From: jess@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Jess M Holle)
Subject: Re: More Defense of CLI (there, I changed the subject ... )
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 92 16:50:55 GMT

In article <TOMSTER.92Oct9212741@bigwpi.WPI.EDU> tomster@bigwpi.WPI.EDU (Thomas Richard Dibble) writes:
>   >Alt-<FX> is just as easy to type as Alt-<FN>.  

>Well, I consider myself a touch-typist.  I don't consider the ALT key
>to be the *easiest thing to hit, but it definitely isn't incredibly
>difficult, either.  I hit it with my thumb.

The real point here ought to be that you have to hit multiple keys to do
many operations which involve one key combination on the Mac.  Comm-Q 
pressed simultaneously is MUCH faster than pressing Alt, then F, then X
--which also involves WAITING for the file menu bar to appear--under
Windows.

>Great.  Through THIS again.  Listen:  in MS Windows, it is called 'Exit'.
>On the Mac, it is called 'Quit'.  Which should I reference it as?  As
>far as I can tell, we were talking about Windows here, since the Mac
>doesn't have an Alt key, much less menu-based shortcuts.  I think I was
>right in calling it 'Exit' rather than 'Quit'.

The problem here is that MS Windows programs DO NOT all call their 'Quit'
item 'Exit'.  I've seen it called 'Close', 'Exit', and 'Quit'.  The real
problem is that it destroys the already minimal usability of the Alt-F-X
combo.  I have used Windows MANY times and hit this combination while
looking at my work, rather than the menu bar, only to find that the program
HAD NOT quit.  This is VERY frustrating.

The same problem exists in Windows' Cntrl shortcuts.  At least these 
require only one key stroke, BUT they are USELESS since most the time 
they do not work as expected since no two programs (SLIGHT exageration) 
seem to agree on which key combination will work for Paste, etc.  This 
inconsistency costs me a lot of time.  I have to check the menus in EACH 
program that I use under Windows, MEMORIZE the key combinations (both Alt 
and Ctrl style), and then end up unable to use them, since I've forgotten 
half of the ones I needed.

On the Mac, Copy is ALWAYS Comm-C, nothing else.  In Windows, it is 
Ctrl-C or Ctrl-Shift-Del (something like this) or sometimes it doesn't 
even have a shortcut.  Having to read the menus, as I select them from 
the keyboard is much slower for me then just using the mouse, so Alt-F-X, 
etc. are of no use as well, since they are not consistent.

>because there is no extensive system of keyboarding on the Mac.  Many,
>many, many things can not be done on a keyboard.  I consider this a bug, not
>a feature.

At least for me, having to hit 3 keys in Windows HOPING that they lead to 
the correct command (do to the aforementioned lack of consistency) or 
reading the menus looking around for the right command as I hit a multitude 
of keys is MUCH slower than hitting the correct key combo on the Mac and 
substantially slower than a simple, SINGLE swipe of the mouse.  If you 
find that you want a key equivalent for an item which does not have one 
on the Mac, use ResEdit and add one of your choice (or change an existing 
one which you don't like).  I have yet to do this since at least the 
programs that I use provide key equivalents for everything that I wish 
to do often (or provide a built in facility to modify their own key 
equivalents).

Jess Holle
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.advocacy