I believe Clear/⌧ key on the big Apple keyboard is a leftover from the times of professional uses of keypads. It’s a “deterministic correction key” – upon making a mistake while typing a number, it feels safer and quicker to just start the number from scratch…https://twitter.com/MarijnvdWerf/status/1095329642959888386 …
-
Show this thread
-
…rather than to figure out how to backspace the right amount of times – and possibly lose certainty and momentum.
1 reply 1 retweet 2 likesShow this thread -
I don’t know exactly when this idea originated. I see it clearly in the 1983 Lisa, although I think other computers before had the same concept – except with a different label.pic.twitter.com/RR1yGIULJG
1 reply 1 retweet 3 likesShow this thread -
For example, the first popular PC spreadsheet Lotus 1-2-3 treats Esc the same way – it clears the field – and for a while, Esc was much closer to the keypad, too.pic.twitter.com/QthKypxeCK
1 reply 1 retweet 1 likeShow this thread -
(And, many external keypads offered Esc alongside Backspace.)pic.twitter.com/mfDYopqowz
1 reply 2 retweets 6 likesShow this thread -
Today, indeed it feels the Numbers app treats Clear and Backspace and Delete as equivalent. Not sure about Excel. As
@rsms mentioned, Calculator still makes the old-school distinction between Clear and Backspace/Delete.1 reply 1 retweet 1 likeShow this thread -
I know some specific apps like Maestro handled them differently, too: Backspace/Delete meaning “remove object and space it occupies” and Clear meaning “delete but leave space intact.” But this is probably on its way out already, too, given that most keyboards lack that key.
1 reply 1 retweet 1 likeShow this thread -
Clear feels today just a leftover reminder that keyboards used to be Professional Devices For Professionals – the same way not so long ago even MacBook/PowerBook keyboards still distinguished between Return and Enter. But that’s a whole different story. :·)
3 replies 5 retweets 6 likesShow this thread -
Replying to @mwichary
For now it’s still there, on the current larger Magic Keyboard
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
Likely through inertia than anything else, though?
-
-
Replying to @mwichary
For sure, as you said it’s unique use is currently rather limited. I use it sometimes in Calculator, although I had to “discover” what it’s doing by myself, it’s so ancient
0 replies 0 retweets 0 likesThanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.