Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!hybrid!scifi!bywater!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!garnett
From: garnett@cs.utexas.edu (John William Garnett)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Those Damn Keyboards
Message-ID: <1080@tokio.cs.utexas.edu>
Date: 11 Feb 91 15:36:16 GMT
References: <5137@media-lab.MEDIA.MIT.EDU> <240@raysnec.UUCP>
Organization: University of Texas at Austin
Lines: 45

In article <240@raysnec.UUCP> shwake@raysnec.UUCP (Ray Shwake) writes:
>lacsap@plethora.media.mit.edu (Pascal Chesnais) writes:

>>As you may know, NeXT changed its keyboard when we began shipping the
>>NeXTstation and the '040-based NeXTcube. As NeXT has grown and
>>expanded distribution channels, it's become important that we be able
>>to ship our systems to Europe and other parts of the world.  In
>>Europe, there are much more stringent ISO standards for keyboard
>>layouts.  Our original keyboard did not meet those standards.

>	Well, other companies seem capable of tailoring their offerings
>to the needs of the market. "One size fits all" has no place in the
>computer business. Perhaps people should write to Northgate (which makes
>one of the better PC keyboards) and ask them to develop one for the NeXT.

Short of actually convincing NeXT to change, or provide an alternative to
their new "improved" keyboard, this is one of the better suggestions
I've seen.

Can someone provide an appropriate Northgate email or snailmail address 
for making such a suggestion?  If Northgate receives enough requests (and
judging from peoples' stated opinions regarding the new keyboards...
they WILL), perhaps something could actually come of this idea.

However, before initiating such a letter writing campaign, it would
probably be a good idea if people could come consensus as to WHAT
to request.

I propose that Northgate manufacture two NeXT keyboards.  One essentially
identical to the original NeXT keyboard (if this can be legally
accomplished) and another one incorporating all of their better
ideas they use in making PC keyboards.  And of course, both must
be black.

Now who has ideas for a third-party manufacturer of improved mice that
will work with the NeXT? (no smiley)

NeXT owners can already buy third party memory, hard disks, floppy disks,
displays (using the color/sound box), modems, etc.  Why not mice and
keyboards?
-- 
John Garnett
                              University of Texas at Austin
garnett@cs.utexas.edu         Department of Computer Science
                              Austin, Texas