Just making a guess here, but I'll bet the pad
printing is less likely to wear off if it's off to one
corner. Modern keyboards ARE junky. I'll bet you can't
find any modern example of a double-shot molded keytop
keyboard.
--- Sark <ian_primus_at_yahoo.com> wrote:
> Ever notice that on modern keyboards, the letters on
> the keys are not
> in the middle of the key? They are off to the left.
> This is something
> that has always kind of annoyed me. I like the way
> the older keyboards
> were made, like on the VT100 terminal. Not only did
> they have real
> switches and a great feel, but the letters were
> right there in the
> middle of the key, where they should be. Not only
> that, but the labels
> on these old keyboards actually went all the way
> through the key - it
> was made of two different colors of plastic. This
> way, the letters
> wouldn't wear off. It's obvious why they changed the
> key switches - to
> make the keyboard cheaper. That and some people are
> weird and don't
> like the wonderful sounds that the older keyboards
> made. (I hate quiet
> keyboards...) But why were the letters moved? Was
> this cheaper or
> easier? Or did Apple suddenly do it and then
> everyone else followed
> suit? <grin> Does anyone know what computer started
> using this style
> of keycap labeling?
>
> Just curious.
>
> Ian Primus
> ian_primus_at_yahoo.com
>
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Received on Sat Nov 23 2002 - 21:37:00 GMT