I start with the obvious:
Most modern PC keyboards have a numeric keypad. But there are a lot of notebooks or laptops (or macbook minis) without it.
I know thyt this is for a reason (sapce), but personally, I cannot respect these as complete computers – firstly, because the software I use professionally strongly relies on the numblock for shortcuts.
But I wonder if it might also be because my first computer was a CPC and not a C64 or ZX, which, as we all know, didn't feature a numpad. Could it be that my view on what a computer should be and what it should feature is still strongly influenced by the first member of the species I met...
What do you guys think? Do you share similar feelings about numpads?
Typing in all those listings with long strings of data values would have been a complete pain without a num keypad. You *had* to master touch typing on it, so I guess it really did affect my view. Nice point!
Quote from: Gryzor on 14:33, 05 January 22
Typing in all those listings with long strings of data values would have been a complete pain without a num keypad. You *had* to master touch typing on it, so I guess it really did affect my view. Nice point!
Ahah, this reminds me some good old times. I remember I redefined the dot key to "," character, and the enter key to type "DATA ". I seriously think typing those listings improved my overall patience with computers ! I was able to type approx. 1 page (2 columns) in 20-30 min.
Back about the numpad keys, nowadays I don't care much. I'm fine with laptop keyboards. I guess it's all about personal taste.
Quote from: norecess on 17:08, 05 January 22I remember I redefined the dot key to "," character, and the enter key to type "DATA ".
WTF? :o I did exactly the same when typing-in data listing! (enter = return + "data ") :D
What I really need are the cursor keys arranged like on the CPC 6128. I hate keyboards without them at this place.
Damn why didn't someone tell me of this trick 35 years ago!
Quote from: Prodatron on 17:39, 05 January 22What I really need are the cursor keys arranged like on the CPC 6128. I hate keyboards without them at this place.
YES! That as well! Cursor keys like this f.i. are a nightmare:
(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.TJAuraC3P2zcPamVrQa5MwHaEL%26pid%3DApi&f=1)
Quote from: Gryzor on 17:43, 05 January 22
Damn why didn't someone tell me of this trick 35 years ago!
We did not know you then. :)