Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!pacbell!ames!umd5!brl-adm!adm!rbj@nav.icst.nbs.gov
From: rbj@nav.icst.nbs.gov (Root Boy Jim)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: vi vs emacs in a student environment
Message-ID: <16604@brl-adm.ARPA>
Date: 22 Jul 88 16:54:21 GMT
Sender: news@brl-adm.ARPA
Lines: 23

? From: PAAAAAR%CALSTATE.BITNET%cunyvm.cuny.edu@brl.arpa

? (Root Boy) Jim Cottrell    <rbj@icst-cmr.arpa>
? writes
? >The ASCII definition of DEL is `rubout', i.e. delete-backward-character.
? Historically RUBOUT was a code that was all ones and so could be used
? to 'rubout' an erroneus character on a piece of paper tape because it
? was all holes, unlike NULL which was all non-holes and used for leaving
? the paper tape as it was or preparing a long lead in.....

I know that. However, to use DEL on paper tape, one has to manually
move the tape back first. Not doing so would be merely a waste of paper.
A terminal screen has no moving parts, so it does the moving for you. Also,
it's character has no physical representation, and is erased rather than
merely disguised and sunsequently ignored. I claim that these operations
are one and the same modulo physical/electrical media considerations.

	(Root Boy) Jim Cottrell	<rbj@icst-cmr.arpa>
	National Bureau of Standards
	Flamer's Hotline: (301) 975-5688
	The opinions expressed are solely my own
	and do not reflect NBS policy or agreement
	Careful with that VAX Eugene!