Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpfcso!hpfcdc!donn
From: donn@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Donn Terry)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: vi doubleescape feature
Message-ID: <5570544@hpfcdc.HP.COM>
Date: 5 Dec 90 17:15:17 GMT
References: <90333.192627QQ11@LIVERPOOL.AC.UK>
Organization: HP Fort Collins, Co.
Lines: 17

Doubleescape was created to allow for all sorts of "gotchas", the least of
which was slow systems.  The character timing information is unreliable
at best, particularly where the characters are being transmitted over
the net.  Characters typed far apart in time can arrive together due
to net delays, and the disambiguation with timing then fails.
(Occasionally, even a big "page-in" was enough to mess up the timing.)

Soft-keys (sending escape) can add to the problem.

However, this feature isn't for everyone, so it's optional.
(Actually, it's not that bad to use it; 2 escapes in a row might
as well be one keystroke, at least for me.  And moving to a system
that doesn't support it has the very minor side-effect of generating
an extra beep.)

Donn Terry
HP Ft. Collins