Microsoft gets out the Ergonomic Keyboard 4000

Looks like Microsoft got around to announcing the roundouts to their new peripheral line, which have been floating for a bit after we discovered their being accidentally "announced early." The Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 harkens back to that classic split design, and features a zoom slider, and should run you $65 sometime this month. Their other budget $25 device, the Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000, will also follow in kind.

[Vinit @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

About bloody time!

[yet another Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

looks very spiffy, shame about the split keyboard. Does anyone type properly anymore?

[dutch @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Finally MS releases a keyboard with a normal insert/delete/home/end/pgup/pgdn block!

[boe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I really prefer the split keyboard! I wish Logitech made a BT split model (not thrilled with MS hardware and no I'm not some linux or mac fanboy, I just don't think their testing is good - too many issues).

[Samuel McConnell @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Finally, a real update to Microsoft Natural keyboards! I've been running a Natural Elite for years...wanted to get one for work, but now I think I'll buy the Ergo 4000 for home and take my newest Natural Elite to work. Excelsior!

[Bryan Kennedy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I've never met a single person that liked the split keyboard. I think it's just marketing hype to get you to think you need it.

[A_B @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

"I've never met a single person that liked the split keyboard."

Hi Bryan. I really like my MS split keyboard. After experiencing pain in my wrist at work, I decided to buy one. It worked so well, I bought another one for home.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

[Nila @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Bryan - thats because most people try it for two minutes, are terrible typers and cant type properly and so then just instantly turn around and complain instead of giving them a chance.
I hated it at first, why? Because I didn't know how to properly touch type - now I can type while facing the other way talking to someone else with 99% accuracy including going back 5 characters past what I've just typed to delete something because I've realised I've hit the wrong key without even looking.
Split keyboards should be forced on everyone so they can learn to type properly.

I am SOOO glad to see someone finally putting some effort into producing some new ones that are updated - my old MS one is now like 5 years old but I wouldn't upgrade it because I hated the vertical ins/home/page up etc buttons instead of the normal horizontal layouts.

This is a nicely done keyboard although I do wish MS would give abit more thought to their multi media keys as a big long row of keys is not helpful to use to control music when standing up or not concentrating - Logitech have this area down with the buttons shaped and positioned specificaly so you can easily become familiar just from the shape.

Anyway, I'll probably end up getting this soon to upgrade my 5yr old white MS Ergo keyboard - this one does look pimping ;)

[Ericthegreat @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

No no no no no. Quit screwing with the F keys. The last M$ keyboard I ordered had them grouped in sets of 3. It screws me up everytime I try to use them.

[Dimmy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Microsoft is still releasing keyboards with the stupid Function Lock key?!?!? What on earth are they thinking? Don't they have focus groups????

[Dimmy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Microsoft is still releasing keyboards with the stupid Function Lock key?!?!? What on earth are they thinking? Don't they have focus groups????

[intheknow @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I still have my original Natural Keyboard at work that I've been using since it was new. At home I have the Natural Multimedia keyboard that doesn't have the split. I love the split. I'm buying 2 of these just as soon as I can. As to the reliability of their products, I've never had a failure of mouse or keyboard with the Microsoft name on it.

[Gil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

hope it's not made of cheap plastic like the last one that came out. I'm sticking with my 7 year old natural keyboard. It's incredibly better built than what M$ put out later.

[Lucien @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I love split keyboards.. I've used one way back since Apple had a split keyboard.. once I can find one of these Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000's, I'm going to buy it!

PS: Hi Bryan, good to met you too. ;-)

[delvach @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Midway through college (about ten years ago) I started experiencing pretty bad pain in my wrists after using a keyboard for any length of time. I started using split keyboards religiously, and now I can type for hours without any pain.

Everybody is assembled differently, and those of us who are vulnerable to RSI have benefited greatly from this option. I only wish they made more split keyboard options. Why fight the way your body is designed?

I'm no fan of MS or the 'operating' system they've infected the general populance with, but those boys sure do brand and distribute good hardware!

[Bill @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

More rubbish hardware from good old m$.
I have the previous m$ keyboard. It took me a weeek until I smashed it up as the enter and shift keys wouldn't function properly unless you pressed them square on.
Nice one m$.

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

When is someone going to release a split keyboard w/ Bluetooth support?

--JOsh

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I also love these split "natural" keyboards, my typing accuracy is wayyyy up because of them, they work great, I'm glad Microsoft decided to update the line! For those of you who have ADD, it takes about an hour or two to really get used to using them, once you've gotten used to them, your hands won't hurt anymore ever noticed how unnatural it feels to straighten out your wrist when you're typing on your cheapie straight keyboard?... You can find the OEM version of the natural pretty inexpensively, they work well for gaming too!

[hey_you @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I would like to see apple come up with a new keyboard -- "mighty board" maybe?

[Slashbunny @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

MS' natural keyboards will always suck until they stop this "one size fits all" business... There are much better adjustable natural keyboards.

[Jared @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I have a Natural Elite keyboard at both work and home and absolutely love it, well except for the screwed up Home/End/Del key grouping. I will buy two of these keyboards if someone could confirm that the Function keys work as Function keys by default, unlike MS's older Natural Multimedia keyboard which defaulted to the special MS functions unless you installed the driver and used a registry hack to toggle the Function keys on from system boot.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

The F-lock will remember settings (on/off) between reboots so as long as it was set to on when you rebooted the system it will be set to on at system boot.

[monmin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

John, I wish that were true. I can confirm for me it is not true. I have to hit the F button everytime I reboot. I almost always forget to do it too. Very annoying.

