How to Choose A Keyboard and Mouse


Keyboard
  • Ergonomics?
    • It takes some getting used to ergonomic keyboards but if you like them and you think its worth the extra money then go for it.
  • Special Features?
    • Some keyboards have hot buttons for email, volume control, and other neat stuff right on the motherboard. These features are neat, but I don't know if they are worth the extra cost.
  • MiniDIN-5 vs. DIN-6
    • Most keyboards these days use MiniDIN-5 connectors to connect to the PC these connectors look like PS/2 mouse connectors. Make sure you get the keyboard with the right connector for your motherboard. Sometimes if you have to buy an adapter, it can cost as much as a new keyboard. The older style connector is a DIN-6 connector, this connect was used for years but is not common on ATX motherboards.
  • USB?
    • Why bother...
RECOMMENDATION:

Purchase a keyboard your like, you are going to get some use out of it. I personally like ergonomic keyboards but they cost more, I wouldn't bother with any extra features on the keyboard, I don't even like the windows 95 buttons that are on keyboards now. You can pick up a decent keyboard for under $10 bucks, just buy the generic PS/2 keyboard and you will be happy as can be.

 

Mouse
  • PS/2 vs. Serial
    • Serial is the old style connectors for mice. Most mice these days have PS/2 connectors, some even come with adapters so you can use them on serial ports.
  • Thumbball / Trackball?
    • Harder to use for playing games, but the mouse cord never gets tangled up, and you never have to pull more cord on to the desk. The insides also tend to stay cleaner, and you don't need a mouse pad. These mice also tend to cost more.
  • Scroll Wheel?
    • A definite must if you do any kind of word processing, Internet surfing, or game playing. That should pretty much cover everyone.
  • 3 Button?
    • The more the merrier.
  • Ergonomics
    • The most important issue is how the mouse feels in your hand. This is a device you are going to use a lot possibly more than your keyboard.
RECOMMENDATION:

I always spend more on mice than I do on keyboards. The keyboard is important, but you have to like your mouse, your keyboard will never frustrate you ( unless you spill soda on it, then the keys stick, I hate that...) I prefer a Thumball with a scroll wheel, which is essentially a 3 button mouse. This mouse doesn't work well for gaming, at least I haven't gotten good enough with it yet. So I always grab a cheap "normal" mouse if I am going to be gaming for awhile. If you game more than anything else you should get a regular style mouse.
Copyright © 1999 How To PC. All rights reserved.
Revised: October 12, 1999.