Key Error Rate

[Xelebes]

Do an experiment. Type a key - like the letter A. How often do you have to press it until you get something that is not the letter A?

I've been having a hard time with my keyboard, especially with using my number pad in Calculator. The error rate seems to 0.2-0.5% (2.9 sigma), switching the mode from Decimal to Octal randomly but with consistency. The space bar in most applications has a rate around 0.1%-0.2% (3.1 sigma), switching the space for a three.

I'm thinking of getting a new keyboard but should I be expecting a 3 sigma rate or should it be higher, like 4 or 5 sigma for good keyboards?

[Captcha]

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I don't get it.

[Matera the Mad]

My kbd never lies. *shrug*

[ejket]

Type a key - like the letter A. How often do you have to press it until you get something that is not the letter A?
You need a new keyboard. It's that simple.

[JimmyB27]

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[CACTUSWENDY]

So, you spend your time typing the same key all the time.....:Shrug:.
Sounds like a new one is in store for you.

[benbradley]

Geez, I forget what a Sigma is, but have no doubt that you have a defective keyboard.

I had to look up this table to find out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_deviation#Rules_for_normally_distributed_ data
But yes, a keyboard should register hundreds of millions of correct keystrokes for every incorrect keystroke it sends. Even the real cheapies.

The keys to set the MS Windows Calculator into Hex and Octal modes are F5 and F7 respectively. I presume your fingers don't go anywhere near these keys when you're on the keypad. This is more evidence you have a Bad Keyboard.

You can get a working computer keyboard for as little as $3 at any thrift store, and not a lot more at most computer stores. If you want to spend extra, I would suggest this model:
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html
Or one of these:
http://www.clickykeyboards.com/

If you have one of these, you can send a hundred million rep points to Cactuswendy, each one chock-filled with a's that you type in individually (rather than just holding down the 'a' key and letting it repeat as I did. I mean, uh, ....), and they'll all be correct.