Strange question: Do the letters on your keyboards rub off?

[Armstead]

I'm serious. I have this problem that the letters on my keyboards keep rubbing off. Started a couple of years ago with a computer in which they started disappearing after a couple of months, and eventually was unusable and had to buy a plug in keyboard.

Since then two otherr computers, and a couple of self=standing keyboards have had the same problem.

Now, I do type a lot. MY job requires it, plus I do DU, Facebook and emails. So they get a lot of use. But I didn't use to have this problem. And it's not more thgan a lot of people.......It's really annoying because if I plop down a few hundred for a computer, I'd at least expect the keys to last.

Does anyone else have this problem?

And. if so, have you found any solution.

[Arkansas Granny]

1. Funny you should ask.

About a year ago I replaced a keyboard that I had used for over ten years. I noticed a few days ago that a few of the letters are wearing on the new keyboard, which never happened with the old one.

[Armstead]

4. I'm wondering if they changed the way they make them...

never used to be a problem for me. Either I've changed or keyboards have

[Massacure]

2. My keyboard is two years old and I've worn off the s, d, k, and l keys

It doesn't really bother me though because I'm a touch typist. As long as my index fingers can feel the bump on home row I know where my fingers are and I don't need to look to type.

[LunaSea]

3. Could be your chemistry.

My SO has a similar problem with keys which I attributed to traces of moisturizers on her fingertips.
If you are not using any, it could simply be the ph of your own body oils/sweat which over time is breaking down the printed letters.
I regularly wipe down my keyboards with isopropyl alcohol, and only had a problem with the cheaper keyboards.
You might want to consider a clear keyboard cover which should keep anything on your fingertips from causing a reaction with the keys paint.

[intrepidity]

5. Yes! Especially the "F" for some reason! n/t

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Yup. I had an ASUS where I almost cleaned the keyboard of lettering.

But, now my Toshiba is doing the same thing.

[Armstead]

8. A Toshiba was the first one that did it, Now my Asus is doing it.

[frogmarch]

7. Yes, and the ones that bug me most

are M and N.

[Mnpaul]

9. Put new ones on

I'm doing this via touchscreen so I don't have that problem. Amazon has many choices, even glow in the dark.
http://www.amazon.com/REPLACEMENT-ENGLISH-KEYBOARD-STICKERS-BACKGROUND/dp/B003DO9DE4

[Armstead]

10. Hmmmmm.I've been looking in stores for something like this

I bought some sticky letters but they were impossible to put on and stay on (not made for keyboards though).

I'll check these out.

[Mnpaul]

11. For 7 bucks

It's worth a try.

[Skittles]

16. I have some you could have for free

my letters rubbed off my keyboard so I ordered the stickers, but my cat destroyed my laptop before I could use them

[Armstead]

18. You can give them to your cat..maybe it'll see them as a snack

[Skittles]

19. he is a horrible animal

worst-behaved pet I have ever had, yet I adore him

[elleng]

12. Yes.

Have a new one so OK for now, but E goes first.

[Armstead]

13. Maybe that's how I can make my fortune...Invent a better keyboard mousetrap

[elleng]

22. WORK ON IT!

[Armstead]

23. A sheet of cellophane

Buy some at the supermarket. Cut it into appropriate sizes and sell it for $15 bucks a sheet.

Of course it won't work, but by that time I'll be safely ensconced on an island in the Caribbean sipping mai tais.


Well...maybe not.

[elleng]

24. Right, but I just KNOW where E is!!!

[My Good Babushka]

31. I also lose my E first

E is for existence and existential keyboard crisis.

[UTUSN]

14. Mine haven't in 5 yrs use. My elderly relative's did. Both on laptops so no other keyboard.

Hers is a Samsung. Her "solution" is to be very proud that she is a touch typist and therefore doesn't need the letters. This is a very big point of pride of hers.

