Thursday, February 8, 2007

#7 Ergonomics and feeling good around your PC

The sun is out, its up to 18 degrees, all is well in the world. Well maybe not my wrists.


When I added a mini Mac computer to the top of my Ultra Tower I had to make some compromises on Keyboards and mice. I had been using the Microsoft ergonomic keyboard for several years. That keyboard looks real funky. It separates the the keys into two parts and creates a rest area for your wrists. While using that keyboard I never had a pain one in my wrist. After the addition of the Mac, I chose to use the Mac Keyboard and a new USB mouse for both of my computers. I have a switch that switches the keyboard, mouse, display and speakers between the Mac and the Ultra. The Mac Keyboard is very compact. It has a more cramped traditional keyboard look. The mouse is a plain Keytronic USB optical mouse (PCSS $15!). Since starting to blog I have notice a bit of pain in my wrists after extensive typing. If I stop and rest the pain goes away. Might be time to switch back to the big keyboard and save a wrist.

I have been using thin LCD monitor displays for 5 years now. When I switched from the old Clunker CRT monitors, I immediately noticed no more evening headaches. Those big CRT put out a bit of radiation that I think caused my headaches. Even today if I have to work on a PC with a CRT type monitor, the headaches come back. If you still have CRT monitors, PLEASE change over to the LCD type. They aren't that expensive and it will save me a headache next time I have to work on your PC.

Chow...(Ciao!)

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