From: Charles Richmond <richmond@ev1.net>
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers
Subject: Favorite Keyboard (Was: Does the word "mainframe" still have a meaning?)
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2000 19:50:18 -0700
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jmfbahciv@aol.com wrote:
> 
> In article <964033561.976160@server16.cable.com>,
>    "P Linnane" <plyons@ca-unlimited.com> wrote:
> >
> >     [snip...]     [snip...]     [snip...]
> >
> >Hmm . . . what keyboard is your favorite ?
> >My personal preference is the action on the 3270 terminal
> >and s/34 (solid, a bit clunky, Selectricish - no RSI worries)
> 
> <snip question I can't answer>
> 
> My most favorite "keyboard" was really a terminal (why
> they've separated the two is beyond my old fartiness).
> DEC called it a VT06 (I don't remember the real
> manufacturer.)  And, one of the best things about that
> terminal, besides the usable-ness of the keyboard) is
> that the video screen was very easy on the eyes...green
> rather than that damnedable blue that VT05s and VT50s
> had...  I know, I know...VT05s weren't blue but they
> were to my eyes.  In addition, I didn't see the screen
> flicker no matter how many flourescent(sp?) bulbs were
> above my head.
> 
I used to compare keyboards to the IBM Selectric keyboard, which
had a crisp action and some spring-loaded fight-back.  Of all the
terminals I have used (maybe a dozen or so), I liked the DecWriter
keyboards the best.  They had a nice, tight, crisp action and the
key spacing was good for me...also there were *no* misplaced keys
like the VT220 keyboard (and VT420 keyboard) had.  I hated hitting
"<" or ">" when reaching for the left shift key.  And the key 
between the double-quote/single-quote key and the "enter" key gave
me fits.  (I think this key was the "\" and "|" key.)

The worst keyboard I ever used was the VT220 (VT420) keyboard.  The
action was stiff and the keys a little too closely spaced...*not*
forgetting the oddly placed keys.  And each keypress had a disgusting
sort of chalky feel...like the feeling you get when chalking up a 
pool que.  The keyboard had a sway-back sort of shape...I used to call
it "Ken Olson's lumbar support".

-- 
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|     Charles and Francis Richmond     <richmond@plano.net>   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

######

From: lwinson@bbs.cpcn.com (lwin)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers
Subject: Re: Favorite Keyboard (Was: Does the word "mainframe" still have a meaning?)
Date: 21 Jul 2000 02:06:27 GMT
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My favorite was the Selectric, without question.  Best balance and feel.

######

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From: Neil Franklin <neil@franklin.ch.remove>
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers
Subject: Re: Favorite Keyboard (Was: Does the word "mainframe" still have a meaning?)
Date: 22 Jul 2000 17:33:47 +0200
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Charles Richmond <richmond@ev1.net> writes:

> jmfbahciv@aol.com wrote:
> >
> >    "P Linnane" <plyons@ca-unlimited.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >Hmm . . . what keyboard is your favorite ?
> > >My personal preference is the action on the 3270 terminal
> > >and s/34 (solid, a bit clunky, Selectricish - no RSI worries)

Never met them. But I have to second IBM keyboards in general. Of
course I have one of them (the one shipped with the last PC/ATs before
the PS/2 came) connected to my otherwise Taiwan-mix PC.

Alarmingly I have heard claims that the new IBM/Lexmark keyboards are
not like that any more. Looks like I have got to go collecting old
ones for safe future supply.


> > My most favorite "keyboard" was really a terminal (why
> > they've separated the two is beyond my old fartiness).

So one can select both individually.

Just imagine having to replace an nice IBM keyboard with some cheap
modern PC keyboard, just because you want to upgrade from an small old
screen to an new big one.


> > that the video screen was very easy on the eyes...green
> > rather than that damnedable blue that VT05s and VT50s

Yes, green text on black.

How anyone can stand this modern black text on white background stuff
used today is beyond me.


> key spacing was good for me...also there were *no* misplaced keys
> like the VT220 keyboard (and VT420 keyboard) had.  I hated hitting
> "<" or ">" when reaching for the left shift key.  And the key

That would be "<" if you get just the key, or ">" if you get it and
shift.

Extremely annoyingly this layout with that extra silly key (and
shortened shift key) is the international standard for all non-US
keyboard layouts. AARRGGGHHHH!!!


> The worst keyboard I ever used was the VT220 (VT420) keyboard.  The
> action was stiff and the keys a little too closely spaced...*not*
> forgetting the oddly placed keys.  And each keypress had a disgusting
> sort of chalky feel...like the feeling you get when chalking up a
> pool que.

Never had problems with the spacing, but the squidginess (particulalry
of the VT420 (and VAXstations)) is awfull.


--
Neil Franklin, neil@franklin.ch.remove http://neil.franklin.ch/
Nerd, Geek, Hacker, Unix Guru, Sysadmin, Roleplayer, LARPer, Mystic

######

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From: jata@aepiax.net (Julian Thomas)
Subject: Re: Favorite Keyboard (Was: Does the word "mainframe" still have a meaning?)
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In <6uu2dimb6s.fsf@chonsp.franklin.ch>, on 07/22/00 
   at 05:33 PM, Neil Franklin <neil@franklin.ch.remove> said:

>Alarmingly I have heard claims that the new IBM/Lexmark keyboards are not
>like that any more.

New IBM keyboards - not like the old.  For what you are used to go to
www.pckeyboards.com - the company was spun off from Lexmark when keyboards
got in the way of their printer business.
 
--
 Julian Thomas: jt . epix @ net  http://home.epix.net/~jt
 remove letter a for email (or switch . and @)
 In the beautiful Finger Lakes Wine Country of New York State!
 Boardmember of POSSI.org - Phoenix OS/2 Society, Inc 
http://www.possi.org
 -- --
 You said Windows was a Power Tool???