M
icrosoft’sErgonomicKeyboard
designhasbeenaroundfordecades,
andhaslongprovenitselfasa
comfortableoptionforpeoplespendinglong
periodsoftimetyping.Nowinitsumpteenth
iteration,it stilloffersthesamecoreshapeas
previousversionsbutbringsitsdesignand
featuresuptodate.
Forthoseunfamiliarwiththerange,the
ideaissimple:byraisingupandflaringoutthe
centralportionofthekeyboard,it betterfitsthe
angleandpositionofyourhandswhenplaced
onyourdesk.Thelargepaddedwristrest
isintegraltotheshapetoo,addinggenuine
supportandpaddingfortheheelofyourhand,
unlikethetokenwristrestsyouoftensee
suppliedwithkeyboards.
That’stheprinciple,andthankfullythe
designworksinpracticetoo– as20-odd
yearsofthesamedesignbeingproduced
willattest.Infact,it’s quiteamazing justhow
instantlymorecomfortablethiskeyboardfeels
thananykeyboardwitha standardshape.
Yourarmsandhandssitata pleasantneutral
angle,andallthekeysfallcomfortablywithin
reach,soyoudon’thavetoadjustyourhand
MICROSOFT ERGONOMIC
KEYBOARD/£60inc VAT
SUPPLIER microsoft.composition all the time to reach them – hand
size notwithstanding.
New to this version is a slick all-black design
with a smart, understated look – it will fit just
as well in an office as a home. You also get a
range of extra buttons across the top, starting
with three numbered buttons that you can
program via Microsoft’s software, but by
default will open Explorer, your web browser
and email client. There are further buttons for
media playback, opening the calculator, taking
a screen snip, opening task view, locking your
PC and opening a search. It’s a great overall
selection that makes for a well-equipped
keyboard for most general Windows tasks.
There are some downsides though. The
first is the keyboard’s sheer size, thanks to
its outward curved central section and very
deep, fixed wrist rest. Then there’s the learning
curve of the split keyboard design. I’ve used an
ergonomic keyboard before, so fell back into it
relatively easily, but typing was still slower than
with a regular layout. I also regularly mixed
up the left Windows key and Alt key when
performing shortcuts. It will take quite a bit of
time and practice to get used to it.
The quality of the keyswitches is nothing
special either. It’s essentially a basic rubber
dome-switch keyboard with a neat design, so
the key presses are fairly stiff and nowhere near
as crisp as with good scissor or mechanical
switches. It’s still a big step up over the likes of
the HP K2500, though, with the consistency
of action and stability of the keys being
vastly better.These types of keyboards don’t last as long
as mechanical or scissor ones, though, so
regular heavy use will likely see key response
deteriorate after a couple of years.
You also miss out on a removable cable and
key backlighting, which are understandable
omissions given the price, but the lack of
feet for adjusting the angle may irk some
people. This keyboard does offer a very
comfortable typing angle by default, but
some customisation would be welcome.Conclusion
There’s a reason the Microsoft Ergonomic
keyboard has been around in various guises
for many years: its design really does offer a
much more comfortable typing experience
than standard keyboards. This latest version
doesn’t revolutionise the design but adds a
few modern twists, including a fetching style
update. Hard use will likely see it wear out
long before mechanical keyboards, but you’ll
have a more comfortable experience along
the way.VERDICT
A great way to make your typing experience
morecomfortablewithoutbreaking the bank.CURVACEOUS
Genuinely
comfortable shape
Wrist rest provides
meaningful support
Plenty of multimedia
buttons
LUMPY- Takes time to
learn layout - No backlighting
- No height adjustment
- Fixed wrist rest
SPEC
Connection Wired, USB
Cable 1.8m, unbraided
Material Plastic
Switch type Membrane
Backlighting None
Extras Integrated wrist rest, ergonomic shape,
multimedia and shortcut buttonsLABS TEST / KEYBOARDS
DESIGN
22 / 25FEATURES
20 / 25OVERALLSCORE
84 %
PERFORMANCE
20 / 25VALUE
22 / 25cc
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tommPP
CCA
P
PR
OVE
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