Comments on: Is it worth investing in a mouse and keyboard? http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/ Utterly random, incoherent and disjointed rants and ramblings... Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:24:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Mark Bainter http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6775 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 02:22:50 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6775 For me, there are two important questions on a keyboard. Where is the \ key, and how good is the tactile feedback. I hate clunky keys that drag down my typing speed, and I really hate it when I can't tell if I've pushed the key or not w/out looking. And of course, the \ key being in the lower right ALWAYS slows me down and throws me off. So, I generally go with a fairly inexpensive keyboard. I do have a Belkin split keyboard that works pretty well at home, but frankly not as well as the straight keyboard I have at work. As for mice - I hate em. I use a trackball. My favorite is the Logitech Trackman Marble FX. I have one at home, I've had it for over something like 8 years now. Sadly, they no longer make them, and they go for over a hundred dollars on ebay. So at work I have a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006B9CR/ref=dp_cp_ob_title_1/104-9992291-1939142" title="trackman" rel="nofollow">Microsoft Cordless Optical Trackman</a>. I do like having the extra keys, I have them mapped to various handy x-windows functions. But I'd trade it for the logitech in a heartbeat. I don't get why people don't make good trackballs anymore. Granted, it's probably not as great for most gaming, but when you like to know where your mouse is at all times and make rapid precise movements it's really nice. For me, there are two important questions on a keyboard. Where is the \ key, and how good is the tactile feedback.

I hate clunky keys that drag down my typing speed, and I really hate it when I can’t tell if I’ve pushed the key or not w/out looking. And of course, the \ key being in the lower right ALWAYS slows me down and throws me off.

So, I generally go with a fairly inexpensive keyboard. I do have a Belkin split keyboard that works pretty well at home, but frankly not as well as the straight keyboard I have at work.

As for mice - I hate em. I use a trackball. My favorite is the Logitech Trackman Marble FX. I have one at home, I’ve had it for over something like 8 years now.

Sadly, they no longer make them, and they go for over a hundred dollars on ebay. So at work I have a Microsoft Cordless Optical Trackman. I do like having the extra keys, I have them mapped to various handy x-windows functions. But I’d trade it for the logitech in a heartbeat.

I don’t get why people don’t make good trackballs anymore. Granted, it’s probably not as great for most gaming, but when you like to know where your mouse is at all times and make rapid precise movements it’s really nice.

]]> by: Luke Maciak http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6761 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:21:31 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6761 Ah, ok. I don't particularly like them either but they do save space. :) Ah, ok. I don’t particularly like them either but they do save space. )

]]> by: vacri http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6760 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 08:50:10 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6760 heh, I meant the feature is small in scope. The tiny Dell keyboards... eurgh. :) heh, I meant the feature is small in scope. The tiny Dell keyboards… eurgh. )

]]> by: Luke Maciak http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6759 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:55:08 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6759 Actually some of te Dell keyboards are even smaller. Some of their keyboards basically have no extra space above and below the keys. So there is no landing strip below the space, or that huge space above the function keys. Actually some of te Dell keyboards are even smaller. Some of their keyboards basically have no extra space above and below the keys. So there is no landing strip below the space, or that huge space above the function keys.

]]> by: vacri http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6758 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:31:13 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6758 Nah, I'm not talking about the OLED keyboard. The OLED keyboard is cool, but a real keyboard lover isn't going to get much use out of it since they rarely look at the keys. I'm talking about the <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/New-HP-Netserver-Keyboard_W0QQitemZ5841733893QQihZ002QQcategoryZ116289QQcmdZViewItem" rel="nofollow">HP netserver</a> keyboard. The LED for numlock is actually on the numlock key, scroll lock LED on scroll lock and same with caps. It's a small thing, but I like it. In the link you can see a small dot on the scroll lock and another small dot on the shelf of the caps lock keys. I'd like to try a natural, but I'm not sure I'd like it permanently, since I often type one-handed, whether out of need or laziness. Nah, I’m not talking about the OLED keyboard. The OLED keyboard is cool, but a real keyboard lover isn’t going to get much use out of it since they rarely look at the keys.

I’m talking about the HP netserver keyboard. The LED for numlock is actually on the numlock key, scroll lock LED on scroll lock and same with caps. It’s a small thing, but I like it. In the link you can see a small dot on the scroll lock and another small dot on the shelf of the caps lock keys.

I’d like to try a natural, but I’m not sure I’d like it permanently, since I often type one-handed, whether out of need or laziness.

]]> by: Luke Maciak http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6754 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:20:13 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6754 <strong>@jambarama</strong> - the daskeyboard is awesome, but the price is a bit steep for a coat of black paint over the IBM Model M. Then again if you look at their website they talk about gold plated key switches and etc... So I guess the price might be justified. I hate touchpads and those little laptop nubs. I probably despise the nubs more than the pads, but both are horrible. I usually carry a small MS mouse in my laptop bag. If it seems like I will be using the machine for longer than 15-20 minutes I take it out. Otherwise it's just a pain. <strong>@vacri</strong> - do you mean that keyboard that has keys that light up with different symbols and etc? That one is pretty awesome as well. @jambarama - the daskeyboard is awesome, but the price is a bit steep for a coat of black paint over the IBM Model M. Then again if you look at their website they talk about gold plated key switches and etc… So I guess the price might be justified.

