Sometimes it's not disgust with the internal workings of our computers that makes want to replace them, but minor irritations that can be corrected for only a few dollars. Today's column discusses some of my favorite low-cost upgrades, not one of which requires installing any software or opening your computer's case.
1. Better Keyboard. When I got my new (used) computer a few months ago, I gave my old (used) computer to my wife. She was happy to get it, she said, except for the keyboard, which she hated. It had been exposed to everything from cigarette ashes to spilled whiskey for several years, and showed sever signs of age. We went down to the local computer megasuperstore and shopped for keyboards. They ranged from $10 up to about $100, with the top end being of the wireless ergonomic variety. She tested them all, and decided (I love this woman!) that one of the $9.99 jobs had the "touch" she liked best. $10 made that old computer feel brand-new to her fingertips. A true bargain.
2. Wrist Rest. Another $5 - $10 item, maybe $20 if you buy the finest one there is. And it'll do more to increase your typing comfort than trading in your old box for a $3000, 400 MHz 'puter with a 10 GB hard drive, believe me.
3. Better Mouse. My old one was getting shoddy and hard to move accurately. I conned a friend who owns a used computer store out of a newer one for nothing. Even if you don't have a friend who'll give you one and go to the Big Store to buy one, it'll only be $15 or so for the basic item, although you can go nuts and blow up to $99 for a wireless mouse or trackball that looks so spacey it could be a leftover Star Trek prop.
4. Mouse Pad. Pick a color, any color. Get cute kitty cats, TV characters, almost anything, including ones with space for photos of your kids (or whomever). Store-logo pads seem to run around $4 most places. Cute "branded" ones cost $10 - $15, depending. And if you make websites for a living, you might want to get this one by mail. It has all the "safe" browser colors around its edge, with all their hex codes right there for fast reference. Tres cool, looks real hotshot & professional when you're working with a client or boss hanging over your shoulder, and it's only $12.95 (plus S&H.)
5. Monitor Glare Filter. Anyone who works on a computer under office-type flourescent lights should have one of these. $30 to $70, depending. Any boss who refuses to buy you one should be forced to read this website at least one hour every day.
6. Custom Case Colors. Rich people spend $1299 on an iMac or blow $1000+ on fancy-dancy PC cases, all to avoid having that basic ugly "basic beige" box on their desks. I dislike beige as much as the next guy, but I know two secrets I am about to pass on to you: spray paint and masking tape. A $2 can of paint and a $1 roll of masking tape, a little skill, and an hour or two is all it takes to make your computer any color you want. Make sure you don't do something dumb like paint over the CD or floppy drive. And there's nothing to stop you from doing all kinds of neat, hand-painted things, either. Let your imagination carry you away!
The last thing I believe is an absolute necessity for any computer power user, far more important than moving from a 200 MHz to a 300 MHz CPU, is a comfortable chair. It's not rightly a computer accessory or modification, so it's not a numbered item on my "main" list, but a decent seat sure makes computing more pleasurable!
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