Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rice!uw-beaver!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tekcrl!tekgvs!toma
From: toma@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM (Tom Almy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Northgate keyboards
Summary: Nyah Nyah :-)
Message-ID: <6931@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM>
Date: 23 Feb 90 16:06:02 GMT
References: <29183@amdcad.AMD.COM> <19500056@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu>
Reply-To: toma@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM (Tom Almy)
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.
Lines: 40

In article <19500056@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu> mead@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu writes:
>I cannot resist:  
>The much praised Northgate OmniKey is the *worst* keyboard I have ever
>used [...]
>Which leads me to ask:  What is it that so many of you do with it
>that you like it so much?  The "feel" is horrible.  I much prefer 
>either IBM or my (admittedly cheesly - Made in Taiwan) ZEOS 
>keyboard for both writing and programming - nice easy touch, crisp
>click.

I can't resist either. Here is my very objective :-) analysis of the Northgate
Keyboard:

IBM keyboards have too much of a click -- they feel too mechanical -- a
Papa Bear keyboard. Most keyboards shiped with systems provide no feedback of 
any kind -- cold mush, Mama Bear keyboard. The Northgate gives just the right 
amount of mechanical and audible feedback. It's the Baby Bear keyboard.

Like the IBM, the Northgate has reasonable mass. It sits well on the lap. Most
cheap keyboards leave me worried that the coil cord will yank the keyboard
off my lap.

The Northgate keyboard doesn't have any of those key placement mistakes that
have been on every IBM keyboard:
Unlike the PC keyboard, there is no key between the left shift and the Z, and
  the backspace and return keys are oversize.
Unlike the AT 84 key keyboard, the Escape is in the correct place, and the
  backspace key is oversize.
Unlike the AT 101 key keyboard, the control and escape keys are in the correct
 place and the function keys go down the left side (and most theologians agree 
 that is where God intended they be -- "Thou Shalt Not Place Thy Function Keys
 Across The Top Of Thy Keyboards").

I've got three Northgate keyboards, and wouldn't trade them for any other.

And my keyboard can beat up your keyboard!  So there!

Tom Almy
toma@tekgvs.labs.tek.com
Standard Disclaimers Apply