Never thought maybe I needed a new keyboard. DUH!

My fingers started hurting a few weeks back and I'm thinking, no big deal, goes with the territory.  Then my keyboard started leaving out "i" and "e" on occasion. I realized I have had the filthy old crumb ridden thing for almost a year and a half now, but was still to cheap to go buy a new one.

Finally dumped my coffee on the keyboard (sign from above?), but turned it over and tapped on it figuring it was good as new until the next morning when everytime I hit "r" I'd get rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

So I sped down to the local "pharmacy that has everything store" and bought a generic keyboard that was on sale for $8.99. I was amazed at the fact that all I have to do is touch the keys. No effort whatsoever and I was flying with my wpm..

I had no idea my keyboard had become so bad that I was basically pounding on the gunky old keys.  DUH! 

Finger pain is diminishing already and I've decided to stop being such a tightwad and replace my keyboard at least every six months.

I also invested in a coffee mug with a cover on it.

• Never thought maybe I needed a new keyboard. DUH! - hurting fingers
  • I have to replace mine every 3 months or - 3 cents

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu

I have a MS Natural multimedia keyboard that I used for about a month before I lost one of the springs that goes underneath the space bar. I tried other keyboards, even springs from pens, but nothing works. Does anyone have ideas on what to try or have a nonworking one that they can sell me the spring out of?

Thanks!

That key printing never wear down because the letters are part of the key itself.  They just don't make them that way anymore because it is too expensive to make.  Some of the mechanical keyboards like Cherry have what they double shot key imprinting and the letters are part of the key itself and don't wear off. That IBM keyboard is very noisy from the type of keyswitch it has so you may not like that.  Logitech and Belkin make some membrane switch keyboards that are supposed to have longer lasting key imprints.  I have a logitech that has the longer lasting key imprints and it is pretty good.  You have to look on the specs to find out if has the longer lasting key printing.

I have experimented so much with keyboards and have done a lot of research.  Way too much info.  

Okay, any lefties use this keyboard? How long did it take to get used to? I use my left thumb for the space bar and I notice on a diagram of the keys that I would always be hitting the backspace key.

I'm really interested in getting a better keyboard. I destroyed my left hand and wrist the other week when I fell because I'm becoming a real klutz.

I bought the Soft Flex gloves, but they only help a little bit. My production is down because of it and it's driving me crazy. I can only type an hour without stopping and then have to rest the hand for some time.

I did buy a Microsoft 2000 keyboard but have yet to recieve it. Is this a good one?

Do you use a keyboard tray with it or just set it on the desk? Do you think a kayboard tray would be the least expensive item right now that would help with a straight keyboard?

Any info you can provide to help me in making any decision would be greatfully appreciated.

'Scuse me for being old school, but I've only ever used a straight keyboard.

For longtime comfort which is best - split keyboard mounted on chair arms or split keyboard to be used on the desk?

Also, why the preference over split keyboards that come totally apart versus split keyboards that are permanently connected at the top?

I want to revamp my office and there are so many different options.

I work at a clinic part-time typing into EMR's as well as running my own company.  But now they are loading Stedman's spell check and work expanders onto Word so that I can type in word and then transfer the info over to the electronic chart.  I type faster in word.  They found that it is faster for the doc to dictate rather than type into the chart and not only that, insurances were questioning the "standardization" of the chart notes.   Too similar.  So I do make sure that even though I use expanders, and macros, I do make some minor changes to "standard exams" so it does not all look the same, but this is with the approval of the docs.  But they can see at least 4-6 additonal patients and dictate all the notes rather than type then and are able go home at 5 o'clock instead of 7.   Also the TAT is 48 hours and not weeks as the docs would never finish the notes.   So we will still be here just typing under a different format.

x

Because I will probably get a Dell laptop pretty soon.

Thanks again for the help

It was much good of yous to care!  Thank you so much for pointing that out. 

I don't spellcheck or audit what I type for postings on the internet.  Maybe I should?  After all, I am posting this for myself, not my employer, but you are right, I should care enough. 

