SiteKeyboard Confirmation: A Guest Post by Pat Curry
This is a guest post from Pat Curry, who teaches our Writing for Trade Magazines e-course. Next session starts on January 11!
Recently, I made the decision that it was time to buy a new computer — and to make the switch from PC to Mac. It’s a big step, but one that will be useful as I grow my business in new directions.
The toughest part of the switch for me is saying good-bye to my keyboard. (I can’t imagine this one will be Mac-friendly.) That’s because, as my daughter likes to say, “Mom, your keyboard is hard-core.” And she’s right.
I have thousands of bylines that attest to the fact that I make my living as a writer. But it’s my keyboard that tells the story of the tens of thousands of hours I’ve spent at this desk working at my craft. I’ve completely worn the letters off of several keys. Several people who have used my computer to look up something online have commented that it’s tough to navigate my keyboard because so many of the keys are blank.
The space bar and the backspace key have gotten so much use that they’ve been worn down and are smooth, like rocks that are polished by constant contact with tidal waters.
But the real evidence is in the 15 keys that I’ve used so much that my fingerprints are embedded in them. Quite literally, my identity is fused into these pieces of grey plastic.
It’s put up with a lot being a writer’s keyboard — countless crumbs from my habit of wanting something crunchy to eat while I write, getting soaked from the occasional cup of coffee that gets tipped over on my desk, cats walking across the keys. Fortunately, I’m not given to fits of writer’s rage, so it’s never been smacked or whacked.
And, I’ll admit that I’ve tried other keyboards. In an attempt to reduce the number of cables on my desk, I swapped it out for a wireless one a couple of years ago and stuck it in a drawer. But the batteries kept conking out on me during interviews, which wasn’t acceptable. I needed to know my equipment was going to work when I needed it. So I pulled this out of storage and never looked back.
So, I think I might ask the computer wizards if there’s a way to make this keyboard work with whatever new piece of hardware I wind up buying. If they can’t adapt it, I’m going to turn it into a piece of artwork to display in my office, kind of like a retired jersey, a visual reminder that being a writer leaves a permanent mark. [Pat Curry]
7 Responses to “Keyboard Confirmation: A Guest Post by Pat Curry”
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Lee Laughlin
Said this on December 21st, 2009 at 9:44am:I’ve been a Mac user since the 80’s. welcome to the bright side
Is the keyboard a USB keyboard? (rectangular plug with a with a plastic rectangle inside that takes up have the space?) if so, it will work with your new Mac.
Good luck!
Lee
Jennifer Fink
Said this on December 21st, 2009 at 10:56am:You mean I’m not the only one? My keyboard is currently covered in a light dusting of crumbs and has 3 letters completely worn off and 8 partially worn off.
Jenny
Pat Curry
Said this on December 21st, 2009 at 1:42pm:My guess is that there’s a legion of “customized” keyboards out there. It was interesting to me to also look at which keys I didn’t use. My guess is that my keyboard does all kinds of cool things that I know nothing about because I just never pushed those buttons.
Jenny Berry
Said this on December 21st, 2009 at 4:43pm:Most all keyboards are Mac friendly, as long as it’s USB and even if it isn’t you can get a P2 to USB converter. I don’t think I’ve ever had a keyboard that didn’t work on a mac, so your in luck!
wordwych
Said this on December 25th, 2009 at 1:36pm:Wow, I could have written that post! I murder a keyboard every 18 months or so. I don’t mind the empty keys, of course, but when the space bar or the Enter key retreat and grumpily refuse to play anymore, I have to go buy a new one. The absolute best I ever had was a Microsoft Natural ergonomic keyboard – a humped, beige, thoroughly unattractive thing that allowed me to max out at 135 wpm. It survived soup, cats, coffee, Triscuit crumbs, a metric butt-ton of Pepsi, and a cool shower. Yes, I washed it in the shower. No soap, of course, but just a good rinse. I reasoned that it was probably dead anyway, so what the heck. After a week of drying out, it worked for another 15 months – until the fateful day I spilled plant water with liquid plant fertilizer across it. Just a dribble, but it was enough to permanently quiet the worn keys. I’ve never found another keyboard that lasted as long. I still miss using it.
LindaFormichelli
Said this on December 25th, 2009 at 2:10pm:Thanks for all your comments!
Wow, wordwych, you are lucky…I spilled — I swear — two teaspoons of tea on my MacBook keyboard and the entire computer died. I was traveling, and I had to run and buy a new one. Luckily I had been wanting a new one anyway as this one had some problems. So maybe I kinda spilled the tea on purpose.
Karen Elliott
Said this on January 10th, 2010 at 9:23pm:Fun story, Pat.