Customer Reviews

IBM W95 Rapid Response Keyboard (Pearl)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've spent the past 5 years using the newer keyboards, such as the Microsoft "natural" keyboard, and the Microsoft "Internet" keyboard, but never quite got used to them. Finally, I broke down and bought myself a plain old vanilla IBM model. It's nothing fancy, but it works really well, and doesn't take up much space on my desktop. The keys are slightly textured, so your fingers don't slide off of them, and they operate with just a light touch. I also appreciate the double-size backspace key, which I can hit without even thinking about it. I figure that sooner or later I'll have to upgrade my computer, but you can bet that I'll be hanging on to this keyboard. In fact, I liked this one so much that I bought another one just like it to keep as a spare.

An excellent keyboard .... simple, operates smoothly and quiet. In my opinion the IBM layout keyboards are all that anyone needs.

I owned this keyboard for 5 years. Then, the age of the internet came, and still the 101/102 key IBM-style keyboard was predominant. Only recently keyboard makers switched to something much, much more useful. Not only new keyboards feature various multimedia and internet buttons, but also sleep-mode one-touch buttons and hey, even buttons connecting you directly to the vendor's upgrade site. New keyboards have volume knobs, which is so useful nowadays, when so many people watch DVD movies on their PCs.

But my main objection against this keyboard is not that it's old and not useful. Yes it's both, and the time is up for it to rest in the attic forever. The grudge I hold against this peripheral is the strain it puts for my wrists. As a student, and later as a technical writer I used to type for hours a day. This keyboard offers no rest for the hands. Circulation is not stalled, but you have every impression that this is so. You feel that you have to stretch muscles of the hands to adjust to the small space and angle of this kyeboard. It's unhealthy. Your veins will detoriorate in time if you are prone to such things. For your health's sake, you should consider buying a modern, large keoboard with wristpad embedded.