Happy hacking

[bsdcat]

When I was installing OpenBSD on the laptop, I naturally set up the keyboard to my liking: Dvorak, with Caps Lock remapped to Ctrl (incidentally, I can't find a solid history of the Ctrl key, and where it was placed historically, online - but suffice to say that having a Ctrl key there predates my use of computer keyboards). This was fine - more

Comments

[ehowton]

My buddy drax0r swears by the Model-M. We've been stockpiling them from collections we find every now and again - I'll have to send him that link to the SpaceSaver! I prefer the 2-Gen IBM (What they're now calling the 'Preferred Pro') and use that at my office when I'm not on my Sun box (the Type-6 is seriously nice, despite the case being a little on the light side) but use the last-generation (non-slim) mac keyboard on KVM at home, which I quite enjoy.

The keyboard is very important and often overlooked. I'm pleased you're now working comfortably.

[pallmalls]

I had a box full of seventeen original Model-Ms get destroyed in a basement flood years ago.

I've long-since preferred Sun Type-5 and Type-6 keyboards, though, so no great loss...

[indigo_veil]

Thomas and I had conversations about keyboards many years ago, and we totally agree with you. the old skool ibm keyboards are definitely the best.

[pallmalls]

I know as far back as the DEC VT52 (and continuing all the way up through the entire VT series, even to the LK-201 and LK-401 keyboards that could be used on a VT or a DEC workstation), the Control key was to the left of "A". However, it was to the far left of "A", as Caps Lock was between Crtl and "A".

For systems that predated upper/lower case, there was a Ctrl key and no Caps Lock at all, and it was usually a square key directly to the left of the "A". I have an old Perkin-Elmer 550 terminal around here somewhere with such a layout. Other layouts placed it to the left of the space bar, since there was nothing else there anyways. Hell, some even had a Tab key between Ctrl and "A".

So there really is no "one true location" for either the Ctrl or Caps Lock keys. It's just a matter of ergonomic preference.

[terwilliger]

Wow I didn't know you were a dvorak guy. I'm one of those goofballs as well.

As for keyboards I'm not a fan of the IBM "ka-ching" keyboards. I personally like KeyTronic, though for a new(ish) keyboard I use the Apple Pro everywhere. ;-)

[cantordust]

I don't have enough memory power in my head to store the names of computers. But I do remember using my granddad's not-a-laptop back when he worked for IBM in the early 80's. It was this giant briefcase-suitcase looking thing. You opened huge clasps similar to those you'd find on a guitar case and the keyboard would flip and reveal a screen about 6 inches wide and 4 inches tall.

All that to say, I remember the control key on that sucker being over by the caps lock.