Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 Review

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Over Hill, Over Dale

How ergonomic do you want to be? Microsoft's newest PC/Mac keyboard gives the company four different variations of the familiar QWERTY layout, from classically flat to roller-coaster curved. It's the weirdest-looking, but promises to be the most comfortable, of them all. And it's reasonably priced at $65 instead of $75 or $100.

Some Microsoft keyboards offer the conventional straight, rectangular layout we all grew up with. Others morph the arrangement into a slightly curved or smiley-face design, like the new Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 or the Wireless Optical Desktop Comfort Edition we reviewed in November 2004.

When asked to think of an ergonomic keyboard, you probably think of the company's third group -- the Microsoft Natural series of split keyboards that angle the keys and provide a gap between the left and right hands for a more relaxed position of the wrists, arms, and shoulders, like the Natural Multimedia Keyboard seen below.

Microsoft's fourth and newest variation is called the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, and billed as the Natural series' first redesign (as opposed to minor refresh) in a decade. It not only separates the left- and right-hand keys, but combines the split and smiley-face layouts in what Microsoft calls a "gull wing" design: The separate sections follow an arc instead of a straight diagonal, with the center sculpted so the 6 and 7 keys are rounded off and T, G, H, and N are wider than usual.

The 4000 doesn't lie flat or parallel to your desktop, either. The gap between the halves is the crest of a hill that slopes downward on either side at a 14-degree angle. And if you snap a detachable stand into place beneath the palm rest, the whole keyboard has a 7-degree reverse slope or tilt -- its front edge higher than the rear -- to encourage arm and wrist alignment. (If you're old-fashioned, you can remove the stand and use two folding feet at the rear for a more traditional rising slope.)

It's all meant to move the keys closer to your fingers, while your hands rest comfortably -- the palm rest is padded instead of flat plastic -- with your wrists, arms, and shoulders in an optimal position.

Does it work? The first day or two with the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard will bring numerous typos as you unlearn old, bad habits -- what's so wrong about hitting B with your right instead of left index finger, we'd like to know? -- and get accustomed to the split.

After a few days, however, we were not only used to but starting to like the 4000's wavy layout -- it definitely improved our posture, encouraging us to sit up straight instead of slouching (when we lazily stretch to type a URL or hit Alt-Tab with our chair pushed back, we can't reach the keys over the raised front). And we had to admit the new typing position did feel more comfortable, though maybe more so in our shoulders than our wrists. The keys are quiet, with a medium-soft, notebook-ish typing feel, and the imitation-black-leather cushioned wrist rest is noticeably nice.

Most of our testing, we should note, was with our trusty Windows 2000 PC; the 4000 also works with all versions of Windows XP (but not older editions such as Win 98) and Mac OS X 10.2 and above. The keyboard has a USB cable; a PS/2 adapter plug should work, though we didn't find one in the box. For now, no cordless version is available.

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