Lessons in Technology: How to Improve Your Computing Experience for as Little Dough Possible

This is our last installment for a bit, and I wanted to end on a different note. In previous articles, I offered ideas for free or really inexpensive updates and programs available through the Web, and various ways to troubleshoot and improve your computer on your own. So, since we’ve been saving up some money by taking advantage of these free options so far, I have a few final ideas for how to drastically improve your computing experience, for under $300.

One of the easiest, cheapest ways to update your system is to simply buy a new monitor. For around $200, you can buy at least a 22” monitor that will enable you to see much more area on internet web pages, text documents, etc. without scrolling and straining your eyes.

A larger monitor will enable you to increase the size of the text and icons on your screen, making everything easier to read. You will be able to sit back and relax in your chair instead of hunching over and having to squint. A high quality new monitor will render colors that your old monitor is incapable of, making the whole experience much better. Pictures will appear sharper, more colorful, and lifelike. If you go for broke and get a monitor that can display full high definition (assuming your computer has the proper outputs), then the picture, color, and text will pop from the screen, just as it does on an HD TV.

Another update that will improve your experience and productivity is to purchasing a new wireless mouse and keyboard. Say you are currently using an old keyboard and mouse set that is attached to your computer with cords, which undoubtedly get tangled or are even too short. The keyboard keys are probably large and loud, and the inner crevices are filled with dirt, dust, and the occasional crumb, from years of use and lack of cleaning. You may even have to hit some of your keys harder to get them to register since they are gummed up. Maybe a few of your keys don’t work at all.

As for your mouse, if it’s older, it probably doesn’t have a scroll wheel, so you have to move your cursor all the way to the right side of a web page or document and click the down arrow to scroll down bar. It’s likely not very ergonomically designed and only has two buttons.

Solution: For about $80, buy yourself a new wireless mouse and keyboard. The keyboard will be much quieter, more comfortable, and it will come with an array of customizable buttons that you can set to open up your most frequently used programs. Most new keyboards usually have prominently-placed volume controls so you can quickly and easily turn up the volume to hear sounds without hunting around on your desktop controls. The flatter keyboard keys will require less force to depress, allowing you to type easier and faster. And the best benefit is there are no cords to get tangled up and snag on the edges of your desk, or tangle around papers and objects; and you’re not forced to sit at the exact same spot in order to operate your computer because you’re not attached to cords.

The new mouse will fill your hand comfortably, and will track more accurately than your old one because it uses red or blue lasers, unlike the outdated ball and wheels on the inside of your old mouse. It will also have a scroll wheel in the center that will enable you to scroll down a long webpage or document just using the inner wheel, without having to move the mouse, and you can even scroll right-to-left (this functionality varies between mice, so check the manual in order to operate).

There should be at least two buttons on your new mouse near your thumb – those are usually pre-programmed to go “back” to the last webpage you were looking at, without having to click in the back button on the webpage, and the other button usually opens the built-in magnifying glass. Did you even know that your computer had a built-in magnifying glass?

Between the new monitor, wireless keyboard and mouse, you can transform your computing experience, actually increasing your productivity, comfort, and overall enjoyment of using your computer. Just go to your local electronics store and take a look at some large monitors (I recommend at least a 22”) and play around and feel the mice and keyboards – any store that sells computers should have at least a dozen brands and styles on display for you to interact with and use. In the end, go for what feels most comfortable to you—at only $300 out the door, it’s a relatively affordable way to update your system.

Strati Vourakis is Co-Founder of Dot Calm, a Computer Coaching company in the Sacramento region that is focused on simplifying technology.