- Keyboard features ergonomic design for comfort
- Multimedia controls for easy access to music and video files
- Enhanced F-key commands for customizable shortcuts
- Connects to PC via USB or PS/2 ports
- Attractive white finish
Product Description
To design a more comfortable keyboard, Microsoft conducted extensive ergonomic and usability research. The result is the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite. Its split, gently sloped shape encourages a natural hand position-so you can type more comfortably.The Natural Keyboard Elite allows you to place your hands, wrists and forearms in a naturally comfortable position. The built-in palm rest provides a comfortable place for your hands when you’re not typing.Amazon.com Product Description
Stay comfortable and work longer with the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite. The split, gently sloped shape of this keyboard allows you to type with a more natural hand, wrist, and forearm position. The ergonomic design … More >>
Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite
Jon R. Helms
March 11, 2010 at 2:41 pm
The mouse is rather lousy, and chews through batteries really fast. The mouse is so bad I ended up buying a different wireless pointing device.
Rating: 3 / 5
Tim Mensch
March 11, 2010 at 5:18 pm
I am a programmer, and I touch type my code. I navigate through pages of text using only the keyboard. Switching to a split keyboard design was not difficult since I touch type anyway. I love the split keyboard part of the design–the old Microsoft Natural Pro keyboard has a great design, and works well for me. I’ve used other split (“ergonomic”) keyboards as well.
However, on the Natural Keyboard Elite, Microsoft has taken the standard arrow key and navigation key clusters and ruined them. The arrow keys are much more difficult to use than the standard, well-designed inverted T layout. While your fingers rested comfortably on the bottom row of arrow keys in the old layout, in the new your fingers don’t really fit at all–you can only put two fingers on at once, and you need to move them in awkward ways to switch to the up and down keys from the left and right keys. Ergonomic it is not. Aerodynamic, maybe–after a short time using this keyboard, I certainly feel like throwing it somewhere to find out. Also, the “Insert” key has been removed entirely from the block above the arrow keys after they pointlessly randomized its layout. Insert isn’t a super-popular key, but I actually use it frequently, and my fingers expect the entire block to be in the traditional layout.
Why break the standard? Why move the keys around into a LESS useful layout? If you’re like me and you end up typing on lots of different keyboards, AND you use the arrow keys a lot to navigate, it turns out to be quite painful to switch back and forth between the different layouts. And some of the keys I use frequently just aren’t there.
Bad move Microsoft. Please don’t change things “just because you can.”
Rating: 1 / 5
Anonymous
March 11, 2010 at 5:23 pm
The arrow keys are way too small and have non-standard placement. The function keys and the home, end, pageup, pagedown keys are also much smaller. I find it extremely difficult to use these keys. Of course, the split keys are OK. Personally, my opinion is, if this keyboard makes any operation more difficult than my regular keyboard, then it doesn’t qualify as an ergonomic keyboard. I don’t see any point in spending more money to end up with a degraded experience.
Rating: 1 / 5
Christopher V
March 11, 2010 at 7:13 pm
The keyboard arrived damaged and I have yet to hear from Amazon about a refund or a replacement. I am totally dissatisfied.
Rating: 1 / 5
Anonymous
March 11, 2010 at 9:16 pm
the darn thing just quit working entirely- very cheaply made apparently- what a disapointment!
Rating: 1 / 5