Thursday, September 23, 2004

Lo! The Semi-colon

I find the keyboard very easy to get around -- I can type very quickly; 90+ words per minute when I really get going. I have mastered the problems I had striking 'z' when I really needed an 'x' and I have fully integrated the number keypad into my typing abilities. I'm a connoisseur of the keyboard, if you will.

I have one question though.

What's with the semi-colon key?

I mean, the home row 'asdfjkl;' is the captain of the keyboard (although an argument could be made for that luxurious widebody space key). Some letters have missed out: popular T, E and N are all upstairs or downstairs. The period, down below. Quotations marks, well, you need the shift key to get at those.

So, why put the semi-colon right there? Why not the comma? The comma is in a very inconvenient position, situated between the 'M' and the period. Why not throw the semi-colon down there? I use the semi-colon so rarely. In fact, I use the colon more than I use the semi-colon, yet I need the shift key to get at it.

What is up with that?

No comments: