Do you know how to use a typewriter?

[FSUZeta]

yes, i have used a typewriter. my kids, however, have not.

This thread inspired me to test my summer interns and their typewriting skills.

There are three of them, 2 are 19 and the other 18. I gave them forms to fill out with just our company address, my name, and today's date. Between the three of them, two were able to find the ON button, and only one knew how to load it correctly. I was pleased to see that they knew how to maneuver the buttons and type normal, but all three of them kept accidentally hitting the "word erase" instead of the "letter erase" button.

At least they were able to align everything correctly and I don't have a bunch of slanty words on the page considering none of them have ever used a typewriter before.

[Scandia]

I do. But I took typing lessons. They came in very handy. I can type over 100 wpm.

[preciousjeni]

Yep - I used to use one that belongs to my father. It was in a green suitcase thing. I now use an electric one at my office.

[smiley21]

I use a typewriter all the time for my job.

Slightly off-topic,

But if you want to see how fast you can type, http://www.typingtest.com can clock your speed. (You'll need Java for it to work, btw.)

Back to your regularly scheduled thread.

[valkyrie]

I've used typewriters before, but I'd be really annoyed if I had to use one now. I mean, WHY?!

[ADqtPiMel]

I've never used one, and I was born in 1983.

[DeltAlum]

Both electric and manual.

My high school best friend graduated with a 3.965 because he got a B in typing in the 9th grade.

[aephi alum]

When I was little, my dad had a manual typewriter. He showed me the basics of how to use it, including how to load and align paper and how to use correction paper (I think that's what it's called?). I remember asking him why there wasn't a "1" key with the other numeric keys. If someone sat me in front of a manual typewriter today, I could probably muddle through.

I haven't gone anywhere near a typewriter since my folks got a computer when I was about 12. I learned to type on that computer. I've never been clocked, but I type wicked fast.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by AXiD670

She had never used a typewriter before. That blew my mind -- I've never met anyone who hasn't. I think she may have been born in 1985 or 1986.

So, I thought I'd bring the question over here. Have you ever used a typewriter? If not, post the year you were born.

wow, i actually resent that statement. though i was born in 84, ive used both an electric and manual typewriter. my college advisor made us type all our college applications vs. printing them. this was around the time the Common App came out and my advisor wasnt having it!

so i can type on both. im no pro, but i was when i had to type those applications.

p.s. i got accepted to all the schools i applied to, so maybe the typing was impressive? who knows.

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

Both electric and manual.

My high school best friend graduated with a 3.965 because he got a B in typing in the 9th grade.

Oh that's brutal.

At my all-girls' school, if you got anything but an A in keyboarding, you were the butt of jokes.

[CutiePie2000]

Yes.
I think my family has an old one of my Mom's from the 1960's and you need seriously strong fingers to pound on those keys. WOW!

[bcdphie]

I used a typewriter to type projects, etc. in elementary school and the very early years of highschool. My family didn't get a computer until I was in grade 8 (1991).

[Still BLUTANG]

yes, i've used a typewriter before

but NO i cannot use the one in my office... it's a really early model funky oldschool word processor and it just SUCKS. we'd be better off with just a real typewriter.