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Proper Mac key names :)
Authored by: leenoble_uk on Aug 17, '02 05:00:32AM
Crikey! Didn't mean to cause such a rumpus with one slip of the keyboard. The fact is on the keyboards I use it is labelled alt. I've been using macs for about 5 years now and I do generally call it the option key, the same way I call the command key the command key. But in certain situations, like when talking to a pc user at work (steadily trying to persuede them to go mac) I do dumb down occasionally and use Apple-key because it has a picture of an Apple on it. And I use alt because it has the word alt written on it.
I just used alt this time because I was in that thinking mode. You can't possibly say it is wrong any more than you'd say typing * is incorrect (it's actually shift-8).
You say tomayto, I say tomarto, you say chips, I say crisps, I say chips, you say fries, what the hell do you call fries?

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Proper names!
Authored by: Cerberus on Aug 17, '02 11:28:09AM
I agree.

How about this question. What are the name of those keys with the F on them (top row on _ALL_ keyboards).I did not have a reason to notice them until I became an operator for an Insurance Company and I was taught that they are 'PF' keys (Pee-Eff). That stands for 'Programmable Function'. A host screen can allow a specific PF key to do a specific function and that for all intents and purposes the PF's for each screen/program can be different. That Mainframe Design was around LONG before PeeCees came into existance. Once I noticed/used those 'PF' keys on the Consoles/Dumb Screens/Terminals, I then did notice the F keys on my Macs and PeeCees and wondered where the 'P' in 'PF' went to?

While we all want to know the 'why' for things but this is NOT the place for it. How about what is a boot, a bonnet or a lorrie?! That would be the trunk, hood and flat-bed truck for most Americans. Another one: Why are Canadians taught that Z (Zee) is Zed? Don't we all speak a manner of English? Yes, wee do but I speak American, he speaks Canadian English (probably just more proper English) and the poster above (most-likely) speaks 'The Queen's English' (British). If the key is 'Option' is is also 'Alt' and 'Apple' is also 'Command', and DANG-IT, each use is correct.

Unfortunatly, I have to stoop to your level to show you that this is incorrect. So I wonder if this will be taken as constructive or inflammatory.

Ok some more:Why do People from Wisconsin call Soda 'Pop' or do I have it wrong? Gosh, this can go ON AND ON AND ON.Leave it be. And this line of questioning is nothing compared to the question: mac, Mac or MAC?



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Proper names!
Authored by: DavidRavenMoon on Aug 17, '02 06:42:33PM
How about this question. What are the name of those keys with the F on them (top row on _ALL_ keyboards)

Those are "Function Keys."

Go to the Keyboard pref pane and you will see them listed as that.

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Proper names!
Authored by: DavidRavenMoon on Aug 17, '02 06:47:58PM
Unfortunatly, I have to stoop to your level to show you that this is incorrect. So I wonder if this will be taken as constructive or inflammatory.

What we decide to call the keys might not be what Apple calls them. Even if we don't know the proper name, it has an official Apple name. That was my point. Apple never uses the name "alt" in reference to Mac OS, even if they print the name on the key (which is think is to aid former Windows users).

Wasn't trying to start a rumpus! :)

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Proper Mac key names :)
Authored by: balthisar on Aug 18, '02 01:10:05PM

FWIW, *I* was just trying to cute when I said "heathen," and not start a rumpus or accuse anyone of being wrong :-)



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