I hate touchpads and those little laptop nubs. I probably despise the nubs more than the pads, but both are horrible. I usually carry a small MS mouse in my laptop bag. If it seems like I will be using the machine for longer than 15-20 minutes I take it out. Otherwise it’s just a pain.

@vacri - do you mean that keyboard that has keys that light up with different symbols and etc? That one is pretty awesome as well.

]]> by: jaymz http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6753 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:49:35 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6753 I use a split keyboard (the ms 4000) and could never go back to a normal one for my own personal work, so I got one for each desktop I spend time with. Mice are less of an issue for me though, a decent, accurate laser one is about all I ever use although I'm forever contemplating shelling out for a 'pro' one... I use a split keyboard (the ms 4000) and could never go back to a normal one for my own personal work, so I got one for each desktop I spend time with. Mice are less of an issue for me though, a decent, accurate laser one is about all I ever use although I’m forever contemplating shelling out for a ‘pro’ one…

]]> by: vacri http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6750 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:34:03 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6750 Big hands = not many mice fit nicely. Of the mice I've tried and liked, I prefer the standard MS optical wired mouse with scroll wheel. I've never used more than three buttons + scroll, and don't like mice with so many buttons you can't pick them up without hearing several clicks. Anyway, with the MS mouse, I use it with my fingertips, but can rest my palm on it's back in-between mousing. I got a Razor Diamondback gaming mouse with the monitor I got from Dell, and I hate it. Bad shape and too sensitive - I prefer a mouse I can plug in and go with, not one I have to tune settings for. I'd like to try a trackball at some stage, I hear they're great for lappies. Keyboards, I like the old model Ms when noise isn't an issue, but at other times I like the net(something) keyboard - 104 keys, lock LEDs are on the actual keys, no softkey clutter, reasonable typing feel. Never used a natural keyboard but they look like someone's left them in front of a heater. Big hands = not many mice fit nicely. Of the mice I’ve tried and liked, I prefer the standard MS optical wired mouse with scroll wheel. I’ve never used more than three buttons + scroll, and don’t like mice with so many buttons you can’t pick them up without hearing several clicks.

Anyway, with the MS mouse, I use it with my fingertips, but can rest my palm on it’s back in-between mousing. I got a Razor Diamondback gaming mouse with the monitor I got from Dell, and I hate it. Bad shape and too sensitive - I prefer a mouse I can plug in and go with, not one I have to tune settings for. I’d like to try a trackball at some stage, I hear they’re great for lappies.

Keyboards, I like the old model Ms when noise isn’t an issue, but at other times I like the net(something) keyboard - 104 keys, lock LEDs are on the actual keys, no softkey clutter, reasonable typing feel. Never used a natural keyboard but they look like someone’s left them in front of a heater.

]]> by: jambarama http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6733 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:16:38 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6733 Yeah but for mice I'm a cheapskate. My laptop doesn't have a track pad (just a nub - that's a thinkpad X series for you), and I don't carry a mouse around with me. So accuracy isn't that important for me. I had a laser mouse for a while at an old job - it did feel nicer, but not $70 nicer. A $10 optical mouse is fine for me. Yeah but for mice I’m a cheapskate. My laptop doesn’t have a track pad (just a nub - that’s a thinkpad X series for you), and I don’t carry a mouse around with me. So accuracy isn’t that important for me. I had a laser mouse for a while at an old job - it did feel nicer, but not $70 nicer. A $10 optical mouse is fine for me.

]]> by: jambarama http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6732 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:14:36 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2007/10/26/is-it-worth-investing-in-a-mouse-and-keyboard/#comment-6732 I was never a big fan of the split ergonomic keyboards. Once I got used to them I couldn't type on my laptops. If I was only used desktops heavily, it'd be fine, but I my laptop gets a lot of typing. I was watching Gattaca some time ago with some friends and some know-it-all felt it necessary to say - "you can't beat someone to death with a keyboard, they're flimsy peices of plastic!" Maybe yours is. My favorite keyboard though is <a href="http://www.daskeyboard.com/" rel="nofollow">daskeyboard II.</a> Feels like an old IBM keyboard, it is nice and heavy, and there are no markings on the keys. It helped my typing speed go from ~30-40wpm to ~60-70wpm. You could definitely beat someone to death with this keyboard. And the look on other people's faces when they sit down to a foreign OS (xubuntu stripped of all menus save right click) and the keyboard has no markings, and I've swapped some key functionality (e.g. caps & ctrl) is priceless. That keyboard is totally worth it. It'll never break. I was never a big fan of the split ergonomic keyboards. Once I got used to them I couldn’t type on my laptops. If I was only used desktops heavily, it’d be fine, but I my laptop gets a lot of typing.

I was watching Gattaca some time ago with some friends and some know-it-all felt it necessary to say - “you can’t beat someone to death with a keyboard, they’re flimsy peices of plastic!” Maybe yours is.

My favorite keyboard though is daskeyboard II. Feels like an old IBM keyboard, it is nice and heavy, and there are no markings on the keys. It helped my typing speed go from ~30-40wpm to ~60-70wpm. You could definitely beat someone to death with this keyboard.

And the look on other people’s faces when they sit down to a foreign OS (xubuntu stripped of all menus save right click) and the keyboard has no markings, and I’ve swapped some key functionality (e.g. caps & ctrl) is priceless. That keyboard is totally worth it. It’ll never break.

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