Comments on: Using Windows without a mouse

By: ami

ami — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:08:39 +0000

me too.. right now, i’m trying to use windows without a mouse, but there’s a problem, it’s so much dificult to browsing webpage without a mouse, like facebook…

By: Marco

Marco — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:32:36 +0000

Thanks for the article, I like to minimize the use of the mouse as much as possible, for the reasons you mention and also to minimize the risk of RSI.

May I add a plug for a non-commercial package that enables you to start any application in your start-folder (or indeed any application, folder, file or url you choose)? It is called Humanized Enso Launcher and it uses the caps-lock to start.

You can add custom actions and use the google feature: select text, hit capslock, type ‘google’ and your browser gives you the search results.

If nothing else, certainly worth a try!

By: Bill Sodeman

Bill Sodeman — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:54:32 +0000

I’ve always been a big believer in keyboard shortcuts. Whenever I see users reach for a mouse when they need to hit File, Save… well, I just be patient and remind myself that there’s one more user that we gotta save.

By: igorbrejc.net » Fresh Catch For November 11th

igorbrejc.net » Fresh Catch For November 11th — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:03:17 +0000

[...] Using Windows without a mouse — The Endeavour [...]

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:20:04 +0000

I just subscribed to your Twitter feed. What a great idea! I have always preferred keyboard shortcuts over the mouse going back … well as long as there have been mice. I know there are some shortcuts I don’t use and should. I agree with Chris that a few seconds here and there definitely add up. Hopefully your one-a-day method will prompt me to try some new ones out.

By: Janne

Janne — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:30:58 +0000

I don’t use Windows specifically, but Ubuntu Linux. There’s a tool there called “gnome-do” which I use a lot and that may be of some interest of inspiration. It sounds weird and counterproductive when you describe it – a pop-up that lets you write the beginning of commands, filenames and applications, and it starts, finds or activates whatever you wanted to do – but it’s really blindingly fast. A lot of common tasks become just two or three keypresses and it soon becomes second nature to do them that way.

It’s worth looking up for a different perspecitve on keyboard navigation if nothing else.

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:11:09 +0000

PowerPoint allows lots of keyboard shortcuts while presenting. Just press F1 in presentation mode to see a list. I use B and ctrl-t all the time to get attention and then to page out of the PowerPoint to an Excel demo.

PS: Ubuntu Linux with dwm as the window manager is pretty efficient.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:56:56 +0000

I actively use keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse – especially in Word and excel, and also – very specifically – Photoshop, where the strain of using a mouse can be a bit of a literal pain.

I have always assumed that my love of the keyboard is down to the fact that I started using PCs back in the days of DOS – there was no alternative! Lotus 123 and WordPerfect required the use of shortcuts – that was how they worked.

Now I get odd looks from colleagues because I access menus without the mouse…

By: Chris Atherton

Chris Atherton — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:41:12 +0000

Hi John

Suppose some series of tasks takes 20 seconds with a mouse but you can accomplish the same tasks in 12 seconds using the keyboard. The big deal isn’t that you’ve saved 8 seconds

On the contrary, I think this is a huge deal, given how many times a day someone might want to do that task. Or how many days a year.

I have a lot of colleagues who are very mouse-dependent, and watching them slowly mouse-navigate everything makes me quietly crazy! I love your idea to start a Twitter account with hints, and I’ve signed up so I can learn something new too

By: Nick Barrowman

Nick Barrowman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:59:11 +0000

Great idea!

Two comments: First, there’s an ergonomic issue as well. The keyboard is usually right in front of you, so it’s easier to access than the outlying mouse. (To counter this, I use a small keyboard that doesn’t have the extra 6 inches of numeric keypad, etc., which makes it a bit less awkard to use a mouse.)

Second, it really bugs me how certain keyboard shortcuts are not standardized across software. For example, Ctrl-F usually means “Find”, but not when you’re reading a message in Microsoft Outlook, where instead it means “Forward”! Aargh!