[Lucien @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Microsoft has put the original site back up:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/discover/nek4000.htm

[DanAmpX @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Hey that keyboard actually looks really nice!

[CorpIT @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

My experience has been that about 1/3 to 1/2 of users that have tried a split keyboard won't give it up. The rest try it for a couple of minutes and ask for their old keyboard back.

When they first came out I had a user who had had a broken wrist and wanted to try a split keyboard. They loved it so I bought 2 more to let others try them. As I said, those who liked them would not let me take them away after their trial time was up. I just kept ordering more until everyone who wanted one, had one.

Now I have 1 or 2 on a shelf for any new hires or temp staff who may want to use it.

A couple of these new ones will be in my inventory real soon now...

[Liquidmantis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Huzzah! Maybe I won't have to keep rebuilding the Natural Pro keyboards I've been holding on to, AND they're using the normal PgUp/PgDn, etc. layout. Just preordered two from Provantage.

Anyway, just wanted to voice my opinion as another longtime split-style ergo keyboard user. Glad there is another model out finally.

[NiL^ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

that's ma' keyboard
http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/images/kb_adv-blk720x471.jpg

[Trampas @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I bought one a week ago and it kicks ass. Comfortable as all hell. Especially the padded wrist rests that are built into it. Perfect squishiness, even for elbow resting while contemplating a particularly nasty piece of code.

Jared: By default the function keys are normal function keys. (F Lock on by default).

Bryan: Nice to meet you. I've been using split keyboards almost exclusively whenever possible since about 1999.

I clung to my Natural keyboard Pro for years even though the shift and enter keys were half broken, then I got another one as a backup. But I already broke it (crack down the middle of the right wrist rest.

I hated the mangled arrow keys of the Elite and the mangled insert/delete block of the last split keyboard from MS. They finally fixed those things back to the way they were with the Pro.

I'm using the 4000 to type this right now.

My only complaints with this beasty are all software.

I can't redefine the purpose of the damn "Zoom" slider in the middle so it's 95% useless. Assigning one of the keys at the top to the screensaver is no longer possible as was with older Intellitype software.

The play/pause button doesn't always work with the new version of winamp and there are no skip forward/back a track keys.

[Anthony @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

After years of using a split keyboard at work, I stumbled upon sites showing previews of this keyboard. It was the first time I fully wanted to drop some dough on a split keyboard for home.

I paid $65 CAD for it, and after about a week of using it, I would say that it is worth a lot more. This keyboard is totally awesome. Kudos to Microsoft for making a split keyboard that finally works on Mac OS X without any stupid PS/2 to USB adapters (this baby is USB only.) It works well with my KVM switch.

The only niggles I have with it are that in iTunes (v6 anyways on the PC,) if you use the play button on the keyboard, it just pauses for a brief half second, then resumes playing the music. For shame. (I don't really care for the buttons at the top of the keyboard, so it's not a big deal.) And the keys are a bit tough to press, with very little aural feedback to let you know that you have indeed pressed the key.

In the end however, this thing is a lot better than my MS Natural Elite at work, and I will be picking another one up just for work.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

What type of KVM are you using? It won't work with mine. I have the Iogear, Miniview III. I should say, it will type and behave like a normal keyboard in the KVM KB slot only. To get all the features, I have to put it in the USB Hub.

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I'm a reseller so I got a hold of a few, I'm typing on one right now and .... man I love it. :)

I am -very- disappointed they didn't release a new Trackball Explorer, I still love the first one dearly.

But I have the same proble with iTunes 6. If the music is paused, it starts it for half a second then stops again, or if the music is playing it stops it for half a second and starts it again... grr... :)

[AS @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I bought this in hopes that $60 non wireless keyboard would be of some basic quality.

LAME, CRAPPIEST keyboard ever. I hope microsoft fucks get ulcer and die for making this.

For one the keyboard keys stick. the space bar (around for almost 80+ years, I reckon) has to be pressed in the center or it just refuses to go down.


Few keys are in wrong place, still getting use to it but I wish they quit trying to reinvent cheapness. Its not good for any brand. It literally hurts to type on this ergo-platter for any length.

Please dont buy this junk.

[Anthony @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I bought the 4000 natural keyboard today.

I've been using the ms natural keyboard for years and years. I found this and I'm very impressed. It's very comfortable to type on.. especially the squish pads, awesome idea.

Sure it's probably not very good if you can't type. Although, when I bought my ms natural keyboard I couldn't... now I can... Necesity is the mother of invention. I get usually 100% accuracy and am over 100 words per minute now consistantly.

I do code a lot, and that definintely helps your typing, but this keyboard is gold.

My only negative so far is the zoom slider.. A fantastic idea, if it worked properly :s I'm a photoshop CS 2 user, and it works very occasionally, usually just slides left to right.. I'll look for updates now, but if they get it going... well this is my ultimate keyboard, from a design and coder perspective, cheers,

Anthony

[Conficio @ Aug 15th 2007 4:48PM]

Count me as someone you never met. I would not make any straight keyboard my default keyboard. I hate laptops, because they don't come with this ergonomic device.

By the way, it is the best that can happen to someone not to good in typing. It forces you to use both hands evenly and makes it easier to type with all ten fingers. I wished there was a version that programaticaly could erase the letters written on the keys. It would be the ideal tool to force users to learn blind typing and speed up their typing over time.

K

[jv @ Jan 2nd 2006 2:38AM]

It's great until you run it through a KVM switch - then kiss your special function keys goodbye. No support for these keys through a KVM!