Thinking about a better UI

Iain Hallam iain at bits.bris.ac.uk
Tue May 18 15:59:31 UTC 1999


> > They didn't mess it up. Windows just has two command keys: Ctrl and Alt.
> > Roughly speaking, Alt is for activating the window menu and Ctrl is for
> > doing things directly without going through a menu. I think this is very
> > useful.

> Yes it is.  The problem (I think) is that this is one modifier key
> short of what is needed, Apple and NeXT had 3 (in addition to shift).

As did the Amiga (actually, thinking about it, they had 4!) - Ctrl, Alt and
left and right "Amiga" keys, in about the same position as Windows 95 K/Bs
have their Windows keys.

> Maybe it's the best they could do with the hardware that was
> available, AFAIK, newer PCs have an additional 'Windows' key.

Unfortunately, the Windows keys only open the Start menu, while the Amiga
ones were used for menu shortcuts (R.Amiga-k usually for print, etc.). Amiga
users have found ways of connecting PC keyboards to Amigas, and now use the
handy Windows keys as Amiga key replacements.

- Iain Hallam.





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