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From: lee@cyb-eng.UUCP (Bill Lee)
Newsgroups: net.info-terms,net.internat
Subject: Re: In search of a sane keyboard standard
Message-ID: <824@cyb-eng.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 5-May-86 13:09:30 EDT
Article-I.D.: cyb-eng.824
Posted: Mon May  5 13:09:30 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 8-May-86 06:29:47 EDT
References: <2071@cbosgd.UUCP>
Organization: Cyb Systems, Austin, TX
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Xref: linus net.info-terms:445 net.internat:12

> Are you tired of incompatible keyboards that require you to stand
> on your head to type, or to use two hands to type Control S?  I am.
> I've watched the most recent array of keyboards on IBM PC's and
> AT&T PC's, and instead of converging to a common standard, the new
> keyboards are diverging wildly and recklessly.  I'd like to propose
> a standard to solve this problem.
> 

I agree 100% with Mark. Keyboards are seemingly being designed by
people that haven't ever used a real computer, and certainly not a Unix
system. I just had the misfortune of ordering a Wyse 85 terminal (the
one that does VT220 emulation). Since I was familiar with the WY-50 and
the WY-75, I assumed I was safe ordering a WY-85 sight unseen. Big
mistake. The keyboard is a complete mess. To save any poor souls considering
purchasing a WY-85, let me mention a bit of the keyboard braindamage. To
start with, there is no DEL key. The correction key (marked by the large X)
can be programmed to send a two character sequence that begins with DEL.
I'm making do with that for now. The ESC key is up on the top row of function
keys (it is shifted F11). Try that it vi or your favorite screen editor. In
the normal ESC position (left of 1) is "~/`" which makes using ~ a real pain.
One of the biggest loses is the ">/<" key (yes, they are on the same key).
It is to the left of the Z, right next to SHIFT. I/O redirection is very
easy to screw up with this arrangement. In summary, I do not recommend the
WY-85 to anyone since the keyboard is so wrong.

Mark's suggested keyboard looks right on to me. Everyone of the keys is
in the "right" place. I hope his posting finds its way to terminal vendors
and particular to their design engineers and human factors people (if terminal
vendors have human factors). In fact, I'm going to print out his posting
and mail it to WYSE along with a letter explaining how they went wrong
with the Wy-85 keyboard.

P.S. To be able to "use" the WY-85, you have to order the "WY-85 Programmers
Guide" for $40.00. Escape sequences, how to use the "Compose Character" key,
how to get the information needed to write your own termcap (since the VT100
termcap I'm using doesn't always work with vi), etc. require the $40 manual.

Bill Lee
Edge Computer Corp.
Austin, Texas
(512) 499-1586
mot!edge!lee