Keyboard sc00d :-(

[arwen_lune]

Well I had some hope it would have recovered by morning... stranger things have happened. But it hasn't, keys 'stick' (not physically but the letter) or don't work at all, it's a mess. Guess the circuitry is just deaded.

Bum!

So, does anyone have a spare MS natural Pro lying about somewhere? Unfortunately with all my RSI problems the types of boards I can use are rather limited and I'd really grown used to that one... I'm going to town in a moment to look around, but I don't think they make split keyboards much anymore... (out of fashion or something). I have a fairly large amount of typing to do shortly (still have 2 interviews to transcribe) and my hands already hurt from using this keyboard.

How are my hopes for taking it in somewhere to see if they can repair it? Or should I just sign it off at this point?

Comments

[random-c.livejournal.com]

Damn, I had a Natural and binned it. And someone spilt Baileys on my Kinesis Ergo... is Dvorak any help to you? I found that things improved considerably when I switched at home.

[arwen-lune.livejournal.com]

Never tried Dvorak.. I have to use uni computers quite a lot though, so I don't think that would really work :)

[chris-lock.livejournal.com]

You can still buy MS Pro naturals, I hassled work for one due to RSI. I swear by a split k/b these days and it pains me greatly to state that MS actually make a nice one, all be it with buttons on that dont do much in anything other than windows.

Oh and you may want to read an article I linked to about RSI, well it was kinda about RSI, okay it was about vibrators, but the lady who wrote it has tendonitis (sp). :)

Take care, and no more typing in the bath :-p

:)

[dashamus.livejournal.com]

Bring it over and i'll fix it

S

Re: :)

[arwen-lune.livejournal.com]

I ordered a new one this morning (I have no patience... they say they can probably have it on friday) but I'd still like to have this one fixed for a backup. If I ever manage to get it to you (the whole sailing trip doesn't quite seem a handy opportunity to bring it across..) then yes please!

[ahruman.livejournal.com]

I had a similar problem with a keyboard after spilling coke on it. Fixing was essentially easy, but fiddly: disassemble keyboard completely. In the depths of the interior is a sheet of plastic with flat strips of metal in. Closer inspection reveals that it's actually three sheets of plastic: the outer two have the conductors on, and the inner one has holes in. When pressure is applied above one of the holes, conductors tuch and electrickery happens.

Peel three plastic sheets apart. clean all three on both sides with washing-up liquid and gentle rubbing. dry with towel, then in oven at 50 °C. Clean key caps thoroughly while you're at it.

YMMV. Caveat emptor.

RSI keyboards

[m45.livejournal.com]

I used to use an Apple split keyboard which reduced the RSI problems a great deal (though the daily use of a Tens (Tenns?) machine helped more) I think Apple have stopped making them now though :-( there is a similar product at http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/ with the amount of split in the keyboard variable which is what made the Apple ergonomic keyboard so good for me.