Inevitably, you will have the need to be able to navigate your computer without the use of a mouse. So when this situation comes up, you can know what to do by simply reading this article titled “How To Navigate and Use Computer Without [a] Mouse or Touchpad“.

The article gives you a couple of methods which will allow you to control the mouse cursor with your keyboard. While (obviously) much slower than using a mouse, it will get the job done.

Hopefully, this situation doesn’t occur often (if ever) for you, but if it does at least you know what to do.

As I say in the video below, it does amaze me how many people are not aware of the simple shortcuts one can use to navigate though text quickly – and in many cases faster than you would with a mouse.

For some of you, what’s listed here will make you say to yourself, "Okay, who doesn’t know these keyboard shortcuts?" Quite a few, actually. You’d be surprised.

I label these as keyboard shortcuts everybody should know because if you rely too much on your mouse, it can prove to be a huge time waster. It can mean the difference between taking five minutes to type up something and thirty.

Using myself as an example, what I used to do to save time was memorize the keyboard shortcuts from the context menus in Windows applications. Using something like Notepad, what I used to do for copying years ago was – and I kid you not – ALT+E, C. For cut I used to do ALT+E, T. (These commands do in fact still work, even in Windows 7.) I wasn’t stuck on the mouse. I was stuck on context menus, as odd as that sounds. Fortunately I got out of that nasty habit and started copy/cut/pasting the proper way.

Here are the shortcuts mentioned in the video below. Some of these are very obvious, but bear in mind what’s obvious to you may not be to another.

HOME

Go to beginning of line.

END

Go to end of line (insert lame TRON reference here).

Left/Right Arrow

Move left or right, character by character.

SHIFT + Left/Right Arrow

Move left or right, character by character, highlighting text as you move.

CTRL + Left/Right Arrow

Move left or right, word by word.

CTRL + SHIFT + Left/Right Arrow

Move left or right, word by word, highlighting text as you move.

SHIFT + CTRL + HOME/END

Selects all text before (HOME) or after (END) the current position of the cursor.

CTRL + A

Select all text

CTRL + X

Cut text

CTRL + Z

Undo a cut

CTRL + C

Copy text

CTRL + V

Paste text

It’s not just a keyboard, it’s the whole computer. A keyboard with the computer built in and an 800×480 touchscreen display/trackpad on the right.

I had two initial thoughts when I saw this thing on Engadget.

First, there’s going to be a lot of strained necks. This is absolutely not ergo-friendly whatsoever. Cool, yes, but not ergonomically sound.

Second, I immediately thought, "Hey, this is reminiscent of the old Commodore 64!" Several comment posters on the link above said the exact same thing.

This computer is not available for purchase yet, but most likely soon will be. Yes, it will have XP on it.

I find it interesting that when it comes to computers, history repeats itself often. The Commodore 64 to this day is the best-selling computer of all time. The Eee Keyboard essentially goes back to that winning formula Commodore had, that being a small, low-priced, feature-rich, easy-to-use computer.

Will the Eee Keyboard sell as much as the Commodore did? I doubt it.

But I do admit I’d really like to own one. More so than a traditional laptop.

After reading the title of this post, you are probably thinking to yourself: KVM. This tip is not about a KVM, rather a unique open source project called Synergy.

From their about page:

With synergy, all the computers on your desktop form a single virtual screen. You use the mouse and keyboard of only one of the computers while you use all of the monitors on all of the computers. You tell synergy how many screens you have and their positions relative to one another. Synergy then detects when the mouse moves off the edge of a screen and jumps it instantly to the neighboring screen. The keyboard works normally on each screen; input goes to whichever screen has the cursor.

Awesome.

I can see this tool being incredibly useful for PC shops which may have lots of computer running at once. This allows you to use a single mouse and keyboard to control all of them. The only catch is you have to have a monitor for each computer.

Personally I don’t have any use for this tool, but if anyone has ever used it please post your experience with it.

It’s been two weeks since I received my Saitek Eclipse keyboard (original article here), and if there was anything that could have gone wrong it would have happened by now.

With that said, here’s how it’s fared out so far.

