Keys to the Left, Keys to the Right

Back in the day you could not find a numeric keypad on every keyboard. They were usually a very expensive purchase that hooked up via serial port after a long voodoo ritual that usually involved severe bleeding created by the hair pulling. There's still a small, compact AT keyboard sans NKP on one of my file servers that is interfaced with a PS2 adapter. It works fine. Why mention all this ancient history? I still migrate to the numeric buttons above the QWERTYUIOP keys. Currently, I am trying to change this age old practice and utilize the functionality of the numeric keypad. My old habit is pretty deeply ingrained so it's taking some time. A great site is available that will help you make the transition. Go to wikiHow's How to Ten Key.

Southpaw here so you'd think that location of the numeric keypad might create problems. Not so. Most left handed people are somewhat ambidextrous in a right hander's world. Over the years I've learned to use a mouse with either hand. I can actually use a right handed mouse with my left hand. After years of field work and being in the sometimes strange locations that people put servers, firewalls, etc., it was a natural learning progression. Having problems left handers? Check out wikiHow's How to Be Ambidextrous. Hope all my fellow lefties celebrate on August 13th. Why? It's Left Handers Day!

Interesting fact: The most often used keys on a standard keyboard are under the left hand if you touch type.

"A habit is something you can do without thinking - which is why most of us have so many of them."
~Frank A. Clark