How fast do you get through keyboards?

I must be the greatest.....

[trillianjedi]

Remember my thread about my HP/Compaq laptop which I wanted a set of replacement keys for (all worn off)?

Bought a new laptop in the end (Sony Viao - I like it because it's small and has a decent screen) - had it about 3 months, and the "n" key is already halfway to worn off.

Am I too heavy with it or do they just not build 'em like they used to?

Don't ask me why the "n" - I haven't a clue. Maybe I reply "no" a lot ;)

[deejay]

*laughing* that's got to be close to a record at least.

Seriously though.. I hear it can have a lot to do with the pH of your skin/sweat. Some folks just literally eat their keyboards away with acidic pH

[zCat]

I suspect they don't build them like they used to, my main keyboard is about 13 years old and still going strong (see [webmasterworld.com...] ). Although the plastic is showing its age, none of the keys have any sign of wear.

[mack]

Strange that it's the N key that's so badly worn, usually it seams to be A E I O U with A getting it worst. Do you have shortcuts set up using that key or something, or do you rest your index finger near it when you flick the space bar with your thumb :)

Mack.

[httpwebwitch]

I have an absolutely vicious keystroke. I break the mechanics of a keyboard long before the paint wears off... I used to be a classical pianist; my fingers are much stronger than they look. I can press 60 lbs with my fingers.

to test this? put your hand, palm up, on the floor, and place a large heavy book on your fingertips. Holding the back of your hand firmly on the floor, lift the book using nothing but your fingers. Too easy? then start piling on weights.

people complain that when I'm not paying attention, my keyboard is the loudest thing in the room - I tend to hit the enter key and space bar with a loud BANG!
I've gotten used to typing very quickly and aggressively.
all those arpeggios paid off, Miss Carmichael!

Coat your keys with a thin application of clear nail varnish. The letters will last longer.

[GaryK]

I think in the good old days the letters were actually part of the keys. Nowadays the letters are usually silk-screened on.

I'm looking at my keyboard now and was surprised to find the N key, along with the right-shift and left, right, down keys are the most worn. The N hasn't disappeared yet, but the arrows are totally gone.

[httpwebwitch]

weird

My N is a little more worn than the others too

why? why is my N getting more action than my E?

looking closer, my F5 looks a little worn too, & I can explain that

[youfoundjake]

I think you need a keyboard like this:
[daskeyboard.com...]

[percentages]

Wow! I don't really understand how you have managed to wear out the key faces?

I own keyboards dating back to 1980, none of them suffer from degradation of that type. Most still work perfectly, especially the old IBM metal keyboards. A few have "sticky keys', but, I could fix those if I cared to clean them.

I've been using my MS Ergonomic keyboard for three years. I have to clean it once every six months......but it has no signs of wear afterwards.

You must be very hard on keyboards!

[trillianjedi]

pH of your skin/sweat

Quite possible - actually I think you mentioned that to me last time we had this conversation.

It never used to happen. The old IBM keyboards that I used to use never gave way like this.

I should point out that this is specifically on my laptops. And looking at the keys, they seem to me to be decidedly cheap. It also looks like really cheap silver paint.

I've worked out the "n" - I tend to rest my forefinger on that key.

I'm certain these things have got worse. I guess the market is so competitive now, everything is done to an extreme budget.

Coat your keys with a thin application of clear nail varnish.

Ah yes, I think that was also mentioned last time - thanks for the reminder. Good idea ;)

[youfoundjake]

I suppose if it gets bad enough, you can change the keyboard layout to DVORK so that there is even wear on the keys. :)

[jimbeetle]

It might be the hand lotion you're using.

Back in the mid '80s, shortly after they introduced the Mac, the folks at Apple were doing some design research. The gave Macs to a group of secretarial workers to use and abuse for a certain number of months. Upon return they found that a somewhat significant number of keyboards had much of the ink removed.

Upon reinterviewing the people with the affected keyboards they found that most used Oil of Olay. Kind of like the old saw where Coca-Cola would take the paint off a car.

[EarWig]

Coat your keys with a thin application of clear nail varnish?

Oil of Ulay?

Come on TJ
Get the mascara and lipstick out - we can have a party:)
Ray

[Lobo]

Cover your fingers with condoms, it's safer, you're obviously <snip> up your keyboard anyway ;-)

[edited by: lawman at 8:51 pm (utc) on June 16, 2006]
[edit reason] No Camo Swear Words Please [/edit]

[Draconian]

Regular keyboards can be pushed further down. Perhaps your pianist skills combined with you being used to a regular type of keyboard make you a bit tough on the lappy. (After all lap top keys move down like a mm)

[BlackRaven]

well...my local library was having the same problem, picked up a nift trick from them. Next time when you buy a brand new keyboard also buy a clear nail polish and go through all the keys once.

[Passiflora]

Coat your keys with a thin application of clear nail varnish. The letters will last longer.

Thanks for the tip, I'll try that.

A, E and T are almost gone, the N is starting. Keyboard is 6 months old but well used.