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Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!RICK@mit-mc
From: RICK%mit-mc@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Why are micro keyboards braindamaged?
Message-ID: <2045@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 11-Jun-83 14:17:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.2045
Posted: Sat Jun 11 14:17:00 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 13-Jun-83 12:17:38 EDT
Lines: 25

From:  Richard P. Wilkes 

Radio Shack recently introduced its Model IV computer.
According to one of the persons responsible for the DOS, Radio
Shack decided not to include a full ASCII keyboard because it
would have been "too confusing" for the end users.  Actually,
I think that answer was given by one of the people responsible
for the design because he couldn't think of any legit reason.

I have had the "pleasure" of teaching several secretary type
how to use Unix.  Most had no trouble.  However, the one that
had a Model III without the full ASCII keyboard had more
problems.  Seems she could never remember that  
 was |.  

I doubt that the cost was a consideration here since they had
the keyboard, keyboard plate, and keycaps redesigned.  They
even added a control key (replacing the  
 combination to get ^x).  They at least recognize that
there ARE control codes, but forgot about little things like
ESCAPE (shift-uparrow?) {}'s (try C when you have to use a
three key combination for the braces!), ~^|\...  

That is one of the reasons I decided to forget the Model IV
and get a MAX80. -r