25 Aug
2004
25 Aug
'04
8:40 p.m.
At 09:05 26/08/2004, you wrote:
OK, this one is bound to get a few responses:
List the best keyboards you have ever used. You might like the feel,
number of
function keys, layout (let's not forget Dvorak or more esoteric designs) or
pure keyboard<->computer love (you might really get off on Vaxen).
1: Like you, the IBM Model M - I'm also including modern imitations such as
the Unicomp I'm using now, which sounds & feels just like the original.
2: is a Wyse kb, I forget the model number, just it was (as best I recall)
quite pleasant to type on.
3: would have to be the TRS-80 Model 102, very nice keyboard considering
the 1/2 A4 (Letter to you Americans) sized layout
4: BBC Model B - similar to the Tandy in feel. The layout's a bit screwy,
but once you get used to it its very comfortable
5: Sinclair QL - Not a nice keyboard, but the one I grew up with.
I'm a great fan of dedicated keys, and function
keys on the left. Whoever
decided to put the out of reach at the top of the keyboard needs their head
examining!
Hmm - I'm ambivalent about that sort of thing. I don't really mind where
they are, so long as they're somewhere... Besides, modern PC keyboard are
quite wide enough without adding a couple more columns of keys down the
left-hand side...
There must have been some stonking keyboards attached
to more vintage
hardware. I'd love to know about them (if that doesn't sound a bit weird!).
The Sharp MZ-80K had a similar keyboard to the PET-2001, but uniquely
worse. Whilst the PET needed very careful keypressing, at least the keys
didn't stick up or down if you didn't hit them exactly square on the top...
The later CBM PET keyboards were quite good, but suffer badly if not used
regularly. The 8000 series has to have one of the few keyboard which can be
made to recover by repeatedly hammering a duff key.