WordTsar, a WordStar Clone • Hacker News Board

Re: WordTsar, a WordStar Clone

#141

Post by kcartlidge » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 6:18 PM UTC

tssva wrote: post #47

zabzonk wrote: post #20

WordStar was a really good programming editor, if you put into text mode. I wrote a lot of C and assembler code using it back in the 1980s. And it was a good word processor - much easier to get to grips with than WordPerfect, IMHO.

To give an opposite opinion form the same time period. I found WordStar much more difficult to come to grips with than WordPerfect. WordPerfect 4.2 with a XT layout keyboard is by far my favorite word processor experience to date.

WordPerfect 4.2 (specifically that version) is to my mind one of the best pieces of software ever created. And amazingly it was written in x86 assembly language.

Re: WordTsar, a WordStar Clone

#142

Post by kcartlidge » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 6:20 PM UTC

xbar wrote: post #66

zabzonk wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could never get to grips with WP's use of function keys. In fact, I hate all software that uses function keys.

F7 to save. Seriously, if I could still use WordPerfect 4.2 today, I would. I would put up with 5.1 if necessary.

> Seriously, if I could still use WordPerfect 4.2 today, I would. I would put up with 5.1 if necessary.

Have a gander here: http://www.columbia.edu/~em36/wpdos/

It's all about how to (productively) use DOS versions of WordPerfect on modern Windows.

Re: WordTsar, a WordStar Clone

#143

Post by filmgirlcw » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 8:25 PM UTC

fouc wrote: post #128

filmgirlcw wrote: post #71

Text editors (whether it is for prose or code or math or whatever) are such a personal thing that it is always interesting to read about how and why people use certain tools. WordStar had already been supplanted by WordPerfect (and to a lesser-extent, Microsoft Word), before I was even born, so I can’t even pretend to romanticize WordStar and its UX (which would drive me crazy, the same way Emacs drives me crazy), bu…

What essay are you referring to? (Since the parent link is to a site rather than a specific essay).. I'm guessing it's this one? https://sfwriter.com/wordstar.htm

Yes, when I wrote the comment the link was to that and then it looks like they merged two threads.

Re: WordTsar, a WordStar Clone

#144

Post by technofiend » Wed, Jun 02, 2021, 2:21 PM UTC

rhabarba wrote: post #138

technofiend wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unicomp makes leaf spring switch keyboards that are the modern day equivalent of IBM's beloved PC keyboards. They are too loud for a shared work environment but perfect for home use, assuming you don't multitask during a meeting with your mic on, anyway.

Leaf springs are different switches. Unicomp makes buckling spring keyboards - which are not "the equivalent" of IBM's Model M keyboards, but they actually are the current brand which makes the original Model M keyboards. (They were branded "Lexmark" earlier - after IBM had founded a spin-off company for them.) They have become less sturdy over the years though.

You are correct - I went from memory and misremembered the name of the switch type in the Model M keyboards. Appreciate the clarification. What I meant by modern day equivalent is the fact these newer keyboards are available with USB.