It’s been a while since I’ve checked in. Plenty happening in the interim, but at the same time, nothing of tremendous import. Funny, that. I have been making strides with the new machine, though, and, in large part, the switch from PC to Mac is nearly complete.
I’m now using Entourage for mail/calendar/contacts — although I’m not totally sold — and have started doing some design work on the powerbook. I still rely on my PC for web design work, but that is mostly because my design files are still on the PC. That and my personal finances. Soon enough they will all be playing with Team Mac.
The big question still remaining, though, is what keyboard to use. I know, not the most exciting topic. In fact, a seemingly irrelevant topic to some. A keyboard is a keyboard, right? Well, not really, at least not for me. Some time ago I jumped on the ergo bandwagon and my hands and WPM have been thanking me ever since. With the advent of Mac in my life, however, the need for a new ‘board became dire.
After some prerequisite research powered by my personal secretary, Google, I recently bought a new ergo board with a really crazy key layout, the Smartboard:
After nearly two weeks of use, I have two major complaints. First of, the key are clickity-clack LOUD, and lacking that nice, soft resistance that I like so much. That just won’t do. Second, and more importantly, the layout of the keys is just too different from a normal keyboard. The Smartboard was designed for more natural finger movements, so not only are the keys differentially sized according to distance from the typing start position, they are also in a straight grid instead of the normal staggered rows of keys. I’d be totally game for reconditioning myself to rock this keyboard but for the unavoidable presence of “normal” keyboards elsewhere in my life, everywhere from the PowerBook keyboard to the Microsoft Natural keyboard at work.
So, not to be outdone — or without a functioning ergo ‘board — I think I’ve decided upon a keyboard that will work. I’ve read nothing but good things about the Kinesis Maxim:
It is a bit pricier, but hey, at what cost do we sacrifice our hands? I love my hands and would hate to get holed up with Carpel Tunnel or something of the like. As minor — and geeky — as my search for the perfect keyboard may be, it is, at the root, a noble quest for the health of my digits. After all, if I developed repetitive stress syndrome, postings to this blog would become even more infrequent than they already are! Just be thankful I didn’t go out and buy something like this:
So there you have the Mac update. I think I’ll wrap up this vignette of posts about the new machine and get on to bigger and better things real soon. Important issues like the effects of summer fog on one’s mental stability and the secret connections between Buckminster Fuller and H.P. Lovecraft. Y’all come back now, ya here?
NOTE: For more keyboard fun, check out this hall of geekdom.
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