First I’ll note that I do a ton of writing (obviously) so I have put the keyboard thru its paces and no, I’m not a gamer.

Overall feel

The first thing I noticed in the negative respect is that the keys felt "spongey". What I can say now is that they don’t feel that way any longer. This is a keyboard that definitely has to be "broken in", so to speak. The feel of the keys is now better than it was two weeks ago.

Lighting

All the lights still work, but as some past reviewers of this keyboard have noticed (as do I), the topmost keys are a bit on the dim side. And when I say topmost I’m referring to the function keys, PrntScrn/Scroll Lock/Pause keys and so on. But being I don’t use those keys too often it’s not that big of a deal.

Ergonomics

The supplied keyboard wrist rest is more or less worthless for me for the fact it has a slope. I plan on getting a regular "ugly" soft-padded rest. What a keyboard wrist rest is supposed to do is keep your wrists level with your hands, and this one definitely does not do that whatsoever.

Cool looking? Yes. Functional? Yes. Ergo-friendly? No.

Noise

Only now do I realize how LOUD my previous keyboard was compared to the Saitek. I’m liking the fact I don’t hear constant click-clacking. Granted, yes it’s still there (you can’t completely eliminate it), but it’s almost as quiet as my laptop keyboard.

My only complaint is that I also realize I was going by sound when typing certain words and phrases on my previous keyboard, so I’ve had to re-learn how to type a few things. Not a big deal.

Proper height/spacing

Some keyboards try to do things differently by offering taller keys or having them spaced further apart, etc. The Saitek is just a standard layout and it’s very much appreciated.

Verdict

I don’t regret the purchase. At first I thought I might but now that’s it’s broken in I’m getting along with it nicely.

Pictured: The Saitek Eclipse computer keyboard (click image for full-size view). I just bought two of these on a Black Friday special from NewEgg. They were $29.99 a piece including shipping. It was a deal I couldn’t pass up for this keyboard because of specific features. Continued

It amazes me to this day how many people are unaware to basic tenets of ergonomics concerning daily computer use.

Ergonomics as it pertains to you is to use your computer in a way that minimizes any damage to your body, hearing or vision in any way.

Instead of getting into all the technical crapola about it, I’ll instead just do simply question/answer style. Continued

One of the most exciting things you will ever read in the world of technology is a keyboard review. I was, however, super interested because my Microsoft keyboard failed – yet again. What to replace it with? And this time, no Microsoft crap.

Continued

DVD Burner: Samsung 20X DVD+/-R model SG-S202J, Black
Price: $22.99 (with free shipping, a true-blue $22.99)

My opinion: Samsung = Good brand, good deal.

19-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor: Acer AL1916WAbd
Price: $169.99 (with free shipping)

My opinion: Acer = Decent brand (not perfect but decent), awesome price point, 1440×900 which is proper for this size, 5ms and you can’t go wrong for this price. Has massively good reviews across the board. It is rare to see a monitor with that many positive reviews on it. And it’s cheap.

Computer keyboard: Lite-On SK-1788
Price: $6.99 + $7.00 shipping (yes, I know, ridiculous)

My opinion: One of the cheapest keyboards with low-profile keys on it (a plus). Also has laser-printed keycaps. What does this mean? It means the lettering won’t wear off as quick as others (another plus). In addition it has no branding on it and it’s low-noise (no CLICK-CLICK-CLACK-CLICK). For those that hate any sort of brand-label on their ‘boards, this is for you. Drawback: PS/2 and not USB. But nothing a converter can’t fix.

UPS: APC BE350R
Price: $43.99 + $15.47 shipping

My opinion: UPS + power outlets in brick form = convenient. Saves your box from going dead when the power goes out plus isn’t as inconvenient as a big-box UPS (but not as good either). For the price this is inexpensive. And yes I know this isn’t an upgrade per se but if you don’t have a UPS, get one.

Additional note to the above: I’m going to reinforce the point by saying this lil’ UPS is definitely not as good as the bigger brother versions. However it does get the job done in a minimal sense (i.e. if the power clicks off for a few minutes then comes back on, this will do the job – but for any outage longer than that, no).