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