"Maybe next week..."

"We'll have to work on that. Sometime soon. Maybe next week."

This morning we're in a bit of a rush to get things done before heading out. We'll be at the Holiday Center in Duluth all week, from 11-2. Come visit us, and check out the great deals. We've got 15% off our FunKey Bundle and we're picking up the sales tax on all items purchased in person.  This week only!

Holiday Center

Look for us in person at the Holiday Center in Duluth all next week. We'll have products for immediate sale, and we're offering a limited time deal on all items: You pay NO sales tax! Chester Creek is picking up your sales tax for sales at the Holiday Mall this week only. Stop on by and say hello!

Holiday Center
207 West Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802

Gift wrapping

Everyone loves unwrapping pressents over the Holidays. Not nearly as many people love spending hours wrapping all their gifts.  Luckily for you, we at Chester Creek are offering a gift wrapping service this holiday season.  Any product, gift wrapped right here, for $5.00 a product.  Just select YES from the drop down menu when you add the product to the cart. The price of gift wrapping should be added right in to the priceo of the product.

Wrapping may not look like packages to left in color or style.

Touch Typing

Touch-typing is a skill wherein the typist does not look at the keyboard, enabling him or her to read while typing.  This significantly increases speed of typing as well as accuracy.

Wikipedia has to say of touch-typing:

Touch typing can efficiently bring an average speed typist to 60 words per minute (WPM) fairly quickly and at the same time increase accuracy by great amounts. Upon learning to touch type, comfortable typing speed is expected to be achieved within a month. The typing speed can be increased gradually with regular practice and speeds around 60wpm could be achieved within a year or so. Many websites and software are available to learn touch typing and many of these are free. Learning touch typing can be stressful both to the fingers as well as the mind in the beginning, but once it is learned to a decent level, it exerts minimal stress on the fingers.

Furthermore,

Studies have also shown that two-finger typists, also known as "Hunt-and-Peck" typists can reach speeds of about 37 wpm when typing memorized text, and 27wpm when copying text.

On the other hand, the average person using the touch type method can reach an average speed of 50 to 70 wpm with some reaching speeds in excess of 80 to 95 wpm. Some touch-typing experts can even reach speeds pf over 120 wpm. (The Benefits of Learning to Touch Type)

One of the biggest obstacles to learning to touch-type is overcoming the urge to peek at the keys.  Many typing teachers have students drape pieces of cloth over the keyboard.  As someone who experienced this in school, I can tell you what many others would: this is a pain in the behind.  Chester Creek has a solution, however.

Our SpeedSkins fit snugly over all standard keyboards, including MacPro keyboards, and covers only letter, number, and punctuation keys.  Additionally, the product is latex-free, durable, and easily washable, making it great for classroom use. 

Ask about our educators' discount!

Thinkin' Thursday - a few tidbits

• Did you know that "typewriter" is the only 10-letter word in the English language that can be spelled completely on the top row of a QWERTY keyboard?
• Did you know that the QWERTY layout has been largely unchanged since 1878? The letter arrangement was originally developed based upon the frequency of letter combinations in the English language.
• Did you know that the slightly angled alignment of a QWERTY keyboard originally had nothing to do with ease of typing, but rather was meant to accommodate the levers in old typewriters? It is retained to this day for sake of familiarity. In fact, some manufacturers produce keybaords with a grid layout because it may be easier. All of Chester Creek’s large-key keyboards are in a grid layout.
• Did you know that email predates the internet? The first email systems were used in 1965 to allow users of single mainframes to communicate with each other.
• Did you know that the first computer mouse was made of wood? Chester Creek mice are splinter-free, RoHS Compliant, and FCC CE Approved.
• Did you know Chester Creek is running a holiday special on the FunKeyBundle? Act now to grab your savings!

LessonBoard Teaches Kids to Type

Our LessonBoard is a beautiful, standard sized keyboard for those learning to touch type.  In a computer saturated world, quick typing is key to success in school and in the work place.  The LessonBoard is unique in that the keys are color-coded by finger placement.  Here is what a former computer teacher had to say about our LessonBoard.  Click to read more.

The LessonBoard exceeded all of my expectations. I would even go so far as to say that if you want to teach a child how to type, either at home or at school, this is the easiest way to avoid stress, tears and arguments.

