Alternative to Alt+B and Alt+F to move between words in Linux?

[MisterSnrub]

I hate having to use the Alt key. It's clunky and awkward and difficult for my hands. Is there an easier way to move to the next/previous word? Is there a way to map Alt+F to Ctrl+right arrow and Alt+B to Ctrl+Left arrow?

I guess I should describe my setup: I connect to a CentOS server through PuTTY in Windows 7.

[alf55]

In vim, while in command mode (where you are before o, O, i, I, a, A) w, W or b, B. For the command line, I have in my profile "set -o vi" and I edit the command line text by hitting the "Esc" key then vi commands (therefore w, W, b, B work).

Otherwise, what are you doing where you need to use Alt-B and Alt-F?

[MisterSnrub]

Sure, I kinda like "set -o vi" but I don't like how on the command line you can't tell when you're in command mode and when you're in insert mode.

[alf55]

You are in edit mode unless you hit the escape key. There is not an indicator as in VI.