Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V: Time to Confess

11 PM August 16, 2003

Last July, I came across Matt Quail’s World’s best cut-copy-paste preventer post. I immediately inspected my own keyboard, and was bemused to find that the most worn keycaps – in order – were “C”, “V”, “X” and the left control key.

Right now I’m looking at my home PC’s keyboard, which is just six months old, and I notice that the “C” is starting to fade a little.

What are the most worn keys on your keyboard? Be honest.

By alang | # | Comments (8)
(Posted to Software Development)

Comments

At 03:02, 17 Aug 2003 Carlos Villela wrote:

This laptop I'm using now is not even 2 months old, and the keys A, C, F, K, O, P, U and V are the most worn out so far. Interesting, I don't cut-and-paste as much. :)

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At 06:48, 17 Aug 2003 Rafael Alvarez wrote:

In the first row of letters, only the Q, I, O and P are visible, in the second row only the A, S, K ,L, and in the third row the the X, C and B.
(of course, that keyboard has been with me for at least 6 years...)

Thank God that even as I'm not a touch typist all the keys are in my muscle memory :)

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At 10:44, 18 Aug 2003 Glenn Slaven wrote:

Just the down arrow! No idea why.

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At 16:30, 18 Aug 2003 Adam Fitzpatrick wrote:

For me it's C, D, E, S, right Shift, Enter, and down arrow. When I'm not in vim I use the deeply unfashionable Ctrl-Insert, Shift-Delete and Shift-Insert to copy, cut and paste. Insert and Delete are as unfaded as the ever-useless Scroll Lock.

I think the real question here, though, is: "why are our keyboards so crappily made?" I would gladly trade the 11 useless extra buttons along the top of my keyboard for some a more permanent ink on the real keys.

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At 22:00, 18 Aug 2003 Oliver Burn wrote:

None show any more sign of fading than the others. I guess I must be an "all rounder". ;-)

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At 00:03, 21 Aug 2003 Michael Chermside wrote:

For me, it's always the spacebar that goes first. Apparently I whack it HARD with my thumbs (and more often the right thumb than the left).

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At 19:03, 21 Aug 2004 Chris wrote:

The most used keys on my keyboard are the volume buttons at the top....and my space bar is showing some wear. Apart from that, all of my keys look pretty good after nearly 2 years :)

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At 18:38, 20 Jun 2007 Will It Work wrote:

I find my keys are e,s, and n. This is mainly, I think, becuase I type with my nails, and those keys are in posiiton for long strikes.

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