Click here to follow MommySite on Twitter
or Click here to follow Chester Creek on Twitter

Chester the Mouse

Chester the Mouse is a great kid's mouse.  Single click to avoid mistakes or confusion, built of sturdy materials to stand up to even the roughest use, this is a perfect mouse for children.  Great in home or classroom, we do offer an educators discount.

Gift Wrapping

Chester is hoping to offer gift wrapping this holiday season.  The prices are as yet undetermined.  Any thoughts?

G'Day!

Watch out Australia; Here we come! Chester Creek's full line of products is now available to our pals in the land down under! Check out Spectronics to order products in Australia and New Zealand.

Can you tell how excited we are about this?

The New Headset

Chester Creek offers a great, high-quality, comfortable, nigh-indestructible pair of headphones for use at home, at work, and at school -- anywhere you need them. Because they are wonderful noise reducers, these may be an ideal solution for classrooms or computer labs where unwanted conversations can distract. For the same reason, many individuals find them to be perfect for noisy chores and work, such as mowing the lawn. With padding on the ears and on the band, they sit comfortably, and this pair of headphones will adjust to fit pretty much anyone. As an added bonus, the ear pads and the padding on the band are washable vinyl, making cleaning and sanitization a breeze. Stereo sound will always be crystal clear, and these headphones feature an in-line volume control.

Sounds great, doesn't it? Well, have we got a treat for you! Chester Creek will be introducing a new headset, hopefully hitting the site in mid-December. These headsets have the same basic body as the headphones but also feature an extendable, adjustable, swinging, and -- most important -- sturdy boom mic. This mic is just as high quality as the headphones and has recieved great reviews for use in gaming. However, that is not the only thing these headsets can be used for. Plug and play ready, any time you need a good mic and headset, look to Chester Creek for the very best.

Ho-Ho-Hurry!

Chester Creek is offering a great Holiday deal starting this Monday - 15%
off and free shipping on the FunkeyBoard and FunMouse bundle, through
January 1st.

Be on the watch for exciting new products from CCT in the coming month, including a wireless, large print keyboard!

A Recent Thank-You

We here at Chester recently had an opportunity to help an autistic student struggling with writing, and wanted to share this thank-you-letter with all of you.

"Dear Chester Creek,

Thank you for the KinderBoard for our first grader. He loves it and now loves typing his spelling words, names, and his thoughts. We could not get him to leave, he was so involved in writing his words. His mother was in tears with gratefulness watching his excitement. We all were, actually. The Lego Team was helping him with smiles, knowing it was their letter that brought such joy. This is a lesson that neither I now any teacher would teach this team. This was a lesson in caring, generosity and helping each other. Thank you so much. I know they will never forget this day.

...
Respectfully yours,
Mrs. Liller"

Chester Creek's product line of colorful and high visibility keyboards are a great resource for those who struggle with learning or motor skills. The KinderBoard mentioned in this letter can be seen here: http://ping.fm/nCybq

About Us

"In the beginning, there was a Little Mouse™…" ...and one simple goal: to be a progressive and innovative company people rely on for colorful computer keyboards and mice for children, and for individuals with special needs. The company is located on the scenic shores of beautiful Lake Superior, just a stone's throw from Chester Creek, a picturesque creek surrounded by towering pines and hardwoods that turn brilliant shades of orange and red each Fall. It’s a peaceful place in Northern Minnesota where the hard edge of technology and the time-honored ideals of rural America converge. Chester Creek offers a high-tech lineup of functional, fun and affordable computer keyboards and mice for all ages and abilities, keyboards with big, oversized 1" keys, two-button and one-button tiny mice sized just right for little hands, color-coded and standard-sized keyboards, a color-coded typing tutorial, software and accessories. Above all, Chester Creek strives to meet our goals everyday, in the products we market and the service we provide. We know that to maintain a superior reputation, we must first earn it. To that end, Chester Creek designs and manufactures “the very best” products, contributes to minimizing environmental burden through the effective application of RoHS and CPSIA standards, and most importantly, makes every effort to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers. Take a look around. Relax a bit at the Creek. We are sure you'll be happy you stopped by.