Is there a solution?

[wenwilder]

These days everyone has a newsletter offering advice, solutions, tips, stories, something! Any topic at any time can be found in a newsletter some where on the internet.

I have subscribed and unsubscribed from my fair share of newsletters. Some of them are fantastic, some of them could put an insomniac to sleep.

I spend nearly two hours every morning reading newsletters and newspapers just to get my day started. I truly enjoy this 'quiet time of learning.'

So what is my complaint, my peeve? (I always have one you know) ;)

Of all the newsletters I have read not one of them has given me advice on how - to prevent the letters, on my keyboard, from wearing off. It keeps others from borrowing my computer 'just for a minute' to check email, etc. But... I spend more money on keyboards then I do on the computer itself.

You would think, that as technologically advanced as our society is, they could create a keyboard with permanent letters. If there is such a keyboard somebody please tell me where to find it!

My boys suggested stickers once. We tried it, but the stickers wore off. :)

What kind of solutions do you have?

[flood6]

Well, this has never been a problem for me. I usually end up with other problems with a keyboard before the "letter wear" becomes enough of an issue to necessitate a replacement. A spilled beer killed one keyboard, another had the space bar go "limp", etc.

Just a thought: you could try scotch tape on each of the keys. If done quickly the tape might get dirty or torn, but a careful job might at least extend their life.

You could also try clear finger nail polish. This might eventually wear down, but it would be a quick matter to just reapply.

Again, neither of these have been tested by me, but the theory seems sound...

[Dcrux]

Hmm. Have you tried one of those membranes for spill proofing keyboards? I don't know for sure, but they are not supposed to interfere with typing.

The other solution would be a keyboard where the keys are laser engraved.

[mushroom]

Originally Posted by wenwilder

These days everyone has a newsletter offering advice, solutions, tips, stories, something! Any topic at any time can be found in a newsletter some where on the internet.

I have subscribed and unsubscribed from my fair share of newsletters. Some of them are fantastic, some of them could put an insomniac to sleep.

I spend nearly two hours every morning reading newsletters and newspapers just to get my day started. I truly enjoy this 'quiet time of learning.'

So what is my complaint, my peeve? (I always have one you know) ;)

Of all the newsletters I have read not one of them has given me advice on how - to prevent the letters, on my keyboard, from wearing off. It keeps others from borrowing my computer 'just for a minute' to check email, etc. But... I spend more money on keyboards then I do on the computer itself.

You would think, that as technologically advanced as our society is, they could create a keyboard with permanent letters. If there is such a keyboard somebody please tell me where to find it!

My boys suggested stickers once. We tried it, but the stickers wore off. :)

What kind of solutions do you have?

This kinda a user error.

To remove this error;

1 Take a picture or scan your keyboard.
2 Print it out at an apropreat size.
3 Tape it to the bottom of your monitor.
4 Teach yourself touch typing.
5 When complete No error.

[flood6]

Originally Posted by mushroom

Teach yourself touch typing.

Unless your kids/spouse/neighbors/friends/pets also use the same box and don't know how to touch type and don't care to learn.

[HardCoded]

Jeezus, what do you type with, a hammer and chisel? I've had the same keyboard for four years now.

[wenwilder]

Four years? And the letters haven't worn off?

What is your secret?

I spend a minimum of four hours a day writing. Articles, reports, etc. To say my keyboard is more used than anything else, would not be an understatement.

Worn off letters don't really bother me. I don't watch my fingers. Most of the time I don't even watch the moniter. I just haven't found a way to keep the letters from wearing off.

I do like the idea of the laser engraved keys. I'll have to try that next - I'm almost ready for a new keyboard. lol

I did try the fingernail polish, that was a lot of fun! Try writing the letters on the keys with different colors. You end up with a colorful keyboard and blobs where letters use to be. :)

I haven't tried the tape. I may do that just for experimental purposes.

Keyboard covers however.... we just don't get along. They keep my fingernails from going 'between' the keys. The keyboard cover went before the nails. I don't mind breaking a nail working on a car, but I can not type without them.

Hammer and Chisel - good comment! :)

[Tubby]

Wen, i spend half my working life with vinyl glue on my hands, the other half is spent on the keyboard.
I do not wear the keys out. . But I do have to take the keyboard outside once a month to give it a turpentine scrub.

[scallihan]

Originally Posted by wenwilder

Of all the newsletters I have read not one of them has given me advice on how - to prevent the letters, on my keyboard, from wearing off. It keeps others from borrowing my computer 'just for a minute' to check email, etc. But... I spend more money on keyboards then I do on the computer itself.

And let me guess -- you keep buying the same keyboard over and over again...:)

Actually, I've got a Microsoft wireless keyboard that I got with my new computer and the letters are starting to wear off after less than six months use!!!! I can tell which keys I use the most, because they're fading out the fastest.

I'm like you -- I'm pretty much pounding away from dawn to dusk most days.

The best keyboards in the world were made by IBM -- if you can find one of those, I guarantee the keys will NEVER wear off. I'd still be using it, but the space bar stopped working, after four years of constant use. Check the computer recycle places -- you should be able to get one for less than $10.

[Jeff Colburn]

Hi,

One solution would be to put clear nail polish over the keys of a new keyboard.

There are also stickers for the visually impaired that my stick to the keyboard better than the ones you tried. Look here http://www.hooleon.com/prod-vis.htm

I'm not sure why your letters are wearing off. In my 20+ years working with computers, I've only seen this 3 to 4 times.

Right now I'm using a 3 year old laptop that I work on for about 5-8 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the letters are as clear as the day I bought it. Maybe it's my baby-soft hands.

Have Fun,
Jeff

[designhead]

I've never heard of this happening before.

They keep my fingernails from going 'between' the keys. The keyboard cover went before the nails. I don't mind breaking a nail working on a car, but I can not type without them.

I wonder if you're typing with your nails instead of your pads and your nails are scraping the letters off?