Keyboards & F keys

[Jane Van Tassel 101233.342@xxxxxxxx]

I too could not do without two sets of F keys, and I'm grateful for the
informative postings on this topic.

I'm using a "5001" keyboard which happens also to incorporate a calculator
(though the calculator doesn't have any function related to the keyboard as
input device, I use it only when I would otherwise reach for a $4 pocket
calculator anyway); it also has four extra "diagonal" keys at the corners of the
arrow pad, which don't work very systematically with XyWrite. Slightly more
useful, it has an extra * key between the right-hand ALT and CTRL keys which I
find very handy in a disorganized sort of way.

My keyboard wouldn't satisfy you perfectionists out there -- it's noisy, for one
thing, but probably it's noisy in some way that would offend the click
enthusiasts -- but it's served me through a 386 to my present 486 and will
presumably take me down the road a ways.

I bought it about 5-6 years ago (my recollection is that it was German-made,
though I wouldn't swear to it) from one of those catalog-in-the-mail outfits
that are barely one step up from the Magic Chemical to Keep Your Cat from Peeing
on the Marigolds style. I'm sorry I can't remember the price, though it
wouldn't have much informative value now; but whatever it was, it was downmarket
because we couldn't have afforded anything else. 

It's had its fair share of cat hairs (the current cat, no. 3 since we got this
keyboard, was in her young days particularly fond of walking on the keys while I
was working) and (yes, I confess) it's also got an overlay of cigarette tar; but
so far it's still in there pitching. If you're looking around and, like me are
on a tight budget, watch your mailbox. You could do worse.

Cheers,
						Eric Van Tassel