Keyboard was Rubber mulch

Leo A. Martin leo@possi.org
Sun, 12 Oct 2014 11:33:06 PDT
Tim wrote to Alberto

> Looks like you are having trouble with your "v".  When I called tech support
> for the same problem, they told me to turn the keyboard over and smack it on my desk

Alberto replied

> The problem is that it is brand new and not cheap: I was
> wondering if hurling it through the window nine
> stories down would not fix it.

Most more-expensive keyboards have keys that can be removed for cleaning, or pranks on
teachers, fellow workers or relatives. There is a special tool for this purpose, often
available at computer stores. A small 2-tined fork, such as a pickle fork, can also be
used for this purpose, as can a nutpick. A nine-story drop with some added kinetic
energy at the start will cause the V key to behave the same as the other keys.

A given spot on the keyboard will always produce the same letter no matter what is
printed on the key. Key assignment can be changed with software. A good prank is to
remove the keys and then put them back on the keyboard in alphabetical order. Or, see
how many bulbous genera you can spell out without reusing keys. (Bulb content alert.)

Years ago in high school/secondary school I took typing tests on manual typewriters
whose keys had been replaced overnight by the teacher with blank keys.

Leo Martin
Phoenix Arizona USA




More information about the pbs mailing list