Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!uxc!garcon!pequod.cso.uiuc.edu!dorner
From: dorner@pequod.cso.uiuc.edu (Steve Dorner)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: NeXT Keyboard
Message-ID: <459@garcon.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 20 Feb 89 17:10:07 GMT
References: <860@ubc-cs.UUCP>
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Reply-To: dorner@pequod.cso.uiuc.edu (Steve Dorner)
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Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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In article <860@ubc-cs.UUCP> morrison@grads.cs.ubc.ca (Rick Morrison) writes:
>Am I alone in thinking the lack of function keys on the NeXT keyboard
>an appalling design decision, ...

I don't know about appalling; unfortunate, maybe.  Although the four mod-
ifier keys (Control, Command, Shift, and Alternate) help the situation somewhat.
I suspect this is an old-time-religion issue; Macs didn't have function keys
until after Jobs left Apple.

>                            The idea of using gnu emacs without function
>keys dampens my enthusiasm for an otherwise interesting alternative to
>a SUN workstation.

Listen well, NeXT; people are very concerned about their keyboards.  The
keyboard is still the primary interface to a computer, and people won't
buy a computer with a keyboard they don't like.  For example, I would NEVER
consider DEC workstations or terminals, because I simply can't live with the
keyboards, and DEC does not provide alternatives.

I happen to think the NeXT keyboard is ALMOST perfect.  The control key is
in the right place, as are the shift keys and backspace.  The only real
problem is the ` key, which is too important to be so far away.  My suggestion
is to put the ` where Esc is, move Esc up to what is now unused space, and
add a row of function keys across the top while you're at it.  At least offer
such a board is an option.  I know it would have to be bigger, but so what?

>I'd trade the cutesey feet for a swivel base any day.

Amen.  That monitor is darn hard to move, even if you don't worry about
running over keyboard, mouse, and microphone cords.  And the freedom to
push the monitor backwards INVITES crimping the cables in the back of the
monitor.  Maybe those cables could attach on TOP or BOTTOM of the monitor,
instead of sticking straight out the back.
-- 
Steve Dorner, U of Illinois Computing Services Office
Internet: dorner@garcon.cso.uiuc.edu  UUCP: {convex,uunet}!uiucuxc!dorner
IfUMust:  (217) 244-1765