Anybody have the Diamante and use the wide asterisk key(s)? -- Got the loaner today . . .

[Quyen]

I finally broke down and got the Diamante.  The Lunar White is NOT like the Lexus white (which I imagined would be a metallic or pearly white) like the sales rep said.  Pfffft!!!  As someone very aptly put it, it looks like a [cheap] toaster.  It seems more trouble than its worth to exchange it for a different color.

 

Anyway, I use the wide (right) asterisk keys and the wide -DZ keys.  On my FlashWriter, this was perfect; they were closely set.  On the Diamante, the gap/spacing between the wide asterisk key(s) and the -FR keys are like the regular spacing of all the other keys, in other words, not close enough for me, and I am not hitting the asterisk key when I want to.  My index finger falls between the gap.  This is incredibly annoying since I have to pay particular attention and make an extra effort so that I can make sure to hit the asterisk.  I use the asterisk A LOT, so if there is nothing Stenograph will do for me, I might have to throw the d-mn thing out the window.  Anyone else have this problem?  If you do, did Stenograph do anything to fix it for you?

 

I sent the sales rep an e-mail asking for a fix, so I'm waiting to hear back.  Just wondering if this is an issue for anyone else.

 

Thanks!

[Rhonda Hall Breuwet, RDR CRR CLR]

perhaps they failed to put the wide asterisk key on.  I ordered mine with one and have never noticed a gap.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I think they failed to put them on, Quyen, because I have the wide keys on my Diamante and they look like any other writer.  There should not be a difference.  When you put your index finger between the asterisk key and the F key, your finger should lay halfway between both with just a small space between the two.

[Quyen]

Thanks, guys.  You're probably right; they forgot to put on the wide keys.  The asterisk key does look wider that the other keys, but the spacing is just as wide as all the others.

 

I called writer support, and they're sending me a loaner so I can send my writer back.  What a PITA!

[Quyen]

Got the loaner today, and the spacing of the asterisk key is the same as the one I was originally sent.  :(

The asterisk key is farther away from the -FR keys than the -TS keys are to the DZ keys.  Are yours the same?

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Okay.  Took a picture of my Diamante w/wide keys.  I don't have a problem.  Of course, I have keypads on it too so hope you can see.

[Quyen]

Great idea, Kelli, thanks!  Duuuuhhhh, why didn't I think of that?  Okay, so here's my picture.  Do you see the two red arrows?  On my Flash, the asterisk keys were set closely just like the -TSDZ keys.  Now on the stupid Diamante, it's at least three times wider than I'm used to.  I guess I must have skinny little fingers, because my index finger often misses either the asterisk or the -F and/or -R key.  UGH!!!  :(

 

 

Of course, dear ol' wonderful Stenograph says there's really nothing they can do about it, b/c if they try to reset the keys any closer, it'll either screw with something else or I'll get clicking! Pfffffffftttt!!!

 

[Glen Warner]

Hi, Quyen.

What you need is a double-wide asterisk key:

You can't really tell from this picture, but I have a wide DZ key as well.

As for the skinny keypads on that asterisk key, the regular pad for the asterisk key didn't quite fit, so I improvised, adapted and -- aw, who am I kidding?!?  I just cut one of the spare top bank keypads and used that.  Gets the job done ....

[Rhonda Hall Breuwet, RDR CRR CLR]

a double-wide asterisk is not going to help her if she's not used to hitting that key with her left pointer finger.  I don't know what kind of machine you have (obviously not a Diamante), but the space she's talking about isn't any closer than on hers.

[Quyen]

Rhonda, you are exactly correct; I do not use the asterisk key with my left hand.  Having a double-wide key would not resolve the issue.

[Judy]

If you moved your pads a tad to the right, would that help at all?

[Quyen]

I could move the pads to the right, but I don't think that would work or last very long.  The keypad would just start to fold from the pressure of my hitting the key.

 

My sales rep said he would talk to the development team to see what they can do, if they can make the asterisk double wide to the right and if that would affect anything else on the machine.  It's now a week later, and I haven't heard back.  Of course, I expected this from Stenograph.  I do still have the untouched loaner, though.  Anybody want a free Diamante???

[Lisa O'Sullivan]

Sorry you're having trouble, Quyen. Makes me really glad I didn't go in on the convention-pricing Diamante after all but went for the Impression instead ... although I'm STILL waiting for it!  Better luck to us both.