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From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Keyboards
Message-ID: <2574@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 22-Oct-87 02:21:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.2574
Posted: Thu Oct 22 02:21:57 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Oct-87 21:29:25 EDT
References: <4313@zen.berkeley.edu> <16251@amdahl.amdahl.com> <2059@tekig4.TEK.COM>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 46
Keywords: cursor pencil

In article <2059@tekig4.TEK.COM> brianr@tekig4.UUCP (Brian Rhodefer) writes:
> On the subject of cursor key arrangement:
> 
> I work with an intel iPDS development system.
> Though its hardware designers deserve the death penalty
> for crimes against humanity, it has an extremely
> convenient cursor-key arrangement:
>       ____
>      |    |      The center "home" key acts as an "amplified"
>      |  ^ |      version of the last-used cursor key:
>  ____|____|____   Used after an "up(down)" cursor,
> |    |    |    |  it means,"scroll up(down) one page".
> |  < |HOME| >  |  After a "left(right)" cursor, it means,
> |____|____|____| "go to end(beginning) of line".
>      |    |
>      |  V |       A good place/use for the "help" key, no?
>      |____|

Ah, I *looks* convienient, and is probably optimum for a hand that reaches over
from the home keys to stab a button, but it isn't so good when you want plant
your hand over it and do repeated cursor manipulations such as in a spreadsheet
or perhaps a drafting package.  The middle finger doesn't like to bend back to
the cursor down key, causing this to be tagged as anti-ergonomic.  The A1000
cross arrangment is even worse in this respect (opinion) since it seems hard
to even figure out which fingers to use.

> Also, I have to know:  The so-called "pencil holder" on the
> A1000's keyboard is actually a place to put removable printed
> labels that a software vendor might supply to show what the
> "function" keys do,  isn't it?

I've heard claims to this effect, and it's no doubt true.  Somehow, the fact
that nobody involved with the new keyboard had ever seen the slot used with a
templet led to its being overlooked.  I feel kind of silly about it, but then
I only tell the boss I'm perfect...

CONFESSION:  I don't use any of those silly keys off the main keypad!  I mean,
I even type control/h for backspace.  The only things causing me distress are
the escape key, which I'd rather have where the ~` key is and the caps lock
key which is a worthless anachronism.  Of course both of these would be even
further departures from the original A1000 keyboard...

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {ihnp4|rutgers|allegra}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: out to lunch...
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)