Cheap Computer Keyboards
Choosing a keyboard and mouse for your
computer may not sound like the most important choice you need to make,
but remember, you will be using them every time you use your computer.
Here are a few things to think about before choosing your keyboard and
mouse.
Keyboards
There are many types of keyboards on the market today. Each type seems to
have its unique features and benefits. The standard QWERTY keyboard with a
cord and a PS2 connector is still a good choice. They are very dependable
(almost indestructible save fluids dropped on them) and are very
cheap.
There are the wireless keyboards and they
are useful because you are not tethered to your computer. They give you
the freedom to move around the room or your environment and still be able
to input. I don't move around to much when I work on my computer but it is
handy for such things as WEB TV.
There are ergonomic keyboards which tout
stress relieving qualities and better control. I tried using one of these
back when Microsoft first came out with them but I never really got used
to it. Some people swear by them so it just is a matter of taste and
comfort.
There are illuminated keyboards, slim
keyboards, mini-keyboards, flexible keyboards, and it goes on. You really
need to determine for yourself what is the best way to go. Since this site
focuses on building a cheap but quality computer, it will focus mainly on
where to get a good keyboard at an extremely affordable price.
The Mouse (and other
pointing devices)
The mouse is a great invention.
Invented by Douglas Engelbart of Stanford
Research Center in 1963, and pioneered by Xerox in the 1970s, the mouse is
one of the great breakthroughs in computer ergonomics because it frees the
user to a large extent from using the keyboard. In particular, the mouse
is important for GUI (graphical user interface) because you can simply
point to an object and a mouse button.
There are three basic types of mice:
- mechanical:
Has a rubber or metal ball on its underside that can roll in all
directions. Mechanical sensors within the mouse detect the direction the
ball is rolling and move the screen pointer accordingly.
- optomechanical:
Same as a mechanical mouse, but uses optical sensors to detect motion of
the ball.
- optical:
Uses a laser to detect the mouse's movement. You must move the mouse
along a special mat with a grid so that the optical mechanism has a
frame of reference. Optical mice have no mechanical moving parts. They
respond more quickly and precisely than mechanical and optomechanical
mice, but they are also more expensive.
Mice connect to PCs in one of several
ways:
- A Serial Mouse connects directly to an
RS-232 serial portor a PS/2 port. This is the simplest type of connection.
- PS/2 mice connect to a PS/2 port.
- USB mice.
Cordless mice aren't physically connected
to the computer at all. Instead they rely on infrared or radio waves to
communicate with the computer. Cordless mice are more expensive than both
serial and bus mice, but they do eliminate the cord, which can sometimes
get in the way.
There are also other types of pointing
devices like trackballs and handheld wands. A good quality cheap computer
mouse will work in almost all applications. Getting one that is cordless
may be a good idea since my mouse cord gets in the way sometimes. I am
considering a cordless optical mouse right now.
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