Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!think!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!lavaca.uh.edu!jane!bchs1b
From: bchs1b@jane.uh.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Northgate keyboards / ZEOS question
Message-ID: <5664.25e84915@jane.uh.edu>
Date: 26 Feb 90 03:07:32 GMT
References: <1990Feb24.001031.14508@agate.berkeley.edu> <2305@ultb.isc.rit.edu>
Organization: University of Houston
Lines: 41

In article <2305@ultb.isc.rit.edu>, cms2839@ultb.isc.rit.edu (C.M. Stuntz) writes:
> In article <1990Feb24.001031.14508@agate.berkeley.edu> tdoi@tsunami.Berkeley.EDU (Takeshi Doi) writes:
>>Does anyone know if the ZEOS enhanced keyboards with the function keys
>>on the left have the same 'feel' and noise as the Northgate/IBM?
> 
> 				i have a Zeos keyboard ( i'm typing on
> it right now ) , and i like it better than any other keyboard i've tried
> .. i'm not certain whether or not you would , though . the Zeos keyboards
> do have tacticle and audible feedback . i've never tried a Northgate
> keyboard , but i can compare them to IBM's keyboards . the feel of the
> keyboard is somewhat softer -- it takes a little less force to depress
> the key , and the tactile feedback ( the " click " that you feel when
> the keyswitch engages ) is softer . the audible feedback is less sharp
> than the IBM , too . it's a mechanical sound , but not quite the biting
> pop that IBM's emit . 

I have been fortunate enought to have a real IBM, a Northgate Omnikey 102
and a Zeos keyboard all available on different systems to use. My choice of
keyboards is the Northgate. The feel of the IBM is good, but a little firm
and loud for my taste. Anyway I really want the function keys on the side
because I am mostly a Wordperfect user and that works the best for me, my
fingers are trained to find those keys and I don;t have to move them to
hit them like I do when the function keys are on top.
`Both the Northgate and the Zeos have function keys on the side. They are both
very nice keyboards with a lite tactile touch so you know that you hit the
keys. Neither are mushy keyboards which I hate. The Northgate has a slightly
louder keyclick, but not obnoxious. Both are fine. The major reason I like the
Northgate over the Zeos is the placement of the Ctrl, Shift, Alt keys 
together at the left side. This is the exact same placement of the original
IBM AT (or XT) keyboard to which my fingers are permanently entrained. I have
a clone at home with the same setup. Therefore I find the Zeos difficult
because the Alt and Caps lock keys are changed. That is my only complaint.
If it will be your only keyboard you will get used to it quickly. If you
work on different keyboards, get the one where the setup matches between the
systems. The Zeos is like the IBM enhanced 102, the Northgate is like the old
84 key keyboard but with additional keys. Both are really good and better than
any other keyboard I have tried on about 50 different clones.

mike benedik
University of Houston
Benedik@UH.EDU