Well, I didn’t give it to her. I couldn’t find a keyboard I like, so she thinks this is just my backup computer that we picked up.
THIS WILL MAKE THE SURPRISE EVEN BETTER.
Plus, Gerald and I decided it would be more fun to set it up while she is gone and she can come home to it.
Baud
Did you delete the porn from the hard drive?
Old School
No one tell Breyana!
WaterGirl
@Old School: Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.
moops
A better exercise is to have to assemble her first computer. Or maybe that is something you do for her second computer.
cain
I hope you install Linux on it. Oh.. who am I kidding? :-)
Roger Moore
You should take a look at this keyboard from Logitech. It’s a wireless mechanical keyboard, which is really the best of both worlds. The tactile feedback from the mechanical design is way better than membrane keyboards, and it’s durable enough for gaming use. It can be used with either Bluetooth or Logitech’s proprietary wireless technology, which is supposed to have lower latency but requires a little dongle plugged into the USB port.
ETA: It also doesn’t have flashy multi-colored keys or any of the other bling manufacturers add to their gaming keyboards to make them more expensive and obnoxious without enhancing the functionality in any way.
Old School
@WaterGirl: Does that mean you are coming for me?
Baud
@Old School:
It does. I hope your will is up to date.
Tom Levenson
Now all you need is David Suchet in his best Poirot voice intoning “the plot thickens.”
schrodingers_cat
I use this ergonomic keyboard.
And this mouse
I got in February and it still has its original battery. I just recently changed the battery in the mouse.
It has made a world of difference for my hurting wrists.
NotMax
Ought to mention that, especially as you’re thinking of it being used for gaming, investing in a quality mouse is important. Preferably a wired one.
Not a fan of all the flashy RGB frippery included on so many modern keyboards. However kids and teens may well like that stuff.
Baud
@schrodingers_cat:
First link doesn’t work.
Marmot
Oh hey—I meant to recommend Jenny LeClue, Detectivu. Fun mystery/adventure click game, maaaaybe too young for her.
NotMax
@NotMax
Oh, one more thing. A durable and decent sized mouse pad or mat. It’s astonishing just how many crappy mouse pads are still being produced.
schrodingers_cat
@Baud:
Trying again
Logitech Wave Keyboard
schrodingers_cat
OT: Art update
I have bought a book and joined an online 6 week intro to drawing class. My sketch books and white pens are here. Charcoal set coming tomorrow.
Did my first watercolor after almost 20 years yesterday. Nothing fancy, just a flower that I like to doodle.
Baud
@schrodingers_cat: Nice.
Steeplejack
@Roger Moore:
Does the keyboard have basic backlighting? Doesn’t say on that linked page.
schrodingers_cat
@Baud: Watercolor doodle
Thanks!
Baud
@schrodingers_cat:
?
WaterGirl
@Old School: @Baud:
Trying to secure the services of a certain mob enforcer as we speak.
Geoduck
So she never reads this blog? Does she know that you are posting about her like this?
schrodingers_cat
@Geoduck: I was wondering about that myself. Also, does she know that her photos are on this blog as well?
Roger Moore
@Steeplejack:
Nope. It has a few lights to tell you things are working, but because it’s wireless they don’t want to waste power on stuff like lighting. Even those lights come on briefly and then turn off. I can touch type, so I don’t need any kind of backlighting and don’t miss it.
NotMax
@Steeplejack
Lurve this mechanical keyboard. One color* pale bluish backlighting, no additional gewgaws, sturdy aluminum deck. Company also makes full-size layout boards. Individual keys can easily be reconfigured or disabled via their separately downloadable app.
*The notation in its description about multiple backlighting modes refers to the various intensity/dimming/on-off settings.
Baud
@Geoduck:
Would you?
Danielx
@Baud:
If I was her age, no.
AlaskaReader
@Geoduck:
If I can ask, …when were you in attendance at the geoduck indoctrination site?
Steeplejack
@Roger Moore:
Thanks. I can touch-type too, but I find backlighting useful in some low-light situations. Currently using a (wired) Das Keyboard with backlighting.
soapdish
I’m personally a fan of the Logitech Wireless MK360 compact keyboard and mouse combo.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L1Y11D4/?th=1
Steeplejack
@NotMax:
Thanks for the tip. Added to the research file.
Brachiator
There may be a little flaw in the master plan here. Don’t you have to make sure that the keyboard (and mouse, perhaps) is one that the young lady prefers?
AlaskaReader
I’m going to attract the wrath of many and recommend instead of focusing on gaming, steer clear of it altogether at the outset and focus on computer capabilities that build on facilitating skills for utilization in meat-space.
One example below:
Music app – yousician
(I’m admittedly partial to wanting youngsters to learn to appreciate, learn the skills to perform music for themselves)
Other examples, learning graphic arts apps, learning 3D modeling/CAD, writing instruction apps, etc Apps to learn coding.
Gaming computers are well suited for these purposes.
I’m not saying one can’t learn something from playing games, I’m just saying the gaming might not be the use to prioritize in a young person’s introduction to computing.
Plus bonus, if she became proficient in those other skills I mention, she could subsequently invent and build gaming apps, complete with scoring the music.
(…I’m prepared for the shots some will take at me now)
Geoduck
@AlaskaReader: Yes, assuming you’re talking about the one out in the woods at the bottom of Puget Sound.
Starfish
@NotMax: You recommended this one to me when I was looking some weeks ago didn’t you? I ended up getting this one.
Starfish
@AlaskaReader: A lot of things that were learning have been gamefied. My son has a “game” that teaches him how to do unix shell commands on his Kano.
JustRuss
@NotMax: I finally broke down and tried a wireless mouse a couple years ago, never going back. So nice to not be dragging that cord around.
dopey-o
Even better would be a game that teaches him how to undo unix shell commands. I’m just sayin’…..
schrodingers_cat
@dopey-o: Core dump FTW.
Starfish
@dopey-o: ?
dopey-o
@schrodingers_cat:
Does “Control-Z, Control-Z, swear words” work in Kubuntu?
Asking for a friend….
AlaskaReader
@Geoduck: I remember when Omnia Extares was just a suggestion.
AlaskaReader
@Starfish: Yeah, To be clear, it wasn’t my intent to discount games entirely, but more to shift focus from ‘gaming’ to ‘skills learning’ and on the other hand, there are too many ‘games’ that don’t teach any kind of redeemable skills, (or redeeming values for that matter.)