xNumLock

There are two types of people in this world: those that use the numeric row on the keyboard and those that use the numeric keypad. If you’re in the latter category, then I can’t really say I emphasize. I mean, the numpad is on the right and, usually, so is the mouse. Why go through so much hassle when you have a perfectly good row of numbers at the top of the keyboard? I seriously can’t understand how you do it. #teamnumericrow for life!

But jokes aside, the numpad has one disadvantage that even its most devout users probably detest: the dreaded Num Lock key. Press it by accident, and your workflow is toast. Many curses have been shouted because of this key, even if most keyboards have a light that indicates if the numpad is active or not. What can one do to prevent this?

The aptly named xNumLock actually has the power to make the Num Lock key obsolete. It’s free and portable, so no installation will be required; just download it, unarchive it and launch it.

The program will stay in your system tray during its run, so you can be sure that it won’t get in your way. But whenever you press Num Lock, nothing will happen, and you’ll be able to continue typing numbers with your numeric pad.

If you really need to keep the numeric keypad active at all times, then yes, you could call xNumLock a system enhancement app. Since it’s so lightweight and unobtrusive, it doesn’t affect your computer’s processing power, and it can only have a positive impact on your workflow.

But the truth is that this is an app with a very specific purpose that probably won’t be much use to #teamnumericrow people, or to those who can easily type without pressing the Num Lock key.