We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide

Aaaargh! Spending a fortune on keyboards!!

124

Comments

  • poly1
    poly1 Posts: 409 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    You need the 'type-through' type of keyboard cover like THIS. I sure that you can get it cheaper , I think my local market sells them but haven't got time to look at prices at the mo. HTH.
    Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death.
    Earl Wilson
  • Idiophreak
    Idiophreak Posts: 12,024 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I'm not convinced that it's the keyboard that's necessarily at fault here - I'm in IT, so spend about 9 hours a day tapping away (pretty fast, some might say) on this keyboard (just a standard dell one, nothing fancy) - have done so for the past 21 months - and the keys look good as new. There's a slight shine on the space bar (and some biscuit crumbs between the keys) but that's about it.

    If you can hear him rooms away, perhap's he's whacking the keys harder than he should be...as above, this is likely to cause him a lot of problems in his fingers/wrists etc if he continues, quite aside from the damage to the keyboard...
  • Lorian
    Lorian Posts: 6,631 Forumite
    Twentieth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Idiophreak wrote: »
    I'm not convinced that it's the keyboard that's necessarily at fault here

    Indeed, it would seem there is another cause to this.

    The most likely cause would be the accidental contamination of the keytops with some kind of solvent or abrasive material.
    Idiophreak wrote: »
    (and some biscuit crumbs between the keys)

    Tip it upside down and tap it then flick the crumbs on the floor with one deft movement. If you are really good you can flick them under someone else's desk as they fall :-)
  • g33za
    g33za Posts: 706 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    use a soldering iron and [melting/engrave] the letters on the keyboard.
    ummm...
  • tr3mor
    tr3mor Posts: 2,325 Forumite
    One of these?
  • Lesley998
    Lesley998 Posts: 41 Forumite
    Well, thanks all for the interesting comments. However, the letters are being rubbed off over time by continual wear, NOT scratched off (I have tried scratching one of the letters off with my finger and it did not come off. You try scratching oneof yours.) There are no kind of solvents or abrasive liquids in my back sitting room that I know of, he is not even allowed coke through there in case it spills on the keyboard - a house rule since he was knee high - and anyway, how would they get on the keyboard keys and get the letters off without any other evidence, like varnish coming off the comp desk. (Can't believe I am actually trying to rationalise this suggestion .)

    But thanks all. And here's a pic of the damn thing

    keyboardone.jpg
  • superscaper
    superscaper Posts: 13,369 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Have you given any consideration to the suggestion of typing lessons? Have you actually watched your son type? I think it more important to address the likely RSI health issues.
    "She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
    Moss
  • Lesley998
    Lesley998 Posts: 41 Forumite
    He types the same as any one else. The computer is at the proper height, so he is not hunched. The chair is a proper chair designed for typist use. He does not touch type, but types very fast using both index and middle fingers and both thumbs. He does hit the keyboard very hard though.

    But we all have bad habits.
  • wokkies
    wokkies Posts: 8,471 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I have a floppy keyboard whch can be wet etc and still work, have to practice a while though before you can touch type with it
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=017&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=270092923415&rd=1&rd=1
    to be updated:;)
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 354.1K Banking & Borrowing
  • 254.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 455.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 247.1K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 603.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 178.3K Life & Family
  • 261.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.