RE: Old programmable keyboards located

[Harry Binswanger hb@xxxxxxxx]

> I'm new to programmable keyboards. Could someone explain why these
> Maxiswitch keyboards would be preferable to the Gateway Anykey keyboards?
> I'm just puzzled, because the Gateway ones seem to be available so much
> more cheaply.
I wish I had taken notes on the problems with the various kbds. I've gone
through maybe 5 in the last month, including an Anykey keyboard (which is a
later version of the Maxiswitch--made by same company). But, for my use,
there was some intractable problem. Maybe it was the same problem I had
with macro programs (like E-Z Macro): the inability to hold down a key to
get a repeat. Some of these things only work on key *release*. Since I want
to use control keys as cursor movement keys, this is unacceptable for me--I
have to be able to hold down, e.g., ctrl-j, and have the cursor move
continuously left.
I hesitate to disparage the Anykey kbd when I can't remember if that or
something else was the problem. But they are so cheap on e-bay ($19) that
you might want to buy one and try it.
Why programmable? Because I got into computers early enough that I know
programs like WordStar that were customizable (harder to customize than Xy,
though) and I want the old WordStar ctrl-y to delete a line in Windows
programs, like Eudora, as it does in Xy. I'm a touch typist, and I don't
want to lift up my fingers from the "home keys" to try and hit a backspace
key or an arrow key.

Harry Binswanger
hb@xxxxxxxx