Ask advice: How to label keyboard keys?
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I’ve started having a problem with my keyboard as the letters are wearing off some of the keys. I understand that old keyboards had the letters printed all the way through, but I admit this is a cheap modern keyboard, it was only bought last November, but I did participate in NaNoWriMo. It wasn’t a problem at first because I can touch type, however now that so many letters have worn away it is sometimes difficult to find the right keys, especially if I’m typing in just a few letters like a password.
I am not keen to replace the whole keyboard because it still works, but I don’t have any practical ideas on how to label the keys and I’m hoping some of you will be able to make suggestions.
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Easy… don’t label them at all! There is a company that sells the ‘Das Keyboard’ which has no labels at all. Apparently it increases your typing speed greatly, but forcing you to use the right fingers for the right keys and stops you looking down at the keyboard (as their is no reason to). Looking at the keyboard I’d say you type ‘yes’ and ‘no’ lots :).
September 25th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Hello Benjamin,
Fortunately I can touch type, so if I am typing a lot I don’t need to look at the keys, but the problem is if I am just pressing a few keys and then I frequently get confused.
The Y key actually fine and not showing any sign of wear, so I think it must just be no I type a lot!
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:46 am
i have quickly looked at this website
http://www.latkey.com/glowing_stickers.asp?SubCat=14
how about that?
its probably more expensive than an new keyboad tho,
depends if you have a material value for that one
October 8th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Thank you englishman for the link. I haven’t seen those stickers before, the closest I’ve got is very large letters to make it easier to read the keys.
I have considered using the stickers or perhaps transfers, but I’m worried they will start peeling off. My best idea for keeping the stickers on is clear nail varnish.
October 9th, 2007 at 11:35 am
Seeing as how it’s a black keyboard, it’s a little difficult to grab a sharpie and fill them in but, I would still recommend a simple solution like a metallic sharpie, better to have the ultra fine or something and fill them in, that might work. And for future keyboards, you should try a protector, or maybe a piece of suran wrap
January 12th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Hello Manda,
Thank you for the comment, I found it very intriguing because I have never heard of a metallic sharpie before! It is good idea to use a light coloured pen, I have been considering using stickers or transfers. However I am aware that I have rubbed the letters off the keys so I am worried about the staying power, so I have been considering using clear nail varnish over the top.
Next time, I think I will invest in a more expensive keyboard and hope they have printed the letters all the way through the key!
January 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Sharpie wears off within a few days… I know this from experience! I have a light-grey keyboard and used a black sharpie to write in four letters that had worn off from regular use. I did that on Thursday and the letters are already almost gone (Saturday)! I can touch type, but I sometimes use my laptop in therapy sessions to play educational games with young clients, so I need the letters to be visible. Did anybody come up with any solutions to this problem? I can buy individual keys on Ebay, but at almost $4 a key I’d rather not do that. I have looked for decals but haven’t found anything yet.
Any suggestions?
February 24th, 2008 at 6:25 am
Sarah,
I had not thought about buying spare keys. At the moment I have used adhesive labels on my keys, however some of them are starting to curl at the edges so I now need to find away of varnishing them and see if that helps them stay down.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
About 6 keys on my black (notebook) keyboard have almost completely worn off, so I’m going to replace them with white rub-off lettering finished with several coats of clear nail varnish. This has happened to every keyboard I’ve ever had but I’ve never tried to replace the letters before; just hope it works!
February 28th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Hello pussycat,
I have used adhesive stickers and nail varnish on my keys. I’ve only used one layer of nail varnish, but I will add another layer when I see the gloss start disappearing from the keys.
March 1st, 2008 at 6:50 pm
The Letraset worked ok but I had real problems with the nail varnish, as it just dissolved the Letraset on contact (DOH!) I realise I should probably have keyboard stickers but anyone know where to get ‘normal’ sized letters (as opposed to oversized ones) in English?
March 6th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Hello pussycat,
Unless you are in the UK I can’t help you on where to source stickers. I got mine from a local general store. My best suggestion is to try a stationers.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:40 am