Do I really need covers....??

[beavereater]

How many people out there actually cover their keyboard or monitor?? I was thinking of getting something and then realized I was such a lazy ass I would lack the energy to do it after a week.

[Cobra]

I don't. I employ this magical bit of cloth, with a little water on it.

[CoasterCreator]

I have them never used them ...but I do have a umbrella hat that covers my printer :P

[Capmaster]

I used to cover everything but now I just cover the mouse and pad. I have a ball-type intellimouse and I hate having to clean that thing every week or so. The cover keeps the dust and stuff off the pad and the mouse mechanism.

[thecoalman]

I used to cover everything but now I just cover the mouse and pad. I have a ball-type intellimouse and I hate having to clean that thing every week or so. The cover keeps the dust and stuff off the pad and the mouse mechanism.

I have a cordless optical and you would have to pry it from my cold dead hands to get it off of me.

[beavereater]

So...is the point of the cover (Not just to get you to spend money but...) to keep it CLEAN...or will it prolong the life of the keyboard, monitor, mouse by keep dust out!?

[thecoalman]

I had a keboard that was 8 years old, never covered. It had coffee, soda, water, dust, hair, and toenail jam in it and it still works.

[Capmaster]

I used to cover everything but now I just cover the mouse and pad. I have a ball-type intellimouse and I hate having to clean that thing every week or so. The cover keeps the dust and stuff off the pad and the mouse mechanism.

I have a cordless optical and you would have to pry it from my cold dead hands to get it off of me.

I've got a corded optical at work and I don't miss cleaning the mouse's ball and wheels inside

So...is the point of the cover (Not just to get you to spend money but...) to keep it CLEAN...or will it prolong the life of the keyboard, monitor, mouse by keep dust out!?

Dust is never a good thing. It acts like a thermal insulator if thick enough and if you get enough of it on heat radiating surfaces it could cause it to burn out.

[DVD_Ripper]

Keep it clean.... if you have a compressor in your basement (for nail guns, etc) you can fire that up to blow dust out of various components.

[thecoalman]

Compessed air also contains compessed moisture which becomes water Unless your using a water filter like they do for painting cars I wouldn't use a compressor..... Use air in a can instead.

[Jayhawk]

I use an optical cordless mouse on one machine and a an optical wired on the other. Dust is not a problem with opticals.

I find on keyboards, dust is less of a problem tha dirt on the keys (especially in my lab machine) and occasional spills. About three years ago I stared using Dell Quietkey keyboards. Every 6 months I remove the 7 screws on the bottom, take out the membrane and cord connector, and throw the rest in the dishwasher. Put it back together and it's good for another 6 months. Love those old Dell keyboards.

I think the covers a re a waste of money unless you are in a very sandy / dusty environment like a factory.

[thecoalman]

I think the covers a re a waste of money unless you are in a very sandy / dusty environment like a factory.

I'd have to agree with that, that's the only practical purpose for using them. For home or regular office use I see no point. Consider the amount of dust being forced through your system by the case fans....

[Cobra]

My PC gets really dusty inside - I have a total of eight fans in there. I just hoover it every time I take it apart, and I try to keep a very clean environment in my room. It's probably better for me too.

If that's the amount of dust in your PC, just think about your poor old lungs!

Cobra