There are many types of keyboards on the market today. Each type seems to have its unique features and benefits. The standard QWERTY keyboard with a cord and a PS2 connector is still a good choice. They are very dependable (almost indestructible save fluids dropped on them)  and are very cheap.

     There are the wireless keyboards and they are useful because you are not tethered to your computer. They give you the freedom to move around the room or your environment and still be able to input. I don't move around to much when I work on my computer but it is handy for such things as WEB TV.

      There are ergonomic keyboards which tout stress relieving qualities and better control. I tried using one of these back when Microsoft first came out with them but I never really got used to it. Some people swear by them so it just is a matter of taste and comfort.

     There are illuminated keyboards, slim keyboards, mini-keyboards, flexible keyboards, and it goes on. You really need to determine for yourself what is the best way to go. Since this site focuses on building a cheap but quality computer, it will focus mainly on where to get a good keyboard at an extremely affordable price.

The Mouse (and other pointing devices)

    The mouse is a great invention. Invented by Douglas Engelbart of Stanford Research Center in 1963, and pioneered by Xerox in the 1970s, the mouse is one of the great breakthroughs in computer ergonomics because it frees the user to a large extent from using the keyboard. In particular, the mouse is important for GUI (graphical user interface) because you can simply point to an object and a mouse button.

There are three basic types of mice:

• mechanical: Has a rubber or metal ball on its underside that can roll in all directions. Mechanical sensors within the mouse detect the direction the ball is rolling and move the screen pointer accordingly.
• optomechanical: Same as a mechanical mouse, but uses optical sensors to detect motion of the ball.
• optical: Uses a laser to detect the mouse's movement. You must move the mouse along a special mat with a grid so that the optical mechanism has a frame of reference. Optical mice have no mechanical moving parts. They respond more quickly and precisely than mechanical and optomechanical mice, but they are also more expensive.

Mice connect to PCs in one of several ways:

1. A Serial Mouse connects directly to an RS-232 serial port or a PS/2 port. This is the simplest type of connection.
2. PS/2 mice connect to a PS/2 port.
3. USB mice.

   Cordless mice aren't physically connected to the computer at all. Instead they rely on infrared or radio waves to communicate with the computer. Cordless mice are more expensive than both serial and bus mice, but they do eliminate the cord, which can sometimes get in the way.

    There are also other types of pointing devices like trackballs and handheld wands. A good quality cheap computer mouse will work in almost all applications. Getting one that is cordless may be a good idea since my mouse cord gets in the way sometimes. I am considering a cordless optical mouse right now.

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