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From: torek@elf.ee.lbl.gov (Chris Torek)
Newsgroups: comp.editors
Subject: Re: Let's Talk Keyboards!
Summary: Let's not.
Message-ID: <11695@dog.ee.lbl.gov>
Date: 2 Apr 91 19:25:26 GMT
References: <1991Apr2.104658.1@hulaw1.harvard.edu>
Reply-To: torek@elf.ee.lbl.gov (Chris Torek)
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley
Lines: 29
X-Local-Date: Tue, 2 Apr 91 11:25:26 PST

In article <1991Apr2.104658.1@hulaw1.harvard.edu>
peregrin@hulaw1.harvard.edu writes:
>	What *keyboards* do people prefer?

To misquote Hal Hickman, ``Favourite keyboards are like assholes --
everyone's got one, but nobody wants to touch the other guy's.''
[If the above offends you, mentally substitute in `rectal orifices'. :-) ]

>	I personally will go out of my way (through terminal emulation, file
>transfer) so that I can use a DEC LK201 keyboard.

Ugh.  (See what I mean?)

Touch typists often prefer anything `reasonably close' to a Selectric
layout.  In particular, this precludes inserting a key between Z and
SHIFT on the left, and between the '" and RETURN keys on the right.
Unfortunately, both the DEC LK keyboards and the Sun type-4 keyboards
commit at least one of these errors.  It is, of course, impossible to
duplicate a Selectric layout exactly, since computer keyboards have
pesky `extras' like CTRL, ESC, `~, and \| keys.

The one correct solution to the problem is to have *standard*,
*interchangeable* keyboards, so that people can choose their own
favourite layout and PLUG IT IN TO ANYTHING.

This, being too sensible, will never occur.
-- 
In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Lawrence Berkeley Lab CSE/EE (+1 415 486 5427)
Berkeley, CA		Domain:	torek@ee.lbl.gov