Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!cca!decvax!harpo!seismo!rochester!ritcv!mjl
From: mjl@ritcv.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Why are micro keyboards braindamaged?
Message-ID: <403@ritcv.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-Jun-83 10:59:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: ritcv.403
Posted: Fri Jun 10 10:59:01 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jun-83 11:53:51 EDT
Lines: 16

One of the reasons I've never seriously considered buying a home
computer is the abominable keyboards one finds on most micros.  I'm not
talking about the mechanical characteristics; I don't expect superb
craftmanship when the entire system may cost under $600.  What really
irks me is the inability to use the full ASCII character set.

It can't be that the cost of keyboard encoders, as most low end micros
do support special codes for such things as block graphics and cursor
movement.  What I've never understood is the inability to use these for
the weird but indispensable characters we've all come to love (like ~,
`, {, }, and our old friend \).

If anyone has informed (or even uninformed) reasons for the lack of a
full code, please let me know.

Mike Lutz {seismo,allegra}!rochester!ritcv!mjl