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A look back: WordPerfect on DOS (2023)

(technicallywewrite.com)
32 points TMWNN | 2 comments | 01 Apr 25 21:08 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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zabzonk ◴[01 Apr 25 21:54 UTC] No.43551726[source]▶
As a function key hater - hated it. WordStar for me!

Does anyone use function keys for word processors on modern interfaces? As far as I can see they are all used for media/screen controls.

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keyle ◴[01 Apr 25 23:12 UTC] No.43552273[source]▶
As a function key lover - what do you hate about keys whose function is to perform a function?
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zabzonk ◴[02 Apr 25 00:12 UTC] No.43552565[source]▶
Takes me away from the main keyboard - I much prefer Ctrl-X rather than Fn-X. And as I asked before, do you still use function keys with modern interfaces? And if so, which one(s)?

And have you ever seen (or used) one of the insane keyboards that were used to manage IBM mainframes and super-minis?

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1. keyle ◴[02 Apr 25 00:37 UTC] No.43552690[source]▶
I did in fact, used AS/400 growing up in my mum's office and then later as an internship. And it was so powerful.

With muscle memory, you could just F2, F5, F3 combos, press tab twice and start typing [1]. The systems used were the precursor to SAP.

Function keys are really powerful. Ctrl+x works, but do these type of ctrl+letter shortcuts all day and you're guaranteed some wrist problems in a few years [2].

As a software engineer, I still put start debug on F5, end debug on F8 and used most of the other keys as well. It's interesting because that comes from my early days as a developer in DOS and then Windows. I now work on macOS though. One of the first things I change on macOS is having permanently the function keys active.

[1] arguably the main issue today is our reliance of graphical UI for repetitive work. The fact that you have to look and drag the mouse before clicking and then move your hands to your keyboard to actually type words, is insanely poor.

[2] if you're referring to the `fn` key on modern keyboard, we're then in agreeance, these are awful.

replies(1): >>43552902 #
2. zabzonk ◴[02 Apr 25 01:23 UTC] No.43552902[source]▶
Well, my experience with an IBM operators console was back in the mid-80s with a twin 4381 setup. It was sometimes more convenient for me to set up a big print job at the main site which had a high performance printer (I actually wrote a multi-site print spooling service in ReXX earlier, but it was more efficient for big jobs (ha-ha for UK readers) to execute them directly).

Anyway, my experience - I am in Linda's office - Linda (system manager) is not in yet, the system console is just convenient:

Me: set up job, using normal keyboard commands, with my usual login, no special privileges.

Linda: (just comes in) What you doing?

Me: Don't get your knickers in a twist. And can you make me a coffee?

Linda: Aargh! OK (we were friends), but don't press Button-B!

One of my many problems with function keys. Button-B would probably just have requested an operator to unmount a disk (or whatever), but who knows.