Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

putting external keyboard with laptop question

Posted By: sm on 2007-10-16
In Reply to:

If i am using a USB adapter for my round-plug keyboard wire, is that essentially the same as a regular USB connector, ie, don't have to turn the machine off first before plugging in? I don't want to blow my pricey ergo board by doing something wrong...


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

I use a Vista laptop with an external keyboard 100% of the time..sm
I would never buy a desktop again. I travel all over and just bring my laptop, foot pedal and external ergonomic keyboard.
You definitely want to use an external keyboard. I think the

bigger the monitor the better, but I have a 14" one and have been using it for 6 years.  Absolutely get as much RAM as you can, no less than 512.  You don't need a supersize hard drive unless you want to store music/pictures, but you should have a backup of them because computers have been known to crash and you wouldn't want to lose them.   Most everything now is USB and I would say get a minimum of 2 ports.  You can buy a hub for under $30.00 (saw a 4 port hub today on sale for $10.00) to add USB ports.   I would get one that had wireless capability.   I would also get one that has at least a DVD player if not a recorder.  Usually if they have DVD they have a CD recorder so you can burn songs/pictures.  I suggest the DVD in case you need some down time from caretaking and you want to watch a movie.


I have a Dell and an HP.  My Dell has been a piece of junk from day one.   I've had my HP for 3-1/2 years without any problems other than a software glitch, which wasn't an equipment problem. 


When buying a computer consider repair issues.  With my Dell I had to send the computer to them so I was without a computer for approximately 2 weeks, plus shipping charges of about $30.00.   You can buy an in-home repair policy though.  With my HP I bought it from a local electronics store and I could get in-store service. 


I also would not get a Celeron processor - get either a Pentium or a Centrino  (which is supposed to be really good).  The Celeron is not as good of quality and is usually found in the lower end computers.


I got a catalog from Dell today and I just glimpsed at it, but they had a laptop on the cover for $649 (I think). 


 


Problem with external keyboard that is new
what to do about an external computer keyboard that the keys stick sometimes, but not all the time?
Just connect your external keyboard and you won't know the difference.

You may want to attach an external monitor (I don't) or use a box of some kind to elevate the computer.  They have boxes at the office supply store in the computer area that have trays for storage or a place to put your keyboard and that is about the right height.  I would also suggest an external mouse.   If you need a new keyboard/mouse I'd go wireless.  If you want to be somewhat mobile, like sitting in the backyard in the shade unhooking and hooking everything up gets to be a pain and if you just want to diddle and not work you can use the laptop keyboard and not have to take the other keyboard and mouse. 


If you are used to a large monitor that is probably your biggest adjustment, the rest is fairly easy and may take some trial and error to get everything worked out. 


P.S. I use an external LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse
nm
I use a MSFT Natural keyboard at home and the laptop keyboard on the road. nm

I use a laptop with a full-size keyboard (no separate keyboard)
I'm using a lap desk but previously was using a pillow with a book on it under the laptop. No additional keyboard though, I bought one with a full-sized board with regular size keys (an HP) which I LOVE and it took no time at all to get used to it. I also love that when the weather improves, I can take my computer outside and get some fresh air! What a great job... :)
to who posted about putting keyboard in your lap,
thanks for taking the time to share that.  I've been MTing over 30 yr and just in the las few have had trouble with the carpal t. syndrome stuff. I thought i always had good ergo posture, etc, but when i have had a persistent pain in the one arm, i tried your idea and it seems to be helping. I use a board under the keyboard tho as it feels better to me that way.  I've learned so much from people sharing on this board, and thank you for your input!
laptop/keyboard
Does anyone use a regular keyboard with their laptop? If so, what kind do you use?
Thanks
attaching keyboard to laptop sm
I have a Dell laptop and don't see anyplace to attach a keyboard or am I blind? Also, where does the footpedal go? Double blind. Would like an answer so I can try it. I have a wireless mouse but don't like it, all over the place as someone else said.
than trying to use laptop keyboard and touch pad.
o
can you disable laptop keyboard?,

i thought i remembered seeing on these boards that to hook up a peripheral keyboard to a laptop, you have to disable the laptop one? i cannot find info when i try to search...if so, how do you do it?  


many thanks.


