Use Windows Vista Keyboard More

I am reading this article which talks about using the keyboard more. The author argues that Microsoft just kept on making their operating system less keyboard dependent and mouse dependent. I don’t see any problem with the mouse as with the author; however, he says it poses two problems — “it reduced productivity and increases your likelihood of getting some sort of repetitiveness stress injury”.

I certainly do not agree with the reduced productivity and I could not understand the repetitive stress injury. Anyways, it is still a good read especially if you use the keyboard more often than the mouse.

In an excerpt:

Windows Explorer may arguably be the most-used application delivered with Vista, since it’s what you often use to access, copy, and delete files. Explorer underwent quite a facelift in Vista, and for keyboard users, the result was not exactly pretty. For starters, Microsoft removed the menu bar – or at least hid it from view. So the familiar File, Edit, View, Tools, and Help options, while still accessible, are out of sight. Other visual changes are decidedly unfriendly to keyboard users as well.

But you can set things straight, first by getting the menus back. Open Vista’s Explorer — Windows Key+E still works as a shortcut — and click the Organize button. From the Organize drop-down, select the Layout option, and from the resulting fly-out menu, click Menu Bar. You’ll see the familiar File, Edit, View, and other options.

You won’t, however, see the underlined letters in the menus that tell you which key to hold down while pressing the Alt key in order to access those options by keyboard. But you can get those underlines back, as well. Open Vista’s Control Panel, and click Ease of Access. In the resulting Ease of Access Center screen, click the “Change how your keyboard works” link.

Continue reading here.