The standard color for any computer-related item made of plastic these days (keyboards, mice, monitor bezels, etc.) is black or silver. Black is usually a true black, as in the plastic was molded originally in that color. Silver comes from paint, and to the best of my knowledge the base color before the silver is white or gray. Usually white. Once upon a time...

If you’re over 30, you’re going to feel your age a bit after reading this. I read a quick article about Apple OS X Lion where tech journalists are – and there’s really no other way to say this – bitching up a storm about Apple’s new OS being too overly heavy with its iOS influence. What caught my eye however is a comment made...

Many people prefer old-style computer keyboards that use real mechanical keyswitches because they simply feel better on the fingers even if they are clicky-clacky loud. If you thought you had to go on eBay and scrounge up an old IBM Model M keyboard, that’s not necessary. It is possible to buy keyboards brand new with those sought-after mechanical...

With all the talk about Google’s Cr-48 notebook having a Caps Lock key as ‘Search’, I wondered if it were possible to do this in Windows. The answer is yes. First I tried Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator. No luck there because it does not allow you to remap the Caps Lock along with several other keys. Next I went with the tried-and-true...

If you’ve been using computers long enough, you have made every one of these mistakes at least 5 times or more. 1. Accidentally hitting the Insert key You’re typing up a document and go to make an edit in the middle of a sentence, and the letters start getting “eaten” away. You freak out because you think something is dreadfully wrong....

These tips are for use in supported browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome etc.), meaning they probably won’t work in Opera or other alternative browser. JavaScript also needs to be enabled in order for these to work (you would know if you turned if off). Yahoo! MailSearch mail: s Forward message: f Reply to all: a Turn the reading pane on or off:...

The keyboard is the most used physical thing attached to your computer. It is very difficult (but not impossible) to operate your operating system without one. When it comes to keyboards there are four basic types of users: From-OEM This is not a bad option as OEMs typically provide decent keyboards. Even the cheapest Dell box comes provided with a...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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. My original reason for wanting this keyboard was not for me but rather for my father....

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...

DVD Burner: Samsung 20X DVD+/-R model SG-S202J, BlackPrice: $22.99 (with free shipping, a true-blue $22.99) My opinion: Samsung = Good brand, good deal. 19-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor: Acer AL1916WAbdPrice: $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...