On Tue, Sep 25, 2001 at 09:40:35PM -0700 or thereabouts, Osamu Aoki wrote: > > | On Wed, Sep 26, 2001 at 08:43:19AM +0800, Rino Mardo wrote: > > | > i'm curious. why is it that the textwidth has to be set to either > > | > 70 or 72 when the console can display 80? my tw=79 how is my > > | > message appearing? > > I remember IBM punch card was 80 char wide. And last 8 column was > supposed to be used for optional line number. > > Thus 80-8=72. I think that is the reasion behind 72 char per line > custom. This explain why not 65 nor 75. > > Of course, indenting message on VT-100 like consoles like others has > mentioned is the reason why this rule survived untill now. > > Osamu > > PS: I used to type that card. Teletype and (paper punch) tape was great > improvement over that card :-) > the replies of dman and rick are very convincing indeed. but i tend to like "urban legends" of osamu. :-) wrapped in an aura of mystery.
therefore i set my tw=72. thanks all. -- "GUIs normally make it simple to accomplish simple actions and impossible to accomplish complex actions." --Doug Gwyn (22/Jun/91 in comp.unix.wizards)
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