Comments on: Peripheral, or key board?

By: Janet Clarey

Janet Clarey — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:56:34 +0000

Love Whiteboard central! BTW…I work on a Dell laptop with a 15″ screen with busted keys on a desk that’s too big for me and use a wireless mouse that I hit against the desk when the batteries need replaced. But, hey I’ve given birth so that’s nothing really.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:51:18 +0000

I might have considered a similar keyboard if I could have found one without the useless-to-me number pad. It’s built in for the manufacturer’s convenience; otherwise, you could attach it left, right, or above as you prefer.

I’m with you on the headphone. I even have a cheap one that plugs into my non-bluetooth landline handset.

By: Ken Allan

Ken Allan — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:42:11 +0000

Kia ora Dave I can't use a laptop keyboard for any length of time else I get pain in my elbows and wrists. I certainly wouldn't want to enter a letter or report on it. Yet I have a laptop as my machine at work - standard issue. I plug a Microsoft ergonomic keypad into the laptop. The ergonomic keypad is very easy on the elbows, wrists and fingers. For years I put up with pain in my right hand and used to think it was because I was using the mouse till a physiotherapist examined me at my desk and threw the mouse in the bin. I now have an ergonomic mouse. Now there is no pain, except that it took me a few days to get used to both of these devices. It's strange how we falaciously accept the equipment given us to do our daily duties and then think that when things start to go wrong it's our fault for not using them properly. Now with a docking station I have two screens so that the ergonomics are (supposedly) better. Having a switcher for headphones makes my life easier too, for I don't have to wrestle with the phone in one hand when I'm administering to learners from the keyboard with the other. It's all very well having to multi-task; I haven't got multi-hands! Catchya later

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:43:27 +0000

The two-monitor system can be great. The docking station allows me to hook a second monitor up when I want to; if I could easily hang it on the wall, I’d leave it connected all the time. The biggest nuisance is that the resolutions don’t quite match.

Second biggest: although I can multiple docs in Word and have them in separate windows (monitor 1 and monitor 2), I can’t do that in PowerPoint. Folks at Microsoft need to talk more.

By: Harold Jarche

Harold Jarche — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:54:50 +0000

I use a MacBook, with an external monitor, which gives me 2 monitors with OS X. I also use the bluetooth Apple keyboard, that lacks the number pad and makes it easier to use my bluetooth RazorFish mouse. So far best system I’ve had.