geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Entropia on Fri, 20 January 2017, 08:34:57

Title: Numpad clear
Post by: Entropia on Fri, 20 January 2017, 08:34:57

Is numpad clear (aka Numpad5 with the numlock off) the only key that does nothing in Windows (apart from scrolllock and pause)? Is there any program, operating system, key combination or any other circunstance where it does something? Why was it designed this way instead of having a function like the rest of keys? I think it could work as del key, instead of having del repeated on the front of the numpad.

Title: Re: Numpad clear
Post by: chyros on Fri, 20 January 2017, 09:05:42

I don't know of any instance in which numpad 5 ever had a non-num function Oo . In quite a few terminal layouts, cross navs have a Home button in the middle, but that's already on 7 in a numpad so there's no need.

Tbh I'd have much preferred a T nav on the numpad (as well as on aforementioned terminals).

Title: Re: Numpad clear
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 20 January 2017, 09:22:14

I think that it makes sense that it is dead in the center of an arrow set. That is a weird place begging to me mis-struck.

On my 122-key terminals, I map it to be another down arrow, so that muscle memory can remember the inverted-T if it wants to.

Title: Re: Numpad clear
Post by: Tactile on Fri, 20 January 2017, 09:49:52

I think "clear" on the numpad is a mac thing.