Received my Dell AT101W

[bhtooefr]

The wire one should be pretty universal.

I suspect the IBM one is to separate the keycaps from the stems, on 2-piece caps? But, you really don't need that ability - the keycaps come off on their own, rather easily.

[FKSSR]

I don't have an IBM, so I can't speak about whether the wire puller will work just as well for that one.


As far as typing, I actually don't rest my wrists while I'm typing. It's only when I'm between writing (i.e. thinking of the next thing I'm going to type).  If I'm just transcribing, my wrists never go down.  That's why I am going to get one of the flat wrist rests people recommended, because it will likely be like the plastic ones on my old keyboards.  They don't get in the way when I lift my wrists up, but they are there to set my wrists down.

[bigpook]

I can If you are among those who typed without resting their wrists, then you don't need one. Prior to 2006, I find them to be a nice addition, but once I started to type without resting my wrists, it was different. I can't see myself going back to resting my wrists while typing.

I think the reason why there were less people complaining about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome during the typewriters days was because people could not rest their wrists while typing. Of course, there was not mouse at that time either.

Thats cool. For me its uncomfortable as my wrists would then be below the front edge of the keyboard "resting" on the desk The only other alternative would be for me to mindfully hold my wrists up while I type. For me that would be awkward.

[patrickgeekhack]

Thats cool. For me its uncomfortable as my wrists would then be below the front edge of the keyboard "resting" on the desk The only other alternative would be for me to mindfully hold my wrists up while I type. For me that would be awkward.

In that case yes, a comforable writst rest is better than no rest at all You're right about having to mindfully hold your wrists. I was lucky because holding my wrist up while typing came to me naturally when I got my MacBook in 2006. Maybe it was because in the back of my mind, I did not want the white to change to yellowish colour

[Biggs]

The wire one should be pretty universal.

I suspect the IBM one is to separate the keycaps from the stems, on 2-piece caps? But, you really don't need that ability - the keycaps come off on their own, rather easily.

Would this work on Model M's with 1-piece keys then?

[bhtooefr]

It should work, but it doesn't look all that strong for the leverage needed to disengage the stem.

[patrickgeekhack]

The wire one should be pretty universal.

I suspect the IBM one is to separate the keycaps from the stems, on 2-piece caps? But, you really don't need that ability - the keycaps come off on their own, rather easily.

Thanks. You just saved me a few bucks. I wished I had known about this forum before buying my Customizer. I would probably have purchased the SpaceSaver. I was afraid the SpaceSaver's keys were smaller. Well, that is in hindsight. The grass always seem to be greener on the other side of the fence.

[patrickgeekhack]

Exactly.  This baffled me for awhile.  I kept having trouble typing on the M1, and I couldn't figure out what was causing it.  After examining it and the Dell side-by-side, I figured out that the extra lip on the Dell (which the Model M and Northgate Evolution also have to a certain extent) put my hands at a different position that I was at on the M1.  After pushing the keyboard back about 1/2", it seemed to correct the problem.

I took the Dell home for a few days. For some reasons (probably because of different settings), it did not feel the same as at the office. It was not as pleasant to use as it was in the office. As a result, I took it back to the office today. And boom, it felt nice to type on again. It could well be a perception problem. At home, I'm comparing it to my Customizer, but at the office, I'm comparing it to a rubber dome keyboard.