Talk:Alt key
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Should it be called as "Alternate" or "Alter" key? —preceding unsigned comment by 203.186.238.233 (talk • contribs) 16 November 2005, at maybe 08:15 GMT
- No/Neither. It's always been called the "Alt" key (rhymes with "fault"). PS: Please sign your comments. You can do this by typing four tildes, i.e. as ~~~~. —Felix the Cassowary (ɑe hɪː jɐ) 08:55, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
- But is Alt short for Altenrnative as in function? 86.129.68.14 16:40, 4 December 2005 (UTC)
[edit] =
I'd agree with the unsigned questioner above - I never heard it called the Alternative key before today! I think I even have an old 80's one-piece computer in the cupboard where the key is actually marked "Alternate"... (pronounced in the correct fashion, i.e. "alternate route", not as in alternating current) -Tahrey
My father calls this "Alternate" also, being an old-schooler. I'll have a look in some old computer books for a source. --General Miaow Say Hello! 01:27, 7 February 2007 (UTC)
[edit] 1976?
From the article: "The alt key was originally used on a Windows keyboard in 1976."
The first IBM PC wasn't available until 1981. According to the Windows page Windows 1.0 came out in 1985. It seems possible that Alt was added to the PC keyboard in 1986, but I have no documentation to support this. --Tim Kemp 20:46, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
