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From: peter@ficc.ferranti.com (Peter da Silva)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.misc
Subject: Re: Seeking SideKick-/spreadsheet-type functionality for AT&T 3B2
Message-ID: <0_S6LRB@xds13.ferranti.com>
Date: 31 Oct 90 18:45:24 GMT
References: <E6R6K6C@xds13.ferranti.com> <4254@lib.tmc.edu> <27S68C4@xds13.ferranti.com> <4262@lib.tmc.edu>
Reply-To: peter@ficc.ferranti.com (Peter da Silva)
Distribution: na
Organization: Xenix Support, FICC
Lines: 16

In article <4262@lib.tmc.edu> jmaynard@thesis1.hsch.utexas.edu (Jay Maynard) writes:
> In article <27S68C4@xds13.ferranti.com> peter@ficc.ferranti.com (Peter da Silva) writes:
> >But do you need a cute HP-16C keyboard drawn on your screen?

> What user interface would you use for an N-button calculator?

I wouldn't. I'd just have a display of the current stack, X, and a ticker
tape showing the history of X. At most have a pop-up display that gives you
the mnemonics for each key. Yes, it'd be live. But I sure wouldn't make it
unavoidable. I'd type "D64W526_X" for "<dec> 64 <f> <wsize> 526 <chs> <hex>".
Use the display for useful information.

On my Amiga I have a digital clock display that is about 10 pixels high. If
I select it and hit the space bar it becomes just such a calculator (not
exactly an HP-16C, though it has most of the functions). I can cut the
value from that display, or the time.
-- 
Peter da Silva.   `-_-'
+1 713 274 5180.   'U`
peter@ferranti.com