News - Microsoft launches new Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard and mouse

[HEXUS]

This ergonomic wireless set has a US MSRP of $129.95. Not listed on the UK site as yet.

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[sirtrouserpress]

I somewhat doubt I'd be able to touch type with that, and I very muchly dislike the detached numpad

[TheAnimus]

Doesn't look comfortable really, I would say I'd reserve judgement till I've tried it, but at that price, I'll never be trying it.

[sykobee]

Glad they're removed the number pad - lets you put the mouse closer to the keyboard.

Does look very odd however.

[OilSheikh]

Way too expensive.

Easier to use a hacksaw and sculpt your own pattern ?

[crossy]

I somewhat doubt I'd be able to touch type with that, and I very muchly dislike the detached numpad

I'm curious - why? If you need to use the numpad a lot then you can just move it closer to the keyboard. On the other hand if you don't need it then you can always stuff it in a drawer.

I've never had one of those MS "ergonomic" keyboards since they've always struck me as something that would dominate a desk, leaving you little space to do anything else with. Plus, on the few occasions that I've used one, the feeling hasn't been that good - flimsy and (ironically) quite uncomfortable.

In the meantime, I think I'll stick to my Logitech K800 and Anywhere Mouse MX. The cost of these is probably comparable to that of the MS kit, but the K800 is a "normal" keyboard, albeit one with presence-sensitive lighting. And my K800 doesn't take up acres of space on my (very cluttered) desk.

[CampGareth]

Hmm, I wonder how one of these ergonomic keyboards compares to a normal design using a more efficient layout like colemak or dvorak. It's totally understandable why they'd go for qwerty but it seems a little bit half-assed to me. I guess they assume anyone interested can re-assign keys anyway but still

[hesham1516]

Very interested in the keyboard, but I wonder how those Chiclet keys feel. If they feel good then it might be worth the investment.

+1 for the separate numpad, lets you put it on either side of the keyboard and can be tucked away when you do not need it. love it.

[this_is_gav]

I've never had one of those MS "ergonomic" keyboards since they've always struck me as something that would dominate a desk, leaving you little space to do anything else with. Plus, on the few occasions that I've used one, the feeling hasn't been that good - flimsy and (ironically) quite uncomfortable.

I had the MS Ergonomic 4000 and it was fantastic - so good I personally bought another for work. It did dominate the desks (the reason I eventually got rid of mine) but they were super comfortable to use if you took the time to get used to it.

There was certainly nothing flimsy about it. You could beat a co-worker to death with one, sit back down at your desk and carry on as if nothing had happened.

[ConnorLowe]

Looks a bit funky!

I like how the mouse has a built in start button and that there is a detachable number pad

[Andrew McP]

I don't care if it's the best keyboard on the planet, that thing's uglier than a blind date with Mike Tyson. I'd rather have dog poop on my desk!

Only a small dog, obviously. We're not talking Great Dane or big steaming Alsation.



PS Typed on an MS keyboard which is considerable less Fukushima'd than that one.
PPS Interesting to see the Logitech k800 mentioned. I nearly used yesterday's emailed Logitech 30% discount code on one of those. It's a lot more than I normally spend, and I was thinking of a mechanical at first. But I do like a quiet keyboard. That MS may have quiet keys, but it's definitely a LOUD statement.

[kopite]

I had user the natural keyboards for years before upgrading to a mechanical keyboard.

if they made a cherry brown version of this It`d be a hit with me alas they done

[ajax2061]

got the ergo 4000 been thinking about a upgrade so as soon as the mouseless version comes out I will be tempted as hell

After you get used to a ergo KB then you will love them takes a bit of time but I been using them for over 134 years now and wouldn't swap back as get so many cramps in hands when I have to use a std KB

[Pleiades]

After you get used to a ergo KB then you will love them takes a bit of time but I been using them for over 134 years now and wouldn't swap back as get so many cramps in hands when I have to use a std KB

Blimey, I thought I was old

I had the original Natural Keyboard and loved it, though it was enormous and heavy compared to later offerings from MS.

Just don't think the cut-out bit is necessary and it would be nice to have cherry mech key options at that sort of price... and if you're going to split off the numpad why not go all the way and split the keyboard in two (as in the first 'ergos') so you can set different angles for each hand

They're still selling these things: http://www.posturite.co.uk/mice-keyb...-keyboard.html

and http://www.posturite.co.uk/mice-keyb...-keyboard.html

Tho in the latter case, first impression is "it's broken"!

[crossy]

MS Ergonomic 4000 ... There was certainly nothing flimsy about it. You could beat a co-worker to death with one, sit back down at your desk and carry on as if nothing had happened.

Shhuussshh, if Health & Safety hear that then they'll make us fill out risk assessments for keyboards!

PPS Interesting to see the Logitech k800 mentioned. I nearly used yesterday's emailed Logitech 30% discount code on one of those. It's a lot more than I normally spend, and I was thinking of a mechanical at first. But I do like a quiet keyboard. That MS may have quiet keys, but it's definitely a LOUD statement.

Big fan of the K800 - it's not silent - but certainly not likely to annoy someone else reading in a quiet room while you're typing. Big plus point of the backlit keys is that the engravings are very good. I've had mine for two years and all the key markings are as clear as the day I got it. Only signs that it's been used every working day for two years being that the space bar, and parts of the wrist rest area, are now gloss finish rather than the matt one that they were originally. Yes, it was expensive, but it's lasted well - although also now a bit more rattly than I remember originally.

Other point about the K800 is that it uses the Nano receiver not Bluetooth. This makes it a nuisance because you've got to plug in that receiver, but on the other hand it's one of the few wireless keyboards that I'm allowed to use. Company rules prohibit the use of Bluetooth keyboards because they can be intercepted remotely.

[ajax2061]

dam those typos lol meant 13 years, might have to buy one sooner than I planned my x key stopped working and with my login that's a issues lol (for for those wondering how I typed it try holding down alt and then hit 1 2 0)