Keyboard characters wearing out

Nabeel · 03-12-2015, 12:48 PM

This is a pretty basic, unsophisticated problem...

There must be something odd about the way I type. I find that within about four months, the characters on my keyboards begin to wear out, and - first - the E, R, A and S begin to fade away.

Of course, I know where they are, and I can continue typing. But it does make a difference to typing.

I've taken to going on Ebay, and looking for a set of replacement keyboard stickers. These don't cost much (£2 - £4), but it is frustrating to get a full 'QWERTY' set when I only need to replace four characters. And then these stick-on plastic characters don't last long... Often only a month or two.

Anyone got any advice? Are there are heavy-duty characters available anywhere? Are there any other solutions?

theducks · 03-12-2015, 01:12 PM

Is this a special keyboard (built in) or a wireless/cable attached keyboard?

Wired Keyboards can be dirt cheap (and the key feel is also) $9 and can hit over $100 for a Gamers special. I usually go for a used (older model) IBM/Dell at the local surplus store. though my recent purchase was a LED back lighted AZIO

Wireless (USB dongle) start at $20

It has been a Long time since IBM 'clicky' keyboards were the standard. Those also had the letters cast into the keys, not 'hot stamped' or painted (screened) on

HarryT · 03-12-2015, 01:13 PM

Good quality keyboards generally do have the letters "all the way through" the keys, rather than just surface printed. I'd suggest that the OP get such a keyboard.

theducks · 03-12-2015, 01:21 PM

IMHO cheap keyboards are for throw away applications, not routine desk use.
When I was in POS field service, I was forever dragging a (normal) keyboard around in my car. It got dropped, banged and roasted (warped the plastic while the car was parked). Typical life: 3 months

DiapDealer · 03-12-2015, 01:24 PM

You could look into the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning to learn how to control your abilities. It's either that, or have the acid-producing glands surgically removed from your hands.

delph · 03-12-2015, 02:34 PM

I have the same issue, though with different letters. Laser etched keys are the only thing I've found that resist my fingers (or maybe my hand products). I still wear the paint out of those eventually, leaving only the engraving. My primary keyboard is now a CM Quick Fire Stealth. The characters are engraved on the front side of the key, so my fingers never come into contact with them. There may be other keyboards with the keys printed the same way.

For more than you ever wanted to know about keyboards, geekhack.org is also a great resource.

theducks · 03-12-2015, 03:36 PM

I always liked the ruggedness of these type

Barbara1955 · 03-12-2015, 04:30 PM

You could paint them on with Nail Polish. When the K3 ereader had those problems that was a suggestion several folks made. I no clue how long they last bur nail polish is only $1 for elcheepo & there is enough in the bottle to last awhile.

murg · 03-12-2015, 04:35 PM

Get an illuminated keyboard. The letters will be embedded clearish plastic, so they won't wear out.

And you can see what you're typing in the dark...

Nabeel · 03-12-2015, 05:10 PM

Thank you all for your responses.

I am working on a laptop, so a new keyboard isn't really the answer.

I will have a look at geekhack, and I'll try the nail varnish trick.

alanHd · 03-12-2015, 05:13 PM

what about nail art pens and redoing the letters.

delph · 03-12-2015, 05:34 PM

Depending on construction, illuminated keyboards potentially have a similar issue of paint rubbing off. I had a Saitek Eclipse for a while, and that's exactly what happened. The paint on the top of the key wore off instead of just the character, so I had a blob of lighted key. A blank key beats a blob of light key any day in my opinion.

I'm not trying to be discouraging. I'm just sharing my own experience since I've worn through a lot of N and S keys. I also wear the texture off of a particular part of spacebars, seemingly regardless of finish. I'll go to Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning with Nabeel.

DiapDealer · 03-12-2015, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delph

I'll go to Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning with Nabeel.

When you get there, tell Professor X that The Shy Kid Who Used to Randomly Turn Into Farina says; "hey."

cromag · 03-12-2015, 05:59 PM

On my Acer netbook the letters aren't centered on the key, they're printed on the upper left quadrant. Since my fingers tend to hit the center of the keys, I'm safe.

Might be something to look for if anyone is looking for a replacement keyboard.

fjtorres · 03-12-2015, 06:30 PM

You can buy keyboard stickers like these:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/190438895582

All sorts of designs and languages are available on ebay, amazon, abd elsewhere.

It is a common problem on laptops.

