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LOSTCIRCUITS	SHORTCUTS: keyboard mouse monitor
USER INTERFACES: KEYBOARD, MONITOR, COMPUTER MOUSE Where to save money and where to spend some extra bucks.
(Review by MS)

Most advertising today focuses on the brand of the CPU and the clock speed of the processor, suggesting that a higher MHz rating will automatically give you a better performing system. I am not saying that this is not true but it is only a small part of the story. There are many parameters that contribute to the real world performance of a system and, most importantly, to the overall customer satisfaction.

What is often overlooked is that nobody ever really interacts with his CPU directly, everything is funneled through a so-called "User Interface". A User Interface or UI comprises all components that the average user is in direct contact with. These components actually fill only a very short list, namely

the keyboard
the mouse
the monitor

Let's start with the first category: the keyboard. There are two basically different layouts available today, the classic straight keyboard that has been around since the fifties and the so-called Ergo keyboard (sometimes called Wave keyboard). It is a matter of personal preference which one to chose but the Ergo keyboards are certainly more gentle on your carpal tunnels and even though a switch to the new layout may cause some temporary lag in your touch-typing skills, in the long run, it may be worth it.

Regardless of the layout of the keyboard, it is the one component where an extra $10 spent can make all the difference in the world. Still, price is not necessarily the key to comfort. There are expensive keyboards that, although of excellent quality may simply not have the "feel" that you would like. Don't let yourself be blinded by brand names or by the "cool looks" of what you are going to purchase. The one important factor is what your hands (or fingers) are telling you. It isn't for nothing that fingertip feeling is an acronym for being able to handle delicate situations and you don't want to ignore it.

Having gone through a few generations of keyboard myself, there have been a few revelations. The most important one was that a $9.95 keyboard as it is included with many computer systems just doesn't cut it. Shopping around, I further discovered that there were many brand name keyboards featuring the same model numbers as some "cheap knock-offs". Finally it turned out that the more expensive "brand keyboards" selling for $70-100 were nothing but relabeled keyboards with a $50-60 overhead for the brand name. Bottom line is, "trust your fingers". Pick up a keyboard that you are interested in, turn it upside down and slap the bottom. If a few keys fall off, chances are that the same will happen in everyday use because of poor quality control.

My own keyboards? I have a few and the one I personally like best cost me $31 (including sales tax). It is a no name brand but every time I try the expensive display units at any of the office supply stores, my fingers tell me "No"

Next Page: => the mouse =>

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