KEYBOARDS

The original IBM-PC keyboard was an 83 key keyboard, used with the PC and XT, which was expanded to an 84 key keyboard for the AT model computer. These boards are obsolete now and are rarely seen.

IBM introduced the modern keyboard in 1986. Almost all modern keyboards are 101 key (or 102 key for the foreign language version) keyboards, using the standard 5 pin DIN connector (about as big around as your thumb, maybe) or the newer 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 type) connector (about the size of your little finger tip, or so). With Windows 9x, MicroSoft introduced the 104 key keyboard (same type connectors) that contains an extra three special keys - the left and right Windows keys and the Application key. The extra keys are used by typists to mimic some of the mouse commands so you don't have to remove your hands from the keyboard to use the mouse. The 104 key keyboard requires a special keyboard driver file to be able to use it to its full potential.

You should try to keep your keyboard clean. It is a good idea to vacuum your keyboard fairly often - monthly at a minimum, weekly is better. Or use canned compressed air to blow the dirt and dust from between the keys; turn the keyboard upside down when you do this so the dirt falls away from the board. Be careful when you're cleaning your keyboard - many keyboards have removable caps on all the keys and you might dislodge one while cleaning. It's not much fun digging through a vacuum cleaner bag to find a cap you've accidentally sucked up while cleaning. If you should spill something sticky on your keyboard - say coffee or a soda, for instance - all is not lost. Soak your (unplugged!) keyboard in distilled water, sloshing it around to get out all the sticky stuff and allow your keyboard to throughly dry before you try to use it again. If the sticky stuff has dried in your keyboard, you may have to let it soak for awhile before rinseing it out completely. Distilled water won't hurt the components in your keyboard but any kind of moisture will hurt the electronics inside, so be sure your board is dry before you use it again.

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