Buzz
Not everyone uses a keyboard in the same way, and varying usage patterns impact which keys need replacing sooner. Westend61/Getty ImagesIf you use your computer frequently, you've probably noticed that some of the keys on your keyboard start to fade over time. So, which ones tend to wear out the fastest?
Since key wear is caused by usage, it's reasonable to assume that the most frequently used keys are the first to wear out. So, which ones are they? In the era before computers, when typewriters and typesetting machines were in use, the answer was pretty clear. As The Inland Printer stated in 1898, the most-used key was the space bar, followed by the letter E. This idea still holds in some circles. For instance, a Microsoft product marketing official shared with Business Insider in 2013 that the space bar was the most-used, followed by E and the backspace key.
But to get the most accurate answer, you might want to consult someone who specializes in replacing keys. Patrick Halcrow, the owner of Laptop-keys.com, a site offering keyboard parts and repair guides, provides some insights. Halcrow explains via email that habits have shifted. Many people who once casually used computers have transitioned to smartphones and tablets with touchscreens for tasks like checking emails and social media. The remaining laptop users tend to be either workers or gamers.
As Halcrow mentions, gamers typically order replacements for the W, A, S, D, and arrow keys. "These specific keys are used for player movement in RPG-type games," he says, "as well as for vehicle control in driving simulators."
In contrast, those who use desktop and laptop computers for work often replace the vowel keys — A, E, I, O, and U — along with the spacebar and the arrow keys, as these are the most frequently pressed while typing, according to Halcrow.
Halcrow explains that people generally replace keys for aesthetic reasons — they don't like the appearance of a keyboard with worn-off letters — rather than due to wear on the internal mechanism. When actual damage occurs, he notes, it's usually accidental, like a pet knocking a laptop off a table or a child breaking off the keys. As with most accidents, there's no consistent pattern for this kind of damage. "There really is no trend with this type [of damage]," he says.
In 2014, Khurshid Hussain set a Guinness world record by typing a 103-character sentence in just 47 seconds using only the tip of his nose instead of his fingers. Watch a video of his impressive feat.
