Mostly the triple usage of each button, I find that concept super fascinating. I know we’ve kept some of it with the modifier keys but it’s not the same lol
I always preferred the C64C style keyboard where the graphics characters were in the top of the keycaps. This is my C64G (old breadbin style chassis but with C64C style colouring and keycaps):
Quick summary: You get the left graphics character with the Commodore key (bottom left corner), and the right character with Shift key. By pressing Commodore+Shift, you swap between upper case + graphics characters mode and the upper case + lower case mode, applying to the entire screen (so you can’t actually use the right graphics characters in that mode).
Fun thing: To switch to another text colour you press Ctrl + number keys, with 8 colours available there, just as in the VIC-20. However, there’s also another set of colours available with Commodore + number keys, for another 8 colours. I guess with Jack Tramiel’s penny pinching, they didn’t bother to mark those on the keys when making the next gen system.
i think its quadriple usage if you include upper case and lower case letters with shift. the graphix alternatives i believe used the commodore key + shift.
JustAnotherKay@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Mostly the triple usage of each button, I find that concept super fascinating. I know we’ve kept some of it with the modifier keys but it’s not the same lol
DmMacniel@feddit.org 1 month ago
One interesting fact about that board is that the shift lock actually locks in place once you pressed it and springs back up on the second press.
umbraroze@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I always preferred the C64C style keyboard where the graphics characters were in the top of the keycaps. This is my C64G (old breadbin style chassis but with C64C style colouring and keycaps):
Commodore 64G
Quick summary: You get the left graphics character with the Commodore key (bottom left corner), and the right character with Shift key. By pressing Commodore+Shift, you swap between upper case + graphics characters mode and the upper case + lower case mode, applying to the entire screen (so you can’t actually use the right graphics characters in that mode).
Fun thing: To switch to another text colour you press Ctrl + number keys, with 8 colours available there, just as in the VIC-20. However, there’s also another set of colours available with Commodore + number keys, for another 8 colours. I guess with Jack Tramiel’s penny pinching, they didn’t bother to mark those on the keys when making the next gen system.
Num10ck@lemmy.world 1 month ago
i think its quadriple usage if you include upper case and lower case letters with shift. the graphix alternatives i believe used the commodore key + shift.
poke 646, peek 162
letsgo@lemm.ee 1 month ago
Quint, because some of the keys double up as joystick buttons.