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Is it wrong to love my new keyboard?

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I've been a die hard MS Natural Keyboard user since the model was first released.  Before the Natural Keybard, spending as much time as I did in front of standard keyboards made my wrists hurt.  The split keyboard was totally the thing for me.  Released a little later, the "Pro" version of the keyboard was even better, with USB support and cool extra keys.

However, subsequent models of the Natural Keyboard caused me no end of frustration.  If it wasn't the "Elite" models with their funky arrow key layout and sideways Insert-Delete-Home-End-PgUp-PgDn key block, it was the "MultiMedia" version with its mysteriously disappearing Insert key.  I tried using these new models, but my fingers' muscle memory expected to find the keys in their old, traditional layout.  Yes, I'm still a Ctrl-Insert / Shift-Insert guy, so removing the Insert key was like removing a finger to me.

As time passed by and I needed to replace dying keyboards or outfit new PCs, I eventually resorted to purchasing used original Natural and Pro keyboards on eBay.  I even bought a few extra to build up a sort of strategic keyboard reserve... just in case, you know, Armageddon or whatever made them impossible to find later.

A few weeks ago I was able to try out a Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000.  I was delighted to discover that not only does this new keyboard have all of of the keys where I expect them to be, but it really is even more comfortable than the original Natural and Pro models!  I immediately and with great enthusiasm purchased new keyboards for both my work and home offices, and I've been typing in luxury ever since.  If you'll pardon me, I need to be alone with my keyboard for a moment now.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 24, 2006
    Finally a fellow keyboard connaisseur! The NEK 4000 is truly the best MS ever made, out with the very old, in with the new :)
  • Anonymous
    January 24, 2006
    Yes! I agree!

    Except for a couple of gripes. I've recently upgraded from the natural multimedia keyboard to the nek4000, and there's two things that have annoyed me.

    The play and pause buttons and volume buttons should be in the middle, not the right hand side (i'm a lefty, the top buttons i mostly use my left hand hand).

    The favourites are well and good, but why can't i map them to things in the predefined list, not just some random url or exe? (ok, this is a problem with intellitype rather than the keyboard).

    Little whinges:
    I have very little use for the three buttons on the left.
    The zoom in the middle i never touch.

    Big bonus: The FLlock key stays set over reboots!!!
  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2006
    That keyboard looks nice - but it looks like it is cordless. Is that true? Maybe they decided that comfort and wireless freedom are mutually exclusive? I have a wireless keyboard now, and like being able to easily move it around when I work, or even set it off to the side.
  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2006
    I totally agree. The split natural keyboards with a horiztonal edit-key block are dreamy! I love mine. My only wish I could find a way to refactor the zoom function.
  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2006
    Now, if only MS would make it backlit -- then, we'd have perfection.
  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2006
    Tom, the NEK400 is USB-connected. Personally, I don't like the MS wireless keyboards because they all have the funky sideways above-the-arrow key block and missing Insert key.
  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2006
    Mmmmmm.... baaaaaaackliiiit. :)
  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2006
    This is your wife. It's wrong. VERY wrong.
  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2006
    If lovin' my keyboard is wrong, I don't wanna be right!
  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2006
    Ok I'm logged in as myself now. This is wrong, wrong, wrong. I think I'm going to have to blog about this.
  • Anonymous
    January 31, 2006
    Yahoo!
    Thank your wife for linking this. I must agree about the stockpiling thing. I bought two old ones on Tiger Direct two years ago. They were factory sealed with very expired rebates stickered to them. I've barely used one of them.

    Time to stockpile these instead.

    IMarvinTPA

  • Anonymous
    February 02, 2006
    IMarvinTPA: I thanked Helen for you. She seems to be driving a bit of traffic to my blog these days. :)
  • Anonymous
    June 09, 2009
    PingBack from http://weakbladder.info/story.php?id=5973