Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
who can sit down in front of a new keyboard and, regardless of layout or tactile
response, be up to speed in a few minutes. Others have strong preferences
about layout and feel. If you've never met a keyboard you didn't like, you can
disregard these issues and choose a keyboard based on other factors. If love
and hate are words you apply to keyboards, use an identical keyboard for at
least an hour before you buy one for yourself.
That said, here are several important characteristics to consider when you
choose a keyboard:
• Keyboards are available in two styles, the older straight keyboard and the
modern ergonomic style. Some people strongly prefer one or the other.
Others don't care. If you've never used an ergonomic keyboard, give one
a try before you buy your next keyboard. You may hate it—everyone does
at first—but then again, after you've used it for an hour or so you may
decide you love it.
• The position of the alphanumeric keys is standard on all keyboards other
than those that use the oddball Dvorak layout. What varies, sometimes
dramatically, is the placement, size, and shape of other keys, such as shift
keys (Shift, Ctrl, and Alt), function keys (which may be across the top,
down the left side, or both), and cursor control and numeric keypad keys.
If you are used to a particular layout, purchasing a keyboard with a similar
layout makes it easier to adapt to the new keyboard.
• Most current keyboards use the USB interface natively and are supplied
with an adapter for those who need to connect them to a PS/2 keyboard
port. We use mostly USB keyboards, but it's a good idea to have at least
one PS/2 keyboard available (or a PS/2 adapter) for those times when Win-
dows shoots craps and won't recognize USB devices.
• Some keyboards provide dedicated and/or programmable function keys
to automate such things as firing up your browser or email client, or to
allow you to define custom macros that can be invoked with a single key-
stroke. These functions are typically not built into the keyboard itself, but
require loading a driver. To take advantage of those functions, make sure
a driver is available for the OS you use.
• The weight of a keyboard can be a significant issue for some people. The
lightest keyboard we've seen weighed just over a pound, and the heavi-
est nearly eight pounds. If your keyboard stays on your desktop, a heavy
keyboard is less likely to slide around. Conversely, a heavy keyboard may
be uncomfortable if you work with the keyboard in your lap.
• Some manufacturers produce keyboards with speakers, scanners, and
other entirely unrelated functions built in. These functions are often clum-
sy to use, fragile, and have limited features. If you want speakers or a scan-
ner, buy speakers or a scanner. Don't get a keyboard with them built in.
• Wireless keyboards are ideal for presentations, TV-based web browsing,
or just for working with the keyboard in your lap. Wireless keyboards use
a receiver module that connects to a USB port or the PS/2 keyboard port
on the PC. The keyboard and receiver communicate using either radio
frequency (RF) or infrared (IR). IR keyboards require a direct line of sight
