From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: crossd at gmail.com (Dan Cross) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2020 13:13:19 -0400 Subject: [COFF] Knuth In-Reply-To: References: <80119d43-d76b-af34-c4e4-37af5ec723b0@gmail.com> Message-ID: On Mon, Aug 3, 2020 at 12:06 PM Nemo Nusquam wrote: > On 08/03/20 09:25, Clem Cole wrote: > > On Sun, Aug 2, 2020 at 10:22 PM Adam Sampson > > wrote: > > > > Nemo Nusquam > writes: > > > > > It does seem like a keyboard, albeit with unusual extra keys > around. > > > > It's one of the Logitech gaming keyboards - a G19 or something like > > that. The extra keys can be programmed with macros. > > > > > https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Programmable-Gaming-Keyboard-Display/dp/B001NXDBI6 > > > > Indeed, looks like a match. > > This begs the question: What is Knuth doing with a gaming keyboard? (Did > he miss his Sail Buckey-bits?) I'll bet the "gaming" aspect is immaterial to him and it's just a proxy for "a high quality keyboard". For many years now, his stated life's goal has been to "finish" TAOCP, which I imagine requires a _lot_ of typing on a daily basis. It's no secret that most consumer keyboards are garbage, so I imagine he opts for the higher-end models that are common among gamers simply for the better ergonomics and usability. This has personal resonance for me: I was having really serious problems with RSI (it was sufficiently uncomfortable that it woke me up at night sometimes) that are greatly attenuated since I invested in a Kinesis keyboard and an Evoluent Vertical Mouse. It took about a week to feel comfortable with the keyboard (and it's unique layout actually improved my typing considerably, so that when I use a "normal" keyboard, such as on my laptop, I'm both faster and make fewer mistakes). When I was in the US Marine Corps, an infantryman once told me that a US$200 pair of boots wasn't just an expensive pair of boots, but an investment in one's feet. I view the HCI equipment of one's computer setup similarly: Excellent displays, keyboards and mice are investments in one's ability to work comfortably and productively. - Dan C. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: