Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tektronix!midas!copper!byronl
From: byronl@copper.MDP.TEK.COM (Byron Lunz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Northgate C/T keyboards
Message-ID: <2932@copper.MDP.TEK.COM>
Date: 12 Mar 89 06:54:09 GMT
References: <1989Mar9.200917.2634@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu>
Reply-To: byronl@copper.MDP.TEK.COM (Byron Lunz)
Distribution: na
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.
Lines: 33

In article <1989Mar9.200917.2634@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu> sarathy@gpu.utcs.UUCP (Rajiv Sarathy) writes:
>I've been seeing Northgate (of Minnesota, I think) ads consistently in
>PC Magazine for the last year and a half.
>
>They advertise an enhanced keyboard, which they claim has a tactile response
>approaching that of an IBM.  Can anyone validate this claim?

I bought a Northgate OmniKey/102 for my new AT-clone, and I'm very pleased.
The tactile feedback is less than original IBM, but I always thought
IBM's original was too noisy anyway.  I like it.  The keyboard is metal and
feels "solid".  
 
>On the picture, there seemed to be some sort of membrane-switches or some
>other dark "patch" just above the top row of keys (the picture wasn't of great
>quality).  What is it?
Just labels.  I guess they represent where the function keys are normally
found on extended keyboards, but they have no function but as a place to
make notes if you're into writing on your keyboard.

I enjoy having the function keys on the left; I tried a Maxiswitch KB
for a few days but was having a tough time getting used to the function
keys on top, especially since I have a Leading Edge 84-key model at
work.  

One other thing that impressed me: the chairman of Northgate is an active
subscriber on Compuserve.  You can send any questions and/or complaints
directly to him there and expect a rapid response.  I shared my comments
about the keyboard on CIS and got a personal note thanking me!  

Good luck!

Byron Lunz
byronl@copper.MDP.TEK.COM