Xah Lee, 2006-06, …, 2011-12-15
In 2005, Microsoft produced a new keyboard called the “Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000”. This keyboard is a major change from their previous ergonomic model.
Summary: in the 20 or so keyboards i've used since 1990, i found this to be the best. But after using it full time for 2 years of intensive typing (am a programer and maintain few active blogs), the stiff Spacebar is finally causing me hand problem. I switched back to the earlier model of Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard.
The keyboard features a front-tilt, and large palm rest. e.g. The Spacebar is about 2 cm higher than the F5 key. This is GOOD.
Usually, people like to prop up the back legs of their keyboard so that they actually have to bend their wrists upward to type. That this bad.
Rest your forearm on a table and let your hand relax, you'll notice that your wrist bends upward about 30°. Now, tab your finger tips on the table as if making a impatient gesture. You will feel discomfort after some 20 minutes. Now, place book under your wrist. You'll notice it's more comfortable. Because, wrist don't bend upwards. This is what the MS 4000 front-tilt does.
The physical shape of the keys are now curved in several ways. For example, in previous Microsoft ergonomic keyboards, the Caps-Lock and ASDFG keys all are on a straight line. But with 4000, this is no longer so.
The keys are curves for good reasons, for example, pinkies are shorter. So, the A key is curved towards you. Also, the F key is ~1 cm higher than A, and similarly for the right side. This is good because when you don't have to rotate your forearm.
When i have to press Shift or Ctrl keys on the 4000, i have to bend my wrist to the side, much more with this curved layout than previous MS ergonomic keyboard. So, the curves are not necessarily peaches and creams for everyone.
There are 2 type of arrangement for the key cluster: Insert, Delete, Home, End, PageUp, PageDown. Traditionally, they are arranged in 2 rows, 3 columns. Since about year 2000, some arrange it in 3 rows, 2 columns.
If you read a lot keyboard comments, you'll find there's no universal agreement on which is better. Personally, i hated the new arrangement, but after using it for about 2 years, i got used to it. Then, when i first started using this 4000, i find the traditional arrangement annoying, till a month of adjustment.
For more detailed analysis, see: Computer Keyboard: Home/End Key Cluster Arrangement.
• There is a “zoom” slider. You can use it to zoom-in or zoom-out in web browser. I find this very useful. It works in all applications that zoom makes sense that i've tried. All Microsoft apps, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari, Opera, Gimp, Inkscape, Blender. In desktop folder (Explorer), you can use this to increase/decrease the photo's preview size. It's also very convient when viewing photos. In most apps, you can zoom by holding Ctrl key and use the mouse scroll wheel, or press 【Ctrl++】 and 【Ctrl+-】. But a dedicated zoom slider is slightly more convenient.
The only problem i found is that the zoom does not work in Firefox by default. (it scrolls instead) If it doesn't zoom in some app, you can use the bundled software IntelliType to make it zoom, or scroll, or any other, but it requires some programing background. (see: Microsoft IntelliType Hacks.)
• There are Back and Forward keys below the Spacebar. This is convenient for browsing the web. These keys can also be reset with IntelliType to other purposes, such as switching to previous or next application, windows, or tabs.
• There are 4 new keys: = ( ) ← on top of the number keypad. This is convenient for those who uses the calculator application. These keys behave the same as the ones on the main section of the keyboard. Too bad that they can't re-programed.
• The PrtScn, Break, ScrLk are each a physical key. (some keyboards don't even have them, or jam them into 2 physical keys with modifier for meaning.)
• The led indicators for Num Lock, Caps Lock, ScrLk, F Lock are right in front of the keyboard, below the space bar. This makes them easy to see. (This is a improvement from the Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Pro. There, the leds are on the usb transceiver that is often placed away or under your desk.)
(See also: How to Disable the F-Lock Key.)
• There are many complaints about the space bar being stiff. Some comment on amazon mentions that they didn't have that problem. I also find the spacebar too stiff. Almost all the bad reviews on amazon are about the Spacebar. Some hope that it'll soften overtime, but i can tell you it won't. I've been using this keyboard for 3 years now. Either you get used to it, or the spacebar spoiled the whole thing for you.
After using this keyboard for 3 years for heavy typing, the stiff spacebar is giving me hand problems. Currently i switched back to the previous Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard.
• The Spacebar is extremely loud, and it makes one big sloppy THUD sound. I really hate it.
• In the previous generation the Natural Multimedia Keyboard (NMK) keyboard, there are skip-to-next-song and skip-to-previous-song buttons. This is not present in the 4000. So, now you have to switch to your music player first in order to skip to the next song. This is a terrible oversight. As a work around, you can make those special Back and Forward buttons to do the same. Overall, both keyboards have the same number of special keys, so it's a trade off. I set the Forward/Backward buttons to switch tabs in browser.
• The Ctrl keys have become smaller and less protruded. For emacs users, this is bad news. On the NMK keyboard, you can flatten the palm and press Ctrl that way very comfortably. But with the 4000, it's difficult to use palm to press the Ctrl key. Instead, you can curve your hand into a semi-fist to sit on the Ctrl. (See: Never use your pinky to press Ctrl.)
• Many reviewer have mentioned, that the labels on the key comes off relatively easily. I've been using this keyboard for about 3 years, for more than 10 hours per day. About 4 key's labels are completely gone.
As a alternative to this keyboard, i recommend:
Microsoft's model number is a bit confusing. There's “Desktop 7000”, which is actually just a wireless version of keyboard 4000 plus the wireless ergonomic mouse 6000.
The Classic: Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite. No extraneous buttons, but the arrow keys got screwed. (imagine playing Pacman with it) According to Amazon reviewers, LOUD spacebar. That's a immediate NO for me.
Addendem.
One problem i found in this keyboard is that the right Alt key needs to have pressure on it for it to register. Note, it's just the right Alt. The left Alt works perfectly. The right Alt, needs pressure when you hold it down. When i use right Alt to do key combinations, often it results in just typing without having Alt down. This is very annoying. I don't know if this is just particular to the one i bought, or is a general problem of this keyboard. According to a blog by Greg Smith at Source notemagnet.blogspot.com , he seems also seeing this problem. Most of my Alt usage is done with the left Alt, and now i habitually apply more pressure when using right Alt.
Overall, this keyboard is of quality design, but cheap construction, intended for mass market.