much. A return
key that is shifted over too far is not good for programmers, especially
those that are outside the delete key. This very common problem is a
disaster for UNIX programmers. THe IBM PC-style low-profile, sculptured
keyboards, although they may look sexy, usually are not responsive enough
and don't have enough keyboard travel to be easily usable - even the
Kimtron PC-styler terminal (the brand-new KT-7) has problems here. It beats
me how anyone can type on the type of keyboard provided by Televideo and by
DEC - yes, you can get used to the layout, but how can you possibly get
used to a keyboard that ignores half of the characrters you typed because
you forgot to bring your sledgehammer?
The only other low-cost terminal I can tolerate besides the Kimtron AMB85h
it the IMS terminal, probably the best buy available anywhere. It comes in
a nice, compact all-metal casing, looks attractive, works right, and comes
with a TWO-YEAR warranty. How can you beat it? (Eat it?) Have you ever
heard of a terminal with much more than the standard 90-day warranty?
I realise that I may be treading on toes with this posting (in several
ways) - but send flames to /dev/null - this is purely personal opinion.
Matc Wichmann
Dual Systems Corp., Berkeley, CA.
{ucbvax,amd70,ihnp4,cbosgd,decwrl,fortune}!dual!mats