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From: dayglow@csli.Stanford.EDU (Eric T. Ly)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Why does NeXT have such a lousy keyboard?
Message-ID: <11885@csli.Stanford.EDU>
Date: 24 Jan 90 00:49:01 GMT
References: <76038@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> <18768@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU>
Sender: dayglow@csli.Stanford.EDU (Eric T. Ly)
Reply-To: dayglow@csli.stanford.edu (Eric T. Ly)
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Organization: Center for the Study of Language and Information, Stanford U.
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In article <18768@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU> ari@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Ari Halberstadt) writes:
>The NeXT is pretty cool (as you all know). It has its problems though.
>One of the most serious problems is its truly awful keyboard. I'm
>sure this has been discussed before, but I'd like to bring it up
>again. Why, precisely, did Job's decide to forgo nearly a decade
>of ergonomic research? Even the mouse is too big and heavy!
>My ideal keyboard is the one supplied with the console of the
>IBM-RT. Everyone I talk with agrees that the RT keyboard is the
>best one around. Since NeXT has a working relationship with IBM,
>why can't they just license this keyboard? (unfortunately, even IBM
>doesn't use it much).

I have to disagree with you about the NeXT keyboard.  In general, I
find it an excellent keyboard.  It's layout is simple and clean; key
placement is well thought-out, and there aren't any function keys to
cloud the eyes.  The keys are very responsive and audibly "click" when
you hit them.  The placement of the Command and Alternate keys make it
very convenient to activate command key equivalents and what not from
both sides of the keyboard.  It is one of the most comfortable
keyboards I've typed on.

However, I do have some complaints:

 - NeXT should have labeled the Esc key with the Tilde character.

 - The Power key is in the wrong place.  I frequently hit it
   unintentionally when I want to adjust the volume control.

 - It would be nice if the keyboard had more of a tilt to it.  Right now,
   I set it against the rollers so that I can type comfortably.  Perhaps
   something like the PC keyboard's adjustable tilts would be nice.
   


						Eric Ly
						CSLI, Stanford University