I think the MTs that Crabby was talking about in her post ought to care too.  I am burnt out from working 14 hours a day to make up for the $$ that I am not making because we all haven't had a raise since 1988 and I believe that MTs with poor skills are part of the reason why all MTs are not getting paid what they deserve.  Are we the only profession that has not had a cost of living raise in practically forever?  

I have worked as an IC and employee.  For every some companies, you need WORD 2003.  I could not understand why 2007 would not work, but they swear that it would not work with eScription.  Some people told me that they spoke directly with eScription who said it would; needless to say, I had to purchase a very outdated copy from Amazon.com for about $200.  I was also told that it had to be the full version of WORD.  If you are working with eScription, I am sure that part is correct. 

You will have to get a foot pedal, and I was told by last two companies that I was working for (simultaneously) that I had to have a 9-pin foot pedal with a USB adapter which is different somehow than USB alone. 

If you are working from a C-Phone then you can rent this equipment from the company.  This would require the unlimited long distance.

Most require highspeed internet.

The other important thing to know is preparing for self-employment taxes.  That is the big one.

I had the hardest time finding good headphones (which you may already have) but finally found the best ever and VERY inexpensive at dictaionwarehouse .com. The salesman was great help and talked me into the less expensive set which was their best seller.  I had already planned on spending $200 for a good set and only spent $25. (Spectra-RA twin speaker headset).  They have these in digital w/USB, stereo, Dictaphone and many other types of connections.  I am now an employee for a specialty clinic and had to go back to tapes and needed mono-headphones, but I am sure the others would be great also and again VERY inexpensive, but the salesman will be honest and tell you for sure.  I just had to share this after the long drawn out hunt.   

Thank you. I appareciate any help you can give me.

I have been told by attorneys and accountants it is  not needed.  The doc signs off on what he dictates and if he does not, I put in "Dictated but not read".  It is his responsibility not ours.   Been at this for over 25 years and never been questioned on if what I typed was what the doc dictated.  

 I was offered a home-based MT job as a direct employee of the hospital with an extremely good per-line-rate.   But yes, it was too good to be true!  Apparently on further consideration, the administrator now says it is too costly (technically) for home set-up; mentioned something about the Lanier DVI desktop and how costly etc. etc.  and some other MT has the license (?what's that about?); also mentioned "Cquence" transcription software program.   They already have 5 other off-site MTs.   Anybody out there with opinions and/or constructive advice...please.  

Imagine a country whose citizens--maybe even its leaders--are brave, calm, and open towards each other; a country whose people realize that all human beings belong together as one family and must act accordingly; a country guided by common sense. To the extent to which we show ourselves not hateful but grateful, this becomes reality.

But gratefulness? The very word seems utterly out of place, even offensive, under the given circumstances. And yet, that we speak of “given” circumstances is significant. Whatever is given is a gift, and the appropriate response to any gift is gratitude. But what could be the gift in this case?

The gift we were given by the wake-up call of September 11 is an unprecedented opportunity: to wake up, wake up to the madness of violence and counter-violence. What happened to New York was as much and as little a first as what happened to Hiroshima. After all, we witnessed merely the most recent link in a chain of revenge for revenge. This recent retaliation is certainly not the first, but it gives us a unique opportunity to wake up and to make it the last.

Strange though it is, many of us were able to ignore the vicious circle of violence against violence--our own and that of others--as long as it was happening far away. We were asleep. September 11 was a rough awakening.

What now? We can show ourselves grateful for the wake-up call by staying awake, by acting wakefully. A danger recognized and faced is cut in half. The danger is violence regardless of who commits it, terrorists or legitimate governments. No rhetoric, no posturing can any longer obscure the fact that violence breeds violence. We must break that cycle of madness.

