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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site mnetor.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utcs!mnetor!george
From: george@mnetor.UUCP (George Hart)
Newsgroups: net.info-terms,net.internat
Subject: Re: In search of a sane keyboard standard
Message-ID: <3408@mnetor.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 8-May-86 12:47:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: mnetor.3408
Posted: Thu May  8 12:47:59 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 8-May-86 19:25:37 EDT
References: <2071@cbosgd.UUCP> <824@cyb-eng.UUCP>
Reply-To: george@mnetor.UUCP (George Hart)
Organization: Computer X (CANADA) Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Lines: 68
Xref: utcs net.info-terms:862 net.internat:113

In article <824@cyb-eng.UUCP> lee@cyb-eng.UUCP (Bill Lee) writes:
>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.

I really don't think it is that bad, especially considering what it
is trying to be compatible with.

>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.

Actually, the "X" key only sends DEL.  The second character is CANCEL
which if you type shifted "X".  Trust me, this is being typed on a 
WY85. You have the optional of making the "X" key send (unshift/shift)
DEL/CAN or BS/DEL.  Choosable from setup.  Also choosable from setup
is whether you want the compose key active or not.  When I had a VT220,
I finally pulled the compose keycap off because I kept hitting it.

>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.

By setting the WY85 in to VT200 7 bit mode, you get the function keys
plus all the VT100 control modes (which are a subset of VT200).
Right now, I have both the unshifted and shifted definitions of
F11, F12, and F13 defined to be ESC,BS, and LF respectively.

This leaves me with (un)shiftedF6-F10 and F17-20 to program however
I need to (which is very convenient) and I don't have to shift anything
to generate ESC in vi, etc.  As to the position of the ESC/F11 and the
>/< keys, they could be better but the VT220 is no winner either.

My biggest beef about the keyboard is the relative position of the
lock and ctrl keys.  I often inadvertently hit lock.

>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.

The reply card included with my WY85 didn't say anything about charging for the
Guide ... of course, 4 months later, it still hasn't arrived.

We use basically a extended vt100 termcap with no problems.  About the only
thing different is the number of lines (25 as opposed to 24).  Our
terminals run at 9.6 or 19.2 kb, 7 bits even but with parity checking
off in the terminal.

Other nice features of the WY85 (compared to the VT220) are the status
line displays, the tilt/swivel base, the slightly larger screen
size, the fact that it seems to handle 19.2 kb well, and the nicer
(I feel) touch to the keyboard.
-- 


Regards,

George Hart, Computer X Canada Ltd.
UUCP: {allegra|decvax|duke|floyd|linus|ihnp4}!utzoo!mnetor!george
BELL: (416)475-8980