Do you live in Gmail? Are you a power user and you know all about the Gmail keyboard shortcuts? If so the GBoard might just be the thing for you. It is a USB keypad that has nineteen specially labeled keys for specific GMail actions like search, reply, reply all, star, archive, etc. So instead of scrolling around and clicking the right bit of the user interface you just hit a button to perform different tasks.
Gmail’s keyboard shortcuts help you save time by allowing you to keep your hands on the keyboard rather than moving between the keyboard and mouse all the time. You can turn these case-sensitive shortcuts on or off by clicking on Settings on your Gmail page and then select “Keyboard shortcuts on” next to Keyboard shortcuts label.
The problem is that these keyboard shortcuts aren’t always easy to remember, sure OK ‘c’ for compose or ‘r’ for reply are easy enough. But ‘g’ then ‘i’ to go to the Inbox is a bit harder to remember, but what is more there are over 45 keyboard shortcuts.
What the Gboard does is generate the right keyboard shortcut when you press one of its label buttons. So now you don’t need to remember the right key combination, just press the right key on the Gboard!
To use the Gboard you need a Mac or PC and a spare USB port and of course you need to have Gmail’s keyboard shortcuts enabled. You can buy one from Gboard.com and it costs $19.95 (which is about £12).
One thought on “Introducing the Gboard – The Gmail Keyboard”
Although i’m a huge fan of Gmail, I think this is taking Gmail productivity too far!!