From: Nicolas Kassis <nic.kassis@...>
Date: 2006-03-20T14:27:10+09:00
Subject: Re: [OT] Using emacs on Apple's PowerBook

Dae San Hwang wrote:

> I apologize for the off topic post, but knowing that many ruby 
> programmers are emacs/PowerBook users, I don't think this is 
> completely irrelevant..
>
> For all you emacs/PowerBook users, how do you live with your 
> PowerBook? I've been thinking about buying a powerbook for four years 
> now but didn't only because using emacs key bindings seems extremely 
> awkward on Apple's laptops. On the lower left side of powerbook, there 
> is a 'fn' key which confuses my figures on the correct positions of 
> control/meta(option) keys. On the lower right side of powerbook, there 
> is no control/meta keys due to the placement of near useless arrow keys.
>
> I actually had expected someone would build/sell a customized 
> PowerBook keyboards tailored for emacs users by now.. I am confused 
> since no other emacs users seem to be bothered by this. I really think 
> Apple should at least provide an option of the replacement keyboard 
> for emacs PowerBook users.
>
> With the introduction of MacBook Pro and near ubiquitousness of WiFi 
> connection, my desire for a laptop couldn't have been higher. Can 
> anybody who share this dilemma comment on this?
>
> For those of you who think I'm a total nut for expecting Apple to 
> solve my person problem, emacs key bindings have been supported in all 
> text widgets of Cocoa applications ever since Mac OS X came out and 
> it's only logical to expect their hardware to be designed in line with 
> their software features.
>
> sorry for the rant,
>
> daesan
>
>
I feel you pain. To add to this, I really can't figure out how to make 
the alt key become the Meta key in the terminal based emacs. I added the
(setq mac-command-key-is-meta nil)
but nothing works neither the apple key or the alt key is the meta key. 
Did I miss something?


-- 
Nicolas Kassis
--------------
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www.nickassis.net/blog