03-12-2015, 12:48 PM	#1
Nabeel Zealot Posts: 147 Karma: 2747136 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Britain Device: Kobo Aura One	Keyboard characters wearing out This is a pretty basic, unsophisticated problem... There must be something odd about the way I type. I find that within about four months, the characters on my keyboards begin to wear out, and - first - the E, R, A and S begin to fade away. Of course, I know where they are, and I can continue typing. But it does make a difference to typing. I've taken to going on Ebay, and looking for a set of replacement keyboard stickers. These don't cost much (£2 - £4), but it is frustrating to get a full 'QWERTY' set when I only need to replace four characters. And then these stick-on plastic characters don't last long... Often only a month or two. Anyone got any advice? Are there are heavy-duty characters available anywhere? Are there any other solutions?

03-12-2015, 02:34 PM	#6
delph Tabby Posts: 154 Karma: 225372 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portland, OR, US Device: Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Mini, Lenovo Yoga 2 10"	I have the same issue, though with different letters. Laser etched keys are the only thing I've found that resist my fingers (or maybe my hand products). I still wear the paint out of those eventually, leaving only the engraving. My primary keyboard is now a CM Quick Fire Stealth. The characters are engraved on the front side of the key, so my fingers never come into contact with them. There may be other keyboards with the keys printed the same way. For more than you ever wanted to know about keyboards, geekhack.org is also a great resource. Last edited by delph; 03-12-2015 at 02:36 PM. Reason: add reference to geekhack

03-12-2015, 03:36 PM	#7
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,891 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I always liked the ruggedness of these type Attached Thumbnails

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03-12-2015, 01:12 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,891 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Is this a special keyboard (built in) or a wireless/cable attached keyboard? Wired Keyboards can be dirt cheap (and the key feel is also) $9 and can hit over $100 for a Gamers special. I usually go for a used (older model) IBM/Dell at the local surplus store. though my recent purchase was a LED back lighted AZIO Wireless (USB dongle) start at $20 It has been a Long time since IBM 'clicky' keyboards were the standard. Those also had the letters cast into the keys, not 'hot stamped' or painted (screened) on

03-12-2015, 01:13 PM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Good quality keyboards generally do have the letters "all the way through" the keys, rather than just surface printed. I'd suggest that the OP get such a keyboard.

03-12-2015, 01:21 PM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,891 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	IMHO cheap keyboards are for throw away applications, not routine desk use. When I was in POS field service, I was forever dragging a (normal) keyboard around in my car. It got dropped, banged and roasted (warped the plastic while the car was parked). Typical life: 3 months

03-12-2015, 01:24 PM	#5
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,352 Karma: 203720150 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	You could look into the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning to learn how to control your abilities. It's either that, or have the acid-producing glands surgically removed from your hands.

03-12-2015, 04:30 PM	#8
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	You could paint them on with Nail Polish. When the K3 ereader had those problems that was a suggestion several folks made. I no clue how long they last bur nail polish is only $1 for elcheepo & there is enough in the bottle to last awhile.

03-12-2015, 04:35 PM	#9
murg No Comment Posts: 3,240 Karma: 23878043 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Device: Kobo: Not just an eReader, it's an adventure!	Get an illuminated keyboard. The letters will be embedded clearish plastic, so they won't wear out. And you can see what you're typing in the dark...

03-12-2015, 05:10 PM	#10
Nabeel Zealot Posts: 147 Karma: 2747136 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Britain Device: Kobo Aura One	Thank you all for your responses. I am working on a laptop, so a new keyboard isn't really the answer. I will have a look at geekhack, and I'll try the nail varnish trick.

03-12-2015, 05:13 PM	#11
alanHd Addict Posts: 374 Karma: 1408579 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle Touch, Ipod Touch, Ipad Air	what about nail art pens and redoing the letters.

03-12-2015, 05:34 PM	#12
delph Tabby Posts: 154 Karma: 225372 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portland, OR, US Device: Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Mini, Lenovo Yoga 2 10"	Depending on construction, illuminated keyboards potentially have a similar issue of paint rubbing off. I had a Saitek Eclipse for a while, and that's exactly what happened. The paint on the top of the key wore off instead of just the character, so I had a blob of lighted key. A blank key beats a blob of light key any day in my opinion. I'm not trying to be discouraging. I'm just sharing my own experience since I've worn through a lot of N and S keys. I also wear the texture off of a particular part of spacebars, seemingly regardless of finish. I'll go to Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning with Nabeel.

03-12-2015, 05:59 PM	#14
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,009 Karma: 459735575 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	On my Acer netbook the letters aren't centered on the key, they're printed on the upper left quadrant. Since my fingers tend to hit the center of the keys, I'm safe. Might be something to look for if anyone is looking for a replacement keyboard.

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03-12-2015, 06:30 PM	#15
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	You can buy keyboard stickers like these: http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/190438895582 All sorts of designs and languages are available on ebay, amazon, abd elsewhere. It is a common problem on laptops.