[Comfort] [Cases] [Processors] [Memory] [Disks] [Input devices] [Monitors] [Graphic Cards] [Printers] Input devices provide your most direct contact with your computer. They are pretty cheap, but strongly affect how you feel as you work. It pays to put extra effort into getting the right one(s) for you. Here is information on some choices, with comments.
 | Keyboards (flat and ergonomic) |
| Mice |
| Other input devices (trackballs, touchpads and pen pads) |
Keyboards
Your keyboard is the most personal part of your computer. Here are some things that determine how a keyboard will affect you:
| The size of the keys |
| The "touch" (how much keys resist when you press them) |
| The sound: does it click when you press a key? |
| The layout. Questions to think about include: |
| Is it flat or ergonomically shaped? |
| Are the Page Up and Down keys convenient for you? |
| Are there duplicate arrow keys? Where are they placed? |
| On a PC, is a Windows key important to you? |
Keyboard types
Flat
The old style, flat, keyboard doesn't place the hands at an angle that typists find comfortable over long periods.
Ergonomic
Many types of ergonomic keyboards exist. Most have a raised center, designed to keep the hands at a more natural angle while typing. Although usually not standard issue with new systems, you may find the option of a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard (pictured above), a good example of the type.
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Mice
Just as important as the keyboard these days, mice come in many shapes and sizes. Obviously, not every model will be right for your hand. If you can, test the fit and ease of movement. A mouse should fall comfortably under your palm, with your wrist resting on a raised surface (like, well, a wrist rest) and your index finger on the left (or only) button. With it, you should be able to maneuver the cursor effortlessly by moving only your hand from a stable wrist position.
| Don't rest your arm weight on the mouse as you move it—no mouse can stand up to that. |
| Some mice come in left-handed models: investigate one if this is an issue for you. |
Alert for Mac buyers!
This used to be a warning about the round hockey-puck mouse that came with iMacs and some G4s. It was small, and so perfectly round that you couldn't feel which way was up.
Fortunately, Apple now ships the ProMouse, a very cool, transparent device with no buttons (you press the entire mouse to click). It is even longer than the usual mouse, so you never have to wonder how to hold it—it just sits beautifully in your hand.
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Other input devices
Trackballs. If (like me), you want to find a comfortable spot for your arm and hand and rest them there, a trackball may be right for you. Or, if you don't have room for a mouse pad on your desk, a trackball will save space.
A trackball is essentially a mouse turned over, with the rolling ball on top for you to manipulate with a thumb or finger. Musicians tend to like them, maybe because they have good independent finger control. (I wonder about percussionists....)
Touch pads
These are flat surfaces, sometimes built into the keyboard (another space-saver). You control the mouse by dragging and tapping your finger on the flat surface.
Pens and pads
You hold these thin pen devices just like real pens and move them over a pad that senses their movement. If you pay enough, the pad will even sense the pressure that you apply to the stroke.
They are particularly useful (in fact, indispensable) for artists using drawing or painting programs. Wacom (pronounced whack-em) is the standard brand, though there are other good ones.