30 Jan
2023
30 Jan
'23
6:03 p.m.
I don't think that portrayal of Xerox's view on the mouse is correct. Much of
Interlisp and all of Smalltalk was mouse-based and Interlisp was never designed for (only)
use by youth.
Trackpads are fine except for detail work. Touchscreens are bound by touch targets needing
to be finger-sized. The trackpoint works well if you never want to take your hands off the
keyboard at all. The mouse/trackball just sit in the middle of the graph of
connivence/precision.
..
--
Kenton A. Hoover
kenton(a)nemersonhoover.org
shibumi(a)mail.marchordie.org
+1 415 830 5843
On Jan 22, 2023, 05:14 -0800, Chris via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>rg>, wrote:
Originally as I understand it the mouse as a product
of Xerox was intended not so much for general use but to aid youngins and disabled people
with their usage. And despite the never-mousers, predominantly linux fanatics, it's an
indispensable tool for nearly everyone. There was a stint where I favored trackballs. But
it's a toss up as to which is more natural and faster. Each may excel in cwrtain
applications.
Then there's the touch screen (and touch pad). I find touch pads superior, make that
way superior to that horrific track point used on old Thinkpads. But again that'a me.
Touch screens, my hatred for them grows almost daily. They have their place. And for
portable devices they're largely the only game in town. But I often wish I at least
had the option of a mouse or something close.
Is this an example of where older tech beats the new tech? Or do aspects of the newer
tech just await refinement?