Strange keyboard problem!

Jon_01

My mate is a professional writer and he's getting through 2 to 3 keyboards a year!

They're not breaking as such, but after a few months the letters ware off the keys. I'm guessing that there must be some very odd in his sweat that's reacting with the white dye?
He's bought cheap keyboards and very expensive one's (£50 MS type), it happens on them all.
I suggested that he get a lit keyboard so there was nothing to wear out and all that's happened now is the black has worn off instead and the keys are just lit white squares!  I can only think that on the lit boards the dye covering the rest of the key must be the same as the white used to ink the letters on the unlit type?

While it's not a major problem to keep buying new keyboards (we buy them 2 at time now). Can anyone suggest a keyboard to try that might not ware as badly?
Thanks...

Neil_Jones

This is just a chemical reason, anything that's "printed" like a keyboard will eventually wear off, its not unique to a keyboard, you see the same effect on remote controls.  Its the oil on the skin that causes it, and modern day pre-requisites like hand gel and cleaning products exacerbate the issue.  This affects all keyboards but is mostly user inflicted, as each person's skin oils itself slightly different, and there is nothing you can do about that.

So if you're that fussed about wearing off the print, just either wear gloves (sparingly, since it will cause your hands to sweat after a while), or make sure you wash your hands regularly before touching a keyboard, which will be fine until the natural oil builds up again on your fingers, so you may have to do this quite regularly, not really good for production.

Or of course don't bother with any of that, since the keyboard will still be good (average life print notwithstanding is best part of 3-5 years in a normal domestic environment and three for business, assuming you literally type all day every day 9-5 non-stop) and the keys themselves still work, its just a cosmetic issue.  I'd argue a professional writer should know the layout of a QWERTY keyboard regardless of whether the characters are printed on or not

Jon_01

Neil_Jones said:

This is just a chemical reason, anything that's "printed" like a keyboard will eventually wear off, its not unique to a keyboard, you see the same effect on remote controls.  Its the oil on the skin that causes it, and modern day pre-requisites like hand gel and cleaning products exacerbate the issue.  This affects all keyboards but is mostly user inflicted, as each person's skin oils itself slightly different, and there is nothing you can do about that.

So if you're that fussed about wearing off the print, just either wear gloves (sparingly, since it will cause your hands to sweat after a while), or make sure you wash your hands regularly before touching a keyboard, which will be fine until the natural oil builds up again on your fingers, so you may have to do this quite regularly, not really good for production.

Or of course don't bother with any of that, since the keyboard will still be good (average life print notwithstanding is best part of 3-5 years in a normal domestic environment and three for business, assuming you literally type all day every day 9-5 non-stop) and the keys themselves still work, its just a cosmetic issue.  I'd argue a professional writer should know the layout of a QWERTY keyboard regardless of whether the characters are printed on or not

Thanks Neil,  I agree that the ink will ware off at some point, but I've been using the same keyboard now for 5 years and have no problems, he can't get more than 5 months out of one!

I also agree with the last point too, if only it were true in this case (he's a bit unique)...

[Deleted User]

Hi,

would a keyboard protector be a nuisance?

theoretica

Surely he knows which keys are which without looking now?

Were_Doomed

You can also buy stick on labels for keys ... would that be an option? Example below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kokobase®-English-Keyboard-Stickers-Self-adhesive/dp/B08J1HNG18/

Neil_Jones

theoretica said:

Surely he knows which keys are which without looking now?

That's what I thought, the basic QWERTY keyboard (having researched) has only been around since the 1870s apparently (from the days of the typewriter, and later revised and streamlined once computer came along) so its not like its a new thing and I would have thought anybody who wrote professionally should be able to touch type?

I'd hate to see a professional writer doing hunt and peck, that's for sure.

Jon_01

Neil_Jones said:

theoretica said:

Surely he knows which keys are which without looking now?

That's what I thought, the basic QWERTY keyboard (having researched) has only been around since the 1870s apparently (from the days of the typewriter, and later revised and streamlined once computer came along) so its not like its a new thing and I would have thought anybody who wrote professionally should be able to touch type?

I'd hate to see a professional writer doing hunt and peck, that's for sure.

I'd call him a pro writer, he's written a movie, 60+ novels and been translated into 17 languages, I think that qualifies...

He's just not that good with tech in general and he's not the best at typing even after all that practice.  He still uses a pencil and paper for the first 2 to 3 drafts...  

Spank

If he has keyboards with mechanical switches (likely if they are backlit) he can buy replacement keycaps. Aliexpress have complete sets from around £6