Re: PgUp/PgDown - why Shift???

["Guillermo S. Romero / Familia Romero" <famrom idecnet com>]

jnelson lexonia com (2001-03-08 at 1545.27 -0500):
> > > NeXT and Apple got it right IMO.
> > They also had control over the keyboard to add an extra "command" key,
> > which we can't count on.
> Now this is very true, both Apple and NeXT had control over the keyboard,
> however don't most keyboards today have an "alt" or "windows" (blech) key?

Some, maybe, all, no. And some of us, are already using it for other
things, ie window manager tasks, so no too (now that I have found a
job for them, and that I can handle windows via keyboard, it would be
a step back ;] ).

> And even if an older "non-alt" keyboard were being used doesn't it make
> more sense to allow the user the flexibility to select the keyboard
> mapping from a set of radio buttons?  That way both alt and non-alt
> keyboards could be accomodated.

Hehehe, X is not just two options, mapping is not just that, I have
Hyper, others have Meta, the other guy will have whatever he wants.

> I guess its easier to just use CTRL and have done with it.  I really loath
> using CTRL as a command key though.  It makes no sense in a Linux
> environment where terminal interaction (e.g. "vi" editor, terminal
> communications, emacs, etc) rely on that CTRL key.

IIRC, MacOS does not use Alt to open menus, but MS Windows does. An
app that does this under Linux is NS4, all is done via Alt. On the
other hand, how do you open a menu without a mouse in MacOS (or in
NS4)? How would it be opened if GNOME uses Alt instead of Ctrl?
Alt+Space and then single keys (the underlined letters)? And what
would happen in consoles if the running app wants Alt+Space (or the
keycombo that becomes elected as "go to menu")? Tricky land. :[

GSR