24 May
2024
24 May
'24
4:32 p.m.
> Besides nobody fully comprehending what
"FIRST" really means, . . .
> "The Altair was just an obscure predecessor; the personal computer was invented
by Steve Jobs!" :-)
> "How can you call it a 'Personal Computer' with no mouse or
Windoze?" :-)
On Fri, 24 May 2024, Don R wrote:
Well the Xerox Alto had a three button mouse, making
it “extra” personal. ;)
You can put significant effort into creating an unambiguous definition.
But, SOMEBODY can find an example that doesn't apply that still meets the
definition.
Using the argument that Roberts was the first to CALL it a "personal
computer", means that the "MINI-Computer" was invented by a DEC marketing
person.
Relatively early (NOT "FIRST") PC mice, such as Logitech's had three
buttons.
I have heard conflicting stories about why Apple put only one button on
their mouse:
1) It would be too confusing for the user, including the need to look away
from the screen to see which mouse button is being pushed
2) Difficulty of explaining which button is which, and getting user
comprehension of such, in writing documentation
3) Jef Raskin's concept that the system should KNOW what is wanted, so
there is no need for more than one.
. . .
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com