I was looking at servers on Sun's website (don't know why, because I don't have that kind of money) and I noticed they offer two kinds of keyboards, UNIX and Windows. What's the difference?
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Unix Keyboard
- Thread starter Benjamindaines
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Benjamindaines said:
I would guess that the Windows keyboard has a Windows button on it (for the start menu), and the UNIX keyboard is just a normal keyboard.
It probably has the control key back in the original location, where the CAPS Lock key is now. It may also has a double height return/enter key as the European keyboards still use and some keys arranged in the format that was prevalent prior to IBM PS/2 and its new style keyboard.
I've got some of these keyboards. Maybe a half dozen. They are the "old kind" made about 15 years ago that used a custom interface much like Apple's old keyborads did. The Sun mice where all optical back then too. Sun only started offing roller mice maybe 6 or 8 years ago.
Interesting the parallels between Sun and Apple. At one time I had both a "512K mac" with no hard drive and a Sun Workstation. Both machines were based on the M68000 processor but the Mac was minimalist and did all functions in software while the Sun was high-end with a 20" color display and a CPU box the size of a two drawer file cabinet and had loads of RAM and several SCSI disks. and Ethernet and Internet access.
BTW I doubt anyone under the age of about 50 could type of those UNIX Keyboards. IBM introduced the PC layout in about '82 or so that would be about 24 years ago. Their keyboard was so good "everyone" switched. I think they sold for $150 which was expensive even then but the quality is still un-matched. The old PC/AT keyboards had the feel of a Selectric typewriter -- these UNIX keyboard predate this old PC/AT keyboard
Interesting the parallels between Sun and Apple. At one time I had both a "512K mac" with no hard drive and a Sun Workstation. Both machines were based on the M68000 processor but the Mac was minimalist and did all functions in software while the Sun was high-end with a 20" color display and a CPU box the size of a two drawer file cabinet and had loads of RAM and several SCSI disks. and Ethernet and Internet access.
BTW I doubt anyone under the age of about 50 could type of those UNIX Keyboards. IBM introduced the PC layout in about '82 or so that would be about 24 years ago. Their keyboard was so good "everyone" switched. I think they sold for $150 which was expensive even then but the quality is still un-matched. The old PC/AT keyboards had the feel of a Selectric typewriter -- these UNIX keyboard predate this old PC/AT keyboard
I was just thinking about one those old, old keyboards that was part of the Lear-Siegler ADM-3A, which you can see at the link. I spent a lot of time using that generic keyboard as well as a number of DEC terminals before I got my first computer job, including the IBM 5250 block mode terminals, which had a typewriter style keyboard with command (function) keys.
Things were different back then but many terminals didn't have arrow keys and some had embedded arrow keys that required shift or control to make them work. The W, A, S, and D keys worked with some applications. Others required you to simply backspace and re-type everything, though everything was often an 80 (or 40) character line.
Things were different back then but many terminals didn't have arrow keys and some had embedded arrow keys that required shift or control to make them work. The W, A, S, and D keys worked with some applications. Others required you to simply backspace and re-type everything, though everything was often an 80 (or 40) character line.