[Armstead]

15. I'm a half touch typist

I can rip through the keys...But when I have to type slower and think, I lose it and have to pick my way forward

[vanlassie]

17. I read that this was a drawback to my keyboard so when it came I coated the keys with

clear nailpolish. Recoat each year. So far so good after three years.

[Armstead]

21. Really? iNteresting

[ohnoyoudidnt]

20. No, but that might be because I break my keyboards before that has a chance to happen. nt

[KT2000]

25. E - R - T

Gone!

[Armstead]

26. You'd think they could at least make modern keyboards up to the standards of typewriters

[cyberswede]

27. Yes, with black keys...

I don't recall this happening back in the day when keyboards were beige with black letters.

I've been thinking about trying stickers to fix the problem (I have a solar-powered keyboard that I like, so I don't particularly want to replace it.

[Armstead]

28. What's that graphic from?

I'm going to look up some of those

[cyberswede]

29. I did a Google image search for "keyboard stickers"

...and grabbed a screenshot.

There are literally hundreds of options.

https://www.google.com/search?q=keyboard+stickers&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjIgdfI5OLMAhUgE1IKHewODsMQ_AUICCgC&biw=1024&bih=672

[pressbox69]

30. Yes

T I H N M

[GreydeeThos]

32. I am a touch typist, so I never look at my keyboard

You see, it wastes t9ime checking to see to drr og upi jave gotton odd rhw kwya.

[hunter]

33. The "A" is always first to go on my keyboards.

I blame that finger, it's always been a little squirrelly. The finger can't simply rest on the key or press it cleanly, it has to viciously slap it.

It's also possible this is a consequence of learning to type in middle school on well worn manual typewriters. Our teacher was always going on about how all the letters should be equally dark. Mine never were. Too bad our school didn't have electric typewriters.

My mom gave me an electric typewriter when I started college. I used it for a few papers, but then I got a printer for my Atari 800, and that was the end of typing misery. Orson Scott Card was also writing on an Atari.

I was still writing on the Atari when I got a PC. At some point I hacked together some software to transfer my Atariwriter files, which were on 5 1/4" disks, to various other computers and word processor formats.

[OriginalGeek]

34. Yep

and after nearly 40 years of typing on one device or another from the old manual Underwoods of my high school typing class through neato IBM Selectrics and on to computer keyboards I STILL can't touch type*. When my letters go, I have to get a new keyboard. And I have replaced more than a few.


*I am, however, a remarkably fast, though often inaccurate, hunter and pecker.**


**If ever I am single again and looking for dates, please nobody mention that I openly admitted to being a fast pecker.

[Armstead]

37. lol

[pokerfan]

35. Not on my new keyboard

because it's illuminated:



I went shopping for a keyboard and wanted a corded one because I think cordless keyboards and mice are just more batteries to futz around with. The only corded ones I could find were illuminated types so I went with the Logitech. There's nothing to wear off as the legends are actually little windows. It's also handy for typing in near darkness.

[Armstead]

36. I saw one of those in the store and almost bought it

Little too pricy so I didn't....but maybe when the keys on this one wear down

[pokerfan]

38. I found it discounted to $45

Considering that it's mechanical switch (scissors) as opposed to a cheap dome switch, it was worth it. Tactile feedback is very important to me. I hate mushy keyboards. Having a decent keyboard (and monitor) is one of the many advantages of owning a desktop system. Figure I might as well exploit it.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

39. No, but....

...they have gotten blurry.

Oh wait....

(adjusts glasses)

Never mind.

[From The Ashes]

40. The keyboards at work are.

...and the company is too cheap to replace them.

[hobbit709]

41. A little model airplane paint will put them back.

If it wears off again, just touch them up.

[IronLionZion]

42. You should be able to replace a cheap keyboard

if it was painted on, the oils on your fingers can rub off the paint if its cheap.

There are keyboards that have the letters engraved or recessed or something and won't wear out. Invest in one of those if you plan to use it for many years.