From: asd@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Kareth)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
Subject: NEW KEYBOARD!! HURRAY!
Date: 30 Jul 92 03:45:03 GMT

Well, it looks like it's for real!  Looks like we're finally getting a
new, and slightly improved keyboard.  This information basically comes
straight out of the 3.0 UserGuide.  And for those who think this might
be vaporware, the new keys, and the alternate keys for old keyboards
is documented in a lot of places in the guide.  I doubt NeXT would
have gone to the trouble if it's not real!

----->

Unix folks: First and foremost!, we get back the \| key on the main
keyboard!!!!!  No more piece of crap backwards L return key!

Biggest change: Command key looks to be a new seperate key, about as
long as the space bar, and located just below it.  Very strange.  NeXT
seems to like to do a least one funked up weird ass thing with their
keyboards, and this is it!

Help keys:  where the Command keys used to be, are now two Help keys.
according to the Guide:

	The Help key should be used only for Help-clicking, which
	brings up help on the clicked object.

	The combination of Alternate and Control should be used only
	as a substitute for the Help key.  (This is necessary because some
	keyboards don't have a Help key.)

This looks to an addition NeXT is making for their new help system
that is in Workspace, and hoping folks use it for their programs.
Personally, I could have wished they'd left one Command key on one
side, and put the Help on the other, instead of putting a space bar
like Command key below the Space Bar.

Caps Lock: An honest to goodness capslock key located to the left of
the left Alternate key.  This is accomplished because the Space Bar is
shorter, only covering the space below the C to , key.

Numeric Keypad:  The numeric keypad is now JUST that, no weird extra
characters over there.  The + key is now two keys high,  and across
the top it's = / * - keys.

~ and ` keys:  Since these are no longer on the keypad, they are now
on a key to the right of the right Alternate key.

System Keys:  Remember the Sound, Power, and Light keys?  Well now
they are ROUND!!  Yes, you read that right, according to this diagram,
those keys are round!

We still have those ugly arrow symbols for the Tab, Delete, Shift, and
Return keys.  Come on NeXT, we can read!  Owell.

Two more suprises, if all those weren't enough for you.  The keyboard,
according to the figure if it is accurate, the keyboard isn't as wide!
Yup, that inch of blank keyboard at the top is now about as wide as
the border around the rest of the keyboard.  The NeXT emblem is now
located below the system keys.

Last Suprise: This one is PURE speculation since the diagram doesn't
show this.  At the top/back of the keyboard, there is an extension,
about a quarter inch or so that extends from there.  If you've seen
the Apple IIgs keyboard, it is similar to that, but not as wide.
Anyways, the suprise is that it looks quite possibly like the keyboard
cable may be plugged into the sides of this extension instead of
directly into the back of the keyboard.  And that the mouse might be
plugged into the other side! I sure hope this one is true!


Now the BAD NEWS:  No function keys!  For all those looking for these,
it doesn't look like they are going to be there, at least in this
keyboard design.

<-----

Well, now all there is to hope is that NeXT WILL be trading these new
keyboards with old ones, or at the least selling them to us, for a
decent price.

-k
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc