Re: HP Prime screenshots Message #22 Posted by Mike Morrow on 16 May 2013, 11:01 p.m., in response to message #21 by Massimo Gnerucci (Italy)
Quote:
It was gross incompetency in ergonomics that allowed the /x-+ keys to be moved right.
I believe that was forced by the radical keyboard re-organization that was necessary by the unfortunate choice of landscape layout for the Voyagers.
When the post-Voyager HP machines returned to the more natural portrait configuration, the ENTER and /x-+ keys should have been re-united. It doesn't really matter which side, as long as all five keys are on the same side. Personally, I find as a right-handed user that the right side of the keyboard is the best for these keys. I have no idea why HP in 1971 decided these five keys should ever have been on the left side, given that only about 20 percent of the world population is left-handed. Perhaps it was an evil left-handed (forgive the tautology) HP manager's conspiracy. :-)
I started with limited use of somebody else's HP-35 as an EE undergrad in 1972, and got my own HP-67 in 1977. I've experienced all variations from the time they were introduced. All except the unique new HP Prime layout. The Prime will soon be available, and its ENTER and /x-+ layout is perfection for the very first time in HP history, at least for right-handed people!
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