While I’m waiting for my new tech toy I’m still typing on a keyboard.  We are an all Apple household except for keyboards. I never liked Apple keyboards, even the extended ones that I’ve had (I need that numeric keypad).  The keys seem too small for my fingers (I have big hands) and I need a steeper angle.

I found a terrific keyboard – Matias mechanical keyboard for MACs . One of the pros for this keyboard was the little riser feet – you could have the keyboard almost completely flat or flip them out and get a steeper angle. Also, best of all, all the ‘extra’ symbols are printed right on the keys – need the degree sign – easy to find, it’s printed right on the key, just click ‘option’ plus the key and voilà. Actually the accent over the ‘a’ in voilà is also right there on the keyboard – quick and easy. One of the downsides to the keyboard is that it is huge without the keys being any larger than a regular keyboard – bummer. I’ve had two of these keyboards, and they are a bit pricey, can’t remember why I had to replace my first one but…

Last week I was working at my computer and I saw a tiny black ant, I smooshed the fellow and then saw another, and another! What the heck? Where were the ants coming from? I don’t eat at my desk; checking along the window sill, along the baseboards – no hint of ants. I mentioned it to my husband and he said “Hey, I’ve noticed the same thing but only on the desk with my work computer.” (My husband has 2 desks, side by side, one for his work computer and the other for his personal computer.) The only connection I could find is that the desks with ants are both next to windows, and yet, there is no indication that the ants are coming in through the windows. Hmmm…

After a week of smooshing ants I was getting really annoyed and puzzled by the ant situation. Then I noticed they seemed to be coming from my keyboard! WTH? I flipped my keyboard over and gave it a good shake and here come a few more. I did the same to my husbands keyboard with the same result. Question answered (more or less). So the keyboards were tossed. My Matias and my husband’s Apple keyboard. I gave my husband my old Apple keyboard and I resurrected, from the “techie stuff no one uses or knows what it’s for” box a wireless, tenkeyless Apple keyboard. I swear that thing is smaller than a phone keyboard. I then searched for new keyboards.

Without going into a lot more background of the whys, I found a keyboard for old people – big keys printed with big letters – easy to read and use. They come in several configurations including black printing on yellow keys, how that is helpful I have no idea. I bought white print on black keys for my husband, it was a bit pricey, and I found a (much) cheaper keyboard for myself that looked like it might suit my big hands (and lousy typing skills). His was a winner, mine, not so much. So, I broke down and bought myself the old person’s large print, big keys keyboard too.

I gotta say, while I don’t particularly need the large print aspect I do love the the large keys part.  I’m not sure how much it will improve my typing skills (I’ve already fixed numerous typos) but then I’m still getting used to it. I miss my special symbols keys on the Matias and the cheapo replacement I had bought had some nifty shortcut keys (like a key to take a screenshot, that was cool) but I am enjoying it.

I suspect if anyone has read this far you are bored to death  but who knows someone might find it useful.