But Will It Stick?

The Seal 'N Type is a clear flexible plastic cover ingeniously custom-made for the Dragon keyboard. It consists of a flexible PVC seal which is attached directly over the keyboard with double-sided sellotape and a strip of Velcro. The object of the cover is to fully protect it at all times against spills, dust, ash and grime, while enabling typing through it apparently unimpaired.

The theory is sound and the instructions concise, although they do not mention the Velcro. Fitting theoretically is easy: all you need is a ruler, a hair dryer or blow heater and some warm fingers; all you have to do is push out the cover keys, fit them over the keys of the keyboard, attach the double-sided tape by peeling off the backing, ditto for the Velcro and Bob's your uncle... or is he?

I have a plastic 'Microguide' cu-out around my keyboard plus a fold-back cover, a multi-pack interface attached, plus the usual Dragon accessories scattered about, five left thumbs on each hand notwithstanding. Fortunately with patience and bad language I managed to successfully carry out an extremely simple routine which anyone should be able to manage with ease.

Finally came the moment of triumph and I started to type through it for the first time. Clear it may be, simple it may be, but the sensation is difficult to describe: the sense of feeling isn't quite there, and somehow for me it detracts from the typing.

The problem with buying mail order is often that you cannot try first. The theory of this device is first rate, the practicality obvious, fitting for most will be very easy, and yet somehow I wonder if the investment was really worth it. However, I will persevere if only to get my money's worth.

I will in due course report on how it wears. For the time being if I were to award dragons on a scale of five, it would be three.

Roland Hewson