From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Path: news.gmane.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail From: Tim Johnson Newsgroups: gmane.emacs.help Subject: Re: ESC vs Meta for shifted keys Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2018 07:50:51 -0800 Organization: AkWebsoft Message-ID: <20180415155051.GD31322@mail.akwebsoft.com> References: <86tvsiaoe3.fsf@zoho.com> <86k1t970os.fsf@zoho.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: blaine.gmane.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Trace: blaine.gmane.org 1523807374 8487 195.159.176.226 (15 Apr 2018 15:49:34 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@blaine.gmane.org NNTP-Posting-Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2018 15:49:34 +0000 (UTC) User-Agent: Mutt/1.9.4 (2018-02-28) To: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Original-X-From: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sun Apr 15 17:49:30 2018 Return-path: Envelope-to: geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org Original-Received: from lists.gnu.org ([208.118.235.17]) by blaine.gmane.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1f7juE-00028o-GJ for geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org; Sun, 15 Apr 2018 17:49:30 +0200 Original-Received: from localhost ([::1]:51592 helo=lists.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1f7jwL-0001qe-Ar for geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org; Sun, 15 Apr 2018 11:51:41 -0400 Original-Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::10]:50994) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1f7jvd-0001p2-I5 for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Sun, 15 Apr 2018 11:50:58 -0400 Original-Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1f7jva-0007aX-H3 for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Sun, 15 Apr 2018 11:50:57 -0400 Original-Received: from tjohnson.mtaonline.net ([64.4.232.191]:37954) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1f7jva-0007ZD-6t for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Sun, 15 Apr 2018 11:50:54 -0400 Original-Received: by linus (Postfix, from userid 1000) id BEBB824001D; Sun, 15 Apr 2018 07:50:51 -0800 (AKDT) Mail-Followup-To: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <86k1t970os.fsf@zoho.com> X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.2.x-3.x [generic] [fuzzy] X-Received-From: 64.4.232.191 X-BeenThere: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.21 Precedence: list List-Id: Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Original-Sender: "help-gnu-emacs" Xref: news.gmane.org gmane.emacs.help:116525 Archived-At: * Emanuel Berg [180414 17:01]: > Tim Johnson wrote: > > > I have some ergonomic issues with hands and > > fingers. Often, using ESC cuts down > > on stretching. > > You have some different keyboard than > mine then. Probably. I've used compact keyboards for years. Started with small-key 80% (tenkeyless), then graduated to a Happy Hacker Lite2 which is a 60% with standard-size keys. On such a footprint, ESC is a row closer. I now use a Z-88 compact mechanical, where I swap the ESC so it is closer (and on mechanicals, it is also easier to physically swap the key). I alternate the z-88 with a qisan magicforce 60% which I've xmodmap'ped the heck out of. Since I use vim and MC for my system work and have used it as such for as long as I have used emacs, ESC is a natural. And of course, C-[ is a very easy reach when one has the control key right next to one's pinky (as God intended the control key to be located). I suffer from basal joint arthritis on both hands which makes using my thumbs problematic. Furthermore, one may map ESC - differently than Alt - . Whooppee more key combos! And lastly, using ESC means that one need not press all chars at once, but can do so sequentially. IOWS, ESC is a leader, not a modifier, or so that's how I think of it. "Each to his own and each's own is different" -- Alaskus Curmudgeous > My Meta key, which is the Alt key according to > the keyboard manufacturer, involves some 2 cm > horizontal movement with the thumb, from right > to left (perhaps I should estimate it to one > "inch" instead :)) > > To hit the Esc key OTOH involves a huge leap of > hand over several keys, and this movement also > dislocates the hand from typing > "asdf" position. > > -- > underground experts united > http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573 -- Tim Johnson http://www.akwebsoft.com, http://www.tj49.com