Re: C-f, C-b, C-n and C-p or right, left, down, up?

[Sven Utcke <utcke+news@informatik.uni-hamburg.de>]

"Daniel B." <dsb@smart.net> writes:

> Barman Brakjoller wrote:
> > 
> > >From the Emacs tutorial (C-h t):
> > 
> >  "...  We recommend learning C-b, C-f, C-n and C-p for three
> >  reasons.  First, they work on all kinds of terminals.  Second, once
> >  you gain practice at using Emacs, you will find that typing these
> > Control
> >  characters is faster than typing the arrow keys ..."
> > 
> > Is it worth it? 
> 
> Yes, but reconfigure your keyboard so that the Caps Lock key functions 
> as the control key.  (I'm assuming you're using a PC-style keyboard.)
> 
> Emacs control-character sequences were designed when the standard place 
> for the control key was just to the left of where the A key is (in the 
> US layout).

Well, considering where C-y is on an american keyboard (it's fine on a
German one, incidentially), makes one wonder if Emacs control
sequences where ever designed for anything but mnemonic value --- Most
of them certainly are in strange places.

I for one use the arrow keys where available, even after using Emacs
for 10 years, and while rarely using the mouse...

Sven
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