I plug my keyboard into the laptop. nm
.
Can you type as fast on a laptop keyboard? nm
//

I travel with a laptop, printer, and keyboard - sm
My printer is small enough to fit into a backpack - about the size of a portable DVD player. So the printer, along with the laptop go on the plane with me. The keyboard and mouse go in my suitcase that gets carried under the plane. Now, if i have to take a transcriber with me, depending on where I'm going, I will either ship that ahead or TRY to take it with me on the plane, but it depends on where I'm going and how long I'll be gone. I have had to replace a transcriber because of security deciding to take it apart when it was packed in my suitcase. Lesson learned on my part.
DH QAs about 130 reports daily with laptop using separate keyboard. nm
///
When you plug in the peripheral, the laptop keyboard still works so you
.
All you have to do is get an external
x
Using one for 6 years, do use an external
keyboard.  I don't have an external mouse, though am going to get a wireless one.  
only if you have an external modem
Most modems are internal and you have to plug the phone line directly into it.  If you have an external modem, it is possible but troublesome. 
I also have external antenna & amp sm
I ended up paying about $425 for the modem/air card, external antenna, and amplifier. Plus there is a rebate on the card, I think $50. The amp was the most expensive thing, about $280. I have to use them to get my signal, but even with being on the edge of service, I would not trade it for dial-up ever.
To all of you Escriptionist out there...Laptop question. Have any of you found a laptop that you can
thing. I tried one of those adapter that goes from the 9-pin to the USB but when I plugged in the USB my foot pedal did not work right. I know supposedly there is a help section on the escription website that says the adapter may work and how to make them compatible etc but it never worked for me. Has any of you find a solution or a laptop that this foot pedal with work with. I'd like to work while traveling and get a laptop but it never worked on my old one. Ideas??
I've been using one FT for 6 years. I do use an external
keyboard 99.99% of the time though. 
Good ideas, maybe I will look into getting an external - sm
backup hard drive as well that would certainly take care of losing any data, and seeing it every day would remind me to backup my important files! I bet there will be a run of people today backing up their work! I do keep written notes on my work, though not the line counts. I only lost about 15 files, about 2000 lines (it's a small account), just hope they have it all handy, they tend to lose/misplace files. Hate to have to retype them so I can bill them (of course I happened to delete all the sound files off the server I use yesterday for last weeks work, so I would have to have them resend all the sound files as well), but I will do what I have to do in order to do so!
Maybe try restarting your computer? I have an external zip drive
most of my disks...had about 10, now only 2 work. They just don't seem to last long for some reason. Going to start using CDs as I have a recordable drive now. Feel like throughing my zip in the trash sometimes but I need it for my lap to in order to be able to easily transfer data from it to my desktop. Took me a half hour last night to retrieve a file I needed since it was acting up, got it eventually though...thought I'd have to resort to emailing it to myselft at one point in order to get it on my desktop. Pain in the butt.
Has anyone used an external Sound Blaster device?

I'm not sure what the name of it is, but you connect to it via USB.  It costs $50.00 and says the sound quality is significantly better than standard sound cards,  you can transfer cassettes and LPs to MP3 files, ....  My main concern is I want an increase in sound quality of my wav files. 


Just wondering if the sound quality is really that much better.  I have notebook computers and the PC cards are $100.00.  I was thinking this might be a substitute for the PC card. 


 


I googled for external sound and came up with Soundblaser......
I went to their site, it was not expensive, I can't remember exactly, but the box is small, very easy to install, and the sound is absolutely wonderful!
Are you planning to move the external drive to the new computer?
If so, save whatever data you want to move on the external hard drive (you should already know what the letter drive is for that one). Connect it to the new computer. Easy enough.
I too use an external hard drive, backs up My Documents folder. sm
It only takes once to lose everything to know how important backups are.....I should know, happened to me!!
Mine works with printer and external hard drive
You just need to get the more expensive USB Hub with a power adapter if it doesn't work with your printer.
I use an external sound card and my ear phones plug into that on my Dell. I find this so much bette
of the computer and #2 because there is a volume switch in the sound card (Soundblaster about $50).
favorite keyboard over the holidays is called "no keyboard"
nm
If you use a standard keyboard you can buy an old IBM model M keyboard on ebay or clickykeyboards.co

That key printing never wear down because the letters are part of the key itself.  They just don't make them that way anymore because it is too expensive to make.  Some of the mechanical keyboards like Cherry have what they double shot key imprinting and the letters are part of the key itself and don't wear off. That IBM keyboard is very noisy from the type of keyswitch it has so you may not like that.  Logitech and Belkin make some membrane switch keyboards that are supposed to have longer lasting key imprints.  I have a logitech that has the longer lasting key imprints and it is pretty good.  You have to look on the specs to find out if has the longer lasting key printing.


I have experimented so much with keyboards and have done a lot of research.  Way too much info.  


 


Keyboard and mouse. Is there such a thing as a keyboard that has a mouse on the actual keyboard?
nm

If you were putting
your pie hole to good use, you wouldn't have time to be on this board participating in such foolishness. How old are you?
Well why do you not like putting it where it goes?!?!
rude!
Ah, so this is putting them down!!??!! LOL!
My Post: I don't know..... I know many MTs making that in a month...but in their jammies, don't have to fuss with the makeup and only have to leave the house to go shopping! Oh, and they still get the write offs.