Violence has its roots in every heart. It is in my own heart that I must recognize fear, agitation, coldness, alienation, and the impulse to blind anger. Here in my heart, I can turn fear into courageous trust, agitation and confusion into stillness, isolation into a sense of belonging, alienation into love, and irrational reaction into common sense. The creative imagination of gratefulness will suggest to each one of us how to go about this task. I will list here five small gestures that have helped me personally to show my gratitude for the wake-up call and to stay awake.
But gratefulness? The very word seems utterly out of place, even offensive, under the given circumstances. And yet, that we speak of “given” circumstances is significant. Whatever is given is a gift, and the appropriate response to any gift is gratitude. But what could be the gift in this case?

The gift we were given by the wake-up call of September 11 is an unprecedented opportunity: to wake up, wake up to the madness of violence and counter-violence. What happened to New York was as much and as little a first as what happened to Hiroshima. After all, we witnessed merely the most recent link in a chain of revenge for revenge. This recent retaliation is certainly not the first, but it gives us a unique opportunity to wake up and to make it the last.

Strange though it is, many of us were able to ignore the vicious circle of violence against violence--our own and that of others--as long as it was happening far away. We were asleep. September 11 was a rough awakening.

What now? We can show ourselves grateful for the wake-up call by staying awake, by acting wakefully. A danger recognized and faced is cut in half. The danger is violence regardless of who commits it, terrorists or legitimate governments. No rhetoric, no posturing can any longer obscure the fact that violence breeds violence. We must break that cycle of madness.

Violence has its roots in every heart. It is in my own heart that I must recognize fear, agitation, coldness, alienation, and the impulse to blind anger. Here in my heart, I can turn fear into courageous trust, agitation and confusion into stillness, isolation into a sense of belonging, alienation into love, and irrational reaction into common sense. The creative imagination of gratefulness will suggest to each one of us how to go about this task. I will list here five small gestures that have helped me personally to show my gratitude for the wake-up call and to stay awake.
All gratitude expresses trust. Suspicion will not even recognize a gift as gift: Who can prove that it isn’t a lure, a bribe, a trap? Gratefulness has the courage to trust and so overcomes fear. The air has been electrified by fearfulness these days, a fearfulness fostered and manipulated by politicians and the media. There lies our greatest danger: Fear perpetuates violence. Mobilize the courage of your heart, as the truly awake ones are doing. Say one word today that gives a fearful person courage.

Because gratitude expresses courage, it spreads calm. Calm of this kind is quite compatible with deep emotions. In fact, the mass hysteria rampant all around betrays confusion rather than deep feeling--superficial agitation rather than a deep current of compassion. Join the truly compassionate ones who are calm and strong. From the stillness of your heart’s core reach out. Calmly hold someone’s hand today and spread calm.

When you are grateful, your heart is open--open towards others, open for surprise. In the days since the wake-up call we have seen remarkable examples of this openness: strangers helping strangers often in heroic ways. Others turn away, isolate themselves, dare even less than at other times to look at each other. Violence begins with isolation. Break this pattern. Make contact with people whom you normally ignore--eye-contact at least--with the agent at the toll booth, the parking lot attendant, someone on the elevator. Look a stranger in the eyes today and realize that there are no strangers.

You can feel either grateful or alienated, but never both at the same time. Gratefulness drives out alienation; there is no room for both in the same heart. When you are grateful, you know that you belong to a network of give-and-take and you say "yes" to that belonging. This "yes" is the essence of love. You need no words to express it; a smile will do to put your "yes" into action. Don’t let it matter to you whether or not the other one smiles back. Give someone an unexpected smile today and so contribute your share to peace on earth.

What your gratefulness does for you is as important as what it does for others. Gratefulness boosts your sense of belonging; your sense of belonging in turn boosts your common sense. Your "yes" to belonging attunes you to the common concerns shared by all human beings. After the wake-up call, nothing else makes sense but common sense. We have only one enemy, our common enemy: violence. Common sense tells us that we can stop violence only by stopping to act violently; war is no way to peace. Listen to the news today and put at least one item to the test of common sense.

The five steps I am suggesting here are small, but they work. It helps that they are small; anyone can take them. Yet, if we do so, calm, courage, and common sense--a growing circle of light--will radiate all around us. Who would have foreseen that gratitude could shine forth with new brightness in these dark days? May it light our way.

Bro. David Steindl-Rast