Hi all,
On Sunday, October 03, 1999, 6:53:50 AM (-5 GMT), Claude scribbled:
AM>> Attention to keyboard usability with respect to apps such as e-mail
AM>> clients are therefore well appreciated. Simply having a keyboard
AM>> shortcut available is not enough but the most commonly used ones should
AM>> be the simplest to use.
> Obvious, I think?
I don't think so. The single key shortcuts were largely sacrificed to
facilitate the quick search facility which uses these keys. My question
is, how often does the average user, use the quick search facility? I
don't know. I don't use it at all. :) How often does one wish to
navigate the message list and reply to messages? All the time. :)
Ironically, it's easier to start the quick search facility. Just start
typing and the quick search window is invoked. :( I'd have thought it
would have been more appropriate to invoke the quick search facility
with a keyboard combo or even a specific single key in order to free up
all those lettered keys for making single key shortcuts.
> Yes, I prefer it because it would be shift+sp, I don't have to look at
> the kbd to hit them. This is very different with PgUp/PgDw.
> Some would refuse a scroll-wheeled mouse free of charge, I would
> refuse a one year typist training, even free of charge :))))
Exactly. The hallmark of great usability involves ease of use with
whichever input device you prefer to use. :) The mouse-man as yourself
flourishes with TB because consistency is far easier to achieve, but the
keyboard user gets a bit frustrated and often wonders why things aren't
made a little more easy.
> Even with 'alt', they can't be used to go to next or previous post.
> The sp bar ability to scroll posts and to go to the next one is, for
> me, very convenient. I would like to have the possibility of making
> same thing in the reverse direction.
I agree. Space bar for page reading. Shift+spacebar for the reverse.
That would make the feature complete, consistent and intuitive. I see
with your concern. :)
AM>> It's Forte' Agent, a newsreader primarily but which may also be used as
AM>> an e-mail client. I was using it as my e-mail client before changing to
AM>> TB! and I still use it for newsgroups.
> So, I think it's a nice product. May I download it from anywhere?
You may visit the homepage and download it there at:
www.forteinc.com
AM>> It's keyboard shortcuts are well
AM>> thought out. Another app with well thought out keyboard shortcuts is
AM>> Opera. Very nice. Most common browsing functions are single key and are
AM>> placed on the keyboard in a fashion that makes them nicely accessible
AM>> for the given task. Opposing functions are mapped side by side and
AM>> different single keys are used instead of key combos which are in turn
AM>> reserved for less commonly done tasks.
> You seem to be a shortcut lover :)))
<Interjection> If you don't mind my saying so, it would help if you
separated your statements from mine with an empty line . It makes for
much easier reading and nicer presentation. </interjection>
Yes, I am a keyboard shortcut lover. I use them over the mouse if I can.
When going through mail I find it to be more efficient than using the
mouse once you have the shortcuts mastered. I have the shortcuts sorted
out but they are just, generally, relatively cumbersome, especially
those for the most commonly used functions.
> For me, I prefer to use a mouse and keep the shortcuts for very often
> used actions. In TB!, I think I use Ctrl+U and that's all!
In contrast, I use the mouse only when making configuration changes or
doing tasks that I uncommonly do and the keyboard shortcuts aren't at my
finger tips. I also use the mouse at times for scrolling when I get
tired of the alt+arrow combo, ie, when I wish to use one hand to read.
> I don't really think that the arrows, or the "scrolling sp bar" are
> shortcuts. I would rather call them navigation keys. Like my "reverse
> scrolling Shift+Sp ;-)))
Whatever. :-))) On technical terms I agree but they are usually all
lumped together and called keyboard shortcuts.
--
Regards,
-=Ali=-
>>> Useless Invention: Solar powered flashlight. <<<
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