And sorry about the sobering up comment, I just coulnd't for the life of me figure out what you were looking at. And still can't! Many posters use initials sm/nm for see message or no message - maybe that's why you're getting confused : )

Just as I am putting away $ for my SM

later years (I have no children to depend on) I expected that my mother was.  Wrong.  I have currently chosen to essentially give up where I want to live, to be with who I want to be, to take care of things for now, but it won't be that way forever.


I am doing it out of obligation right now, but I don't intend to sacrifice the next 10 or so years of my life to keep doing this. 


Putting myself out there

Has anyone ever done this...?


I am thinking about making a bunch of copies of my resume and writing a cover letter describing my abilities........then distributing it to different clinics around the area. 


I work from home but want a second job as an in-house Transcriptionist to gain some experience and also because I am not making that much money here at home!


Has anyone ever done this?  If so, have you had success doing it?  How about putting an ad on Craigslist for transcriptionist services?


PS-I don't like putting it over there, but was told had too!nm
x
My DH was putting together my new desk and he had

gotten to the deep drawer where files go.  He put the frame of the drawer together without putting the bottom of the drawer on.  Fortunately I happened to walking through the room at this point and told him he has to put the bottom in the grooves on one side before he can finishing putting the drawer together.  He tells me that the directions don't say anything about that.  I told him common sense dictates that you have to put the bottom before you put the second side on.   Poor man.  He is very bright, but has zilch common sense.  I'm not very book smart, but have been blessed with my share of common sense and then some, so I guess we made a good couple - LOL. 


The best way to help is to be supportive by putting
You didn't get pregnant. You sound very self rightous and with I told you so attitude. A decision to carry the pregnancy, terminate it or give up for adoption is not one to be made lightly or out of guilt because someone forced their own opinions down the throat of someone who obviously needs help. Being condescending doesn't bolster her self image to find the courage to live with whatever decision she makes. She needs support, not degradation, not put downs, not made to feel worse than she already does. This is a decision she will live with every day...not one you will have on your mind every day of your life.

Knowledge knows when to speak. Wisdowm knows when to listen.
By putting up with him and his ways
you are just enabling him.  Sounds like not only are you doing most of the housework, you're providing most of the financial support.  I think he has got it pretty good and as long as you don't give him an ultimatum why should he change.  You're young yet and there sure is better out there.  I'd cut my loses.  I'd rather be alone than with someone like your SO. 
Thank you putting another twist on what I am
trying to relay in my post above.  Happiness is not bought or paid for.  You must have self worth and some people like the fact that they can be an employee and have someone else do the worrying in regards to maintaining the account on the administrative level so to speak.  I am not going to go on and on again but I just wanted to thank you for your opinion and taking the time to post...  
nothing more then putting your name and email in as we do here
those that joined me, thanks. it was fun to talk in real time.
Agree, but WE are putting up with it...
...remember long ago when PROTEST was effective and alive and well?

There is no need for the powers that be to change anything if WE THE PEOPLE tolerate the abuse.

Peaceful protest is and always WILL BE patriotic.
I would strongly consider putting that
comment into the report.  They certainly can't think any less of you and maybe seeing it in print will make them realize the harshness of their words as well as their own stupidity for assuming you are the only MT who types for them.  Some dictators have no clue or class.
Keep putting your head in the s/m

sand about the credential.  Don't get one, it's your choice.  In the meantime, everyone else will get theirs and most of the ads (except for the rinky dinky jobs that pay nothing) will require the CMT and you won't be able to apply.


People will listen to you now because the majority of the people in MT don't have credentials.  What will you say when the time comes that most do and you don't? 


Thanks for putting the word out...
I knew it was Toth. They seem to prey on new grads and I was within 2 seconds of signing their contract....until I read it! Their contract is completely ridiculous and totally out of line, especially for IC. I really don't know how they stay in business. Maybe you at least got a little experience and can try applying at reputable companies. Good Luck!
Putting things in perspective...
I was talking (actually complaining) about the usual MQ stuff with someone in the office when I noticed they weren't laughing and/or sympathizing with me like they normally do. I asked her if something was wrong and she said she lost a friend. I stupidly thought she meant work-related fighting and said "Another cat fight?" to which she replied "No, my best friend was killed yesterday in Iraq by the roadside bomb." Talk about feeling VERY VERY small....but it put everything back into perspective for me. I am so fortunate in so many ways...
That is just it, I am not putting pressure on him at all and support him,
but deep inside I am heartbroken and won't let him know it.