I now have a sketchy view of how other emacs users are dealing with
keyboard layout issues on apple hardware. Being one of the oldest
open source software it is, it seems that emacs usage style has
become somewhat fragmented. Having converted to emacs rather
recently (5 yrs. ago), I just got used to using control keys as where
they are. Personally, I also find it easier to use option keys as
the meta key rather than ESC or command keys. I use control keys and
option keys on both sides of the keyboard.
So I guess there may not be much demand for the customized keyboard
layout for apple laptops. I was hoping that if there were sufficient
interests, we might be able to commission building a custom designed
replacement keyboard for powerbook/ibook to some taiwanese keyboard
manufacturing companies. Oh well… If any of you are interested,
please let me know.
keyboards before the ps/2 era came along. I do that with all my
Like the original poster, I use the right control key. I’m just lost
without a right control key. It’s a habbit of course, but once you’re
used to it, it’s hard to change. Things like C-x C-f, C-a, C-e, C-g
just seem to go easier with two hands.
Ruben
Yeah, most of those would be awkward even using Caps L… I hadn’t
really thought about that (I use a dvorak layout, and x, f, and g can
all be reached with the right hand, and a and e aren’t at all
difficult to hit using just the left and Caps L.). Just trying to
hit right control is really awkward for me on the standard mac keyboard.
So I guess there may not be much demand for the customized keyboard
layout for apple laptops. I was hoping that if there were sufficient
interests, we might be able to commission building a custom designed
replacement keyboard for powerbook/ibook to some taiwanese keyboard
manufacturing companies. Oh well… If any of you are interested,
please let me know.
best,
daesan
Feel free to create a dominant assurance contract as an investment
opportunity to manifest exactly that!
GNU emacs builds a mac bundle right out of CVS. It is fully GUI’d,
has clipboard support, etc. Works well. See the readme in the “mac”
subdir.
–
_why: zenspider’s most intense moments of solice are immediately
following the slaughter […]
_why: that topknot’s the only thing keeping a lid on the righteous anger
bricolage: yeah, that and his flagrant obsession with dvorak
For all you emacs/PowerBook users, how do you live with your
PowerBook? I’ve been thinking about buying a powerbook for four
years now but didn’t only because using emacs key bindings seems
extremely awkward on Apple’s laptops. On the lower left side of
Been using it for years. Never had any trouble with it at all.
I had a harder time a number of years ago going from a Sun
keyboard with the control key where everyone’s got the capsLock
key these days to a keyboard with the control key on the
bottom left.
I actually had expected someone would build/sell a customized
PowerBook keyboards tailored for emacs users by now… I am confused
You can control the keyboard layout. Is it worth it? You’d
end up screwing up everytime you used a ‘normal’ keyboard.
For the same reason, I keep customizations of emacs itself
to a minimum, too.
With the introduction of MacBook Pro and near ubiquitousness of WiFi
connection, my desire for a laptop couldn’t have been higher. Can
anybody who share this dilemma comment on this?
I love my PB G4 15". Just got an Intel iMac, and will eventually
replace the G4 pbook with an Intel machine, but not yet.
For those of you who think I’m a total nut for expecting Apple to
solve my person problem, emacs key bindings have been supported in
Kind of. You’ll probably hate the fact that the trackpad
only has a single button even more than anything the keyboard
can do to you. (There are some things you can do to help
with that, too - SideTrack, an extension, helps a lot). If
I’m going to be working on the machine for more than a little
while, I plug in a small external mouse (with scrollwheel and
two buttons).
I guess we really need some central repository of information for Mac
OS X emacs users… In the mean time, you might want to refer to http://www.macosxhints.com
Although I’m not a big emacs user, previously, when working with a
Powerbook at my desk, I just plugged in my external keyboard Kinesis Advantage2 Ergonomic Keyboard | Kinesis Keyboards and Mice in and sat the Powerbook up
on some kind of stand to bring the screen up to the right height.
I understand this isn’t an option when you have to be mobile, but I’m
fortunate that most of my work happens at my desk.
What was a pain for me is that “Command” (or “clover”, or “apple”) key.
GNU/Linux apps want a control key, but Apple apps want that command
key. Constantly remapping back and forth is unacceptable.
What was a pain for me is that “Command” (or “clover”, or “apple”)
key.
GNU/Linux apps want a control key, but Apple apps want that command
key. Constantly remapping back and forth is unacceptable.
I have an Applescript which remaps the command and option keys for
switching
btw. a mac and a windows keyboard. Reply off-list if you would like
me to
send it to you.
–
Daryl
“We want great men who, when fortune frowns, will not be discouraged.”
– Colonel Henry Knox, 1776
Sorry for the late reply, I was no longer expecting replies on this
thread.
My problem really is about the missing right side control/option keys
on powerbook’s keyboard layout. From other people’s reply, I found
out that usage styles of emacs have fragmented quite a bit. In my
case, I heavily use right side control/option keys. To press Ctrl-a,
for example, I use my right small finger to reach control key on the
right and press a with my left small finger.
That’s why I have difficulties with apple’s laptops. I find apple’s
desktop keyboard pleasant to use.
But I guess you use left control/option keys only mostly? Many emacs
people on this list seem to so.
Thanks for the reply, it’s very interesting to hear about people’s
different usage style of emacs!
I have an Applescript which remaps the command and option
keys for switching btw. a mac and a windows keyboard.
I don’t understand what good would that do. I still need the
alt/option/meta key (since we are talking about emacs here).
What I’d tried doing for a little while was swapping the control
and command keys using:
System Prefs --> Keyboard and Mouse --> Keyboard tab -->
Modifier Keys…
(I’m guessing your Applescript does something similar to
that, but maybe with the touch of a key-combination?)
Anyhow, sorry for getting off-topic – recall from my post that
I’m using that special ergo Contoured keyboard and not the
built-in Powerbook keyboard. It gives me 2 easy-to-reach
special keys: those can be mapped to either control & alt, or
else command & alt.
Now, what would be nice (I think) would be if there was some
global Cocoa/Carbon setting to make all Apple apps listen to
the control key instead of the command key. Then the whole
thing would be uniform, and you could hop from emacs to
Firefox to Preview to whatever without missing a beat.
