Monday, May 9, 2016

The Low-Profile Snakebite Keyboard from Apple

This is the worst example of function follows form from Apple we have ever seen.  The action on the keyboard sucks but, worst of all, the low-profile is a fast track to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

The proof is not definitive but my right arm has been in various stages of numbness for months now (?), unknown how long but way longer than anyone would want to tolerate.  Changes have been slowly made because you won't get an immediate result from any change, your only choice is to try it and observe.

Hell no, I'm not going to sue as I'm annoyed but not feeling vindictive.


This is not the first dance with carpal tunnel and the cause is always the same:  computers.  Narrowing it beyond that is the Sherlock Holmes part.  I'm confident there is adequate padding on the trackball but the low-profile Apple keyboard makes it extremely difficult to use the keyboard with a wrist pad.  That's why I call it a snakebite keyboard.

One potential remedy takes money; buy the traditional higher-profile keyboard and there's an additional benefit in the action is much better which is much more effective for real typists.  I'm a fast typist and, after thirty years of data processing, I damn sure better be.

This morning I found a bit of spongy padding from a shipping container and it's somewhat useful insofar as it definitely relieves pressure on the right rear of my hand which is almost always red from the pressure.  Therefore, fix that and here we are in the present situation.  You need to take Carpal Tunnel seriously because it will certainly take you seriously ... until it wrecks something.


Ah, original Apple USB Keyboard located used for $25.94 on Amazon and rated very good condition. That is going to happen for sure on payday.


There are three possible problems as the obvious is your wrist, the second is your elbow, and the third is your shoulder.  Ms Kersa knew from which fingers were going numb the elbow was a possible culprit.  OK, take the arms of the chair and get rid of them.  Done.

That did not fix the problem but it was a valid try so the next is the keyboard and to find a keyboard pad (cheap) to use with it.  That should set things right.

No comments: