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Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!fox!portal!cup.portal.com!Sullivan
From: Sullivan@cup.portal.com (sullivan - segall)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Cursor keys
Message-ID: <24692@cup.portal.com>
Date: 3 Dec 89 21:46:52 GMT
References: <478@synaptx.Synaptics.Com>
Distribution: na
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 17

>[Discussion about Apple /// multi-level cursor keys deleted]
>
>The best cursor accelerator I have ever seen was the Knob on HP 98x6
>machines.  The knob was located at the upper left of the keyboard so
>your hands don't have to leave the keyboard.  When turned it sent
>horizontal cursor motion commands.  Shift caused vertical cursor
>motions.  Turn faster and the cursor moves faster.  HP deleted the
>knob when they changed to a "standard" keyboard. :-(
>
>Why are 90% of keyboard "advances" retarded?
>
Sounds like a brain dead version of a trackball.  Including trackballs
to emulate cursor movement keys is interesting, but not nearly so useful
as having a separate pointer which is controlled by the trackball (or
mouse since they are similar in function.)  As mice (or trackballs) go,
I would prefer not to have them integrated into the keyboard.  It sounds
like a reasonable "advance" to me... -ss