- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 42 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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13 out of 14 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"Fantastic redesign by Microsoft"
Pros: Extremely comfortable, quiet, and attractive
Cons: Takes some time to get used to the new key bed shape.
Summary: Whoever led the design team for this keyboard deserves a raise. I've been using this keyboard for a little over a week and must say I am thoroughly impressed. I switched to a split keyboard around 2 1/2 years ago. I found that after the initial few weeks of getting used to it (and I stopped tapping on the split between the keys every time I went to hit the B key with my right hand) I could no longer stand to type on a standard flat keyboard. This new design from Microsoft takes that comfort to the next level.
The geometry of the keys is such that it feels like there is almost no finger travel. The keys themselves have a pseudo notebook like feel but much better balanced than most notebook keys and they have a deeper travel. This is also, by far, the quietest keyboard I have ever used. Being a night person it's nice to not have that *click - clack - click - clack* pouring through the house at 4AM.
Although the alternate layout for the Delete, Home, etc. keys of the previous Natural keyboards didn't bother me as much as it did most people, I still prefer the original design. Thankfully Microsoft has returned to a traditional layout those keys. Another REALLY nice change over the previous keyboards that had the additional functions for the F keys is that if you have the function lock turned on when you reboot the system, it will stay on. I hated having to hit the function lock every time I booted to get the function keys to behave properly. Thank you Microsoft for wising up on that one!
The keyboard ships with a removable front foot that gives it a negative tilt. When in place the keyboard tilts away from you toward the monitor. Add that to the new wrist rest which is faux leather padding instead of hard plastic and you have a very natural (no pun intended) and comfortable hand position.
If you are willing to take the time to get used to the new shape of the key bed, your hands will thank you in the end. Highly recommended.
- 1 reply to this review
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I have had the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 for a while now. While some keys are reasonably quiet, the space bar needs a good thump and tends to stick after a while, and for night time use it is definitely not dead quiet. Getting fed up with the thumping and rattling noise it was making I did a Google search on 'quietest keyboard'. A bit annoying to find that the noisy keyboard I am trying to find a replacement for is returned near the top of the search list! (Hint: 'silent keyboard' seems to be a better search term.)
Where to buy
Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000:
$23.99 - $69.99
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$39.99 | Yes |
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$49.99 | Yes |
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$35.99 | Yes |
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$49.99 | Yes |
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