Microsoft Natural Ergo Keyboard 4000

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by: SAM (United States)
on: Monday, 1-November-2010

Ive used many other types of ergonomic keyboards over the past 10 years or so, some of which were much more expensive than this one. But so far this is the best of them all: All the buttons work properly -- I really like the quick buttons on the top for the Web sites I go into several times a day. It also has a bit more of a pitch in the middle, and so its very comfortable to use.

I dont know the longevity of this keyboard, but so far I highly recommend it.

by: K. Tweedy (Kauai, HI USA)
on: Friday, 29-October-2010

Ive been using one form of the Microsoft natural (split) keyboard for over 10 years. Interestingly, the first versions took the approach of hdaning slightly pointing down (lower at the back than the front) was healthier, then interim version put a tilt at the back (irritating once youve gotten used to the downward tilt) and now this model features a (removable) front lift that gets back to the downward tilt. Ive been personally terrified of carpal tunnel syndrom, especially having seen several co-workers go through very painful surgeries and recoveries, so I may be a little more manic than some about these ergonomic considerations. That said, Im still (knock wood!) carpal tunnel free. My primary negative comment about this particular incarnation of the MS Natural Keyboard is that it could be a lot quieter. Another design improvement that Id love to see is the slightly more chiclet key design of recent Sony VAIO laptops where the keys are slightly higher than 1/8 (as compared to the more traditional shaped typewriter-style keys on this model). Another relatively new PLUS is the inclusion of programmable your purpose keys and the middle zoom gadget. Altogether a good buy. My second negative comment is that the keys on this are labelled in what seems to be a stick-on decal. Ive read other comments that these tend to wear off (and middle models of this keyboard have had etched-on key labels, so that would not seem to be a technical problem).

by: Dunning Idle (Colorado Springs, CO)
on: Thursday, 28-October-2010

I bought this keyboard about 3 years ago. I use it every day. If Im at another computer, I miss this one. I get tendonitis on a normal keyboard or laptop if I type too much. I can type several hours straight, or all day with breaks, on this one. Im buying a new one because I have used this one so much Ive worn the labels off the e, s, d, and c keys. Everything is still completely functional, so Ill keep this one as a backup. I just want it to look pretty again.

by: Batmite (United States)
on: Tuesday, 26-October-2010

This keyboard was a great purchase. Very much worth the (low) price! Much improved comfort and super easy to install - total install under 5 minutes. The hot keys are a huge help and the browsing keys save a bunch of time.

Your wrists will thank you! Only 1 tiny drawback - there is no Windows key on the right hand side of keyboard. I always used the Windows + L to lock the computer when I wander away from my desk.

Two (relieved) thumbs up.

by: DogLover (Queens, NY)
on: Friday, 22-October-2010

I purchased this product hoping that the keyboard would be somewhat quiet and ergonomic. It isnt much quieter than my previous regular Dell flat keyboard I upgraded from and the space bar SUCKS. The space bar is very NOISY and its a known issue that it gets jammed. I would not recommend dropping money on this to anyone even if its for $20 (which is what I paid). Its not terrible but its not worth extra money, my Apple keyboard at home is much less noisy but I guess the ergonomic part is definitely the upside. If you type fast, itll be noisy on this keyboard so if youre looking for a quiet keyboard, PLEASE DO NOT buy this keyboard.

by: Susan K. (Shrewsbury, MA USA)
on: Monday, 4-October-2010

I love my ergonomic wave keyboard! When my last one died after a couple of years, and a couple of spills, it was hard to deal with a regular keyboard, even for the couple of days until the new one arrived. But I was thrilled at the quick shipping, and how soon I was back clicking away comfortably!

by: S. Alexander Meeres (Canada)
on: Wednesday, 29-September-2010

I bought my first Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 five years ago, and was at first a little dubious about the curvy, split-in-half design. Id used some funky keyboards before, and often the extra knobs and buttons, bells and whistles were of poor quality or limited functionality.

Not so with this keyboard.

1. Ergonomics. 5/5
This is by far the most comfortable keyboard I have ever used. The angle of my hands is completely natural, the size and shape of the keys makes them all easy to hit (especially for a touch typist), the palm-rest is soft and not obtrusive as on some competitors products, and the tactile touches like the little ridge on the J and F keys are appreciated. I can type on this keyboard and use if for games for 10 hours at a time or more and not get sore. The keyboard has feet near the back which can increase the angle, and it has a large plastic bar that raises the palm-rest by a couple inches. These both make for very natural hand positions, but both of them make the keyboard too bulky to slide into my keyboard tray, so I dont use them at all.

2. Design. 4/5
The keyboard has a few nifty design features which have become more standard in the five years since I bought it. It has pre-programmed buttons along the top which open up Search, Email, and Web Browser. It has a series of 5 user-programmed buttons which can either activate items on the taskbar (handy in Windows 7) or run favourite programs or locations. It has simple multimedia controls (volume, play/pause, mute). And it has a calculator button just above the number pad. All of these are simple, functional, and laid out in a way that makes them easy to identify and use without the chance of striking them by accident.

There are a few other design choices that are less common. One is the Zoom lever, a little knob placed dead-centre between the G and H keys. This controls different things in different programs, and rates as Almost but not quite useful in my book. In Google Chrome and Internet Explorer, it is set up to adjust the text size, which is handy for reading small print. However, this is just as easily accomplished by holding CTRL and pressing +/-, so its not the most useful function. Worse, the button doesnt seem to be open to user configurations the same way all the others are. In Acrobat Reader, it does nothing, or sometimes acts as a page-up/down toggle. In other programs, its uses are seemingly random or non-existent. The Zoom lever is a good idea and easily reached, but it just doesnt seem to work the way it intuitively should. A last note about it- it sticks up above the keys to a degree, so if you use a keyboard drawer without much vertical clearance, the zoom lever can get stuck on it (or unexpectedly pressed down, yielding tiny tiny letters when you resume computing).

The other design element that stands out is the placement of Back/Forward keys for web browsing down near the palm rest. These are beneath the space bar, and thankfully nowhere where they will be pressed by accident. Its a small reach to get to them with your thumbs if you have your hands in typing position. But honestly, I have never once actually used these buttons. Maybe Ill configure them to do something in a game or something, but it seems unlikely. Theyre just too out of the way to be noticed.

Construction Quality: 4/5

The keys are solid, the buttons non-sticky, and the whole thing just feels like a quality product. As I said, Ive used it for five years now without any problems. There are just a couple of things that bother me a little about the construction quality. The first is that the keys have a slightly texturized surface. This is incredibly comfortable to use, but after a year or so it began to rub off on the most used keys. The space bar in particular had a shiny spot where my thumbs rested. The second issue is that the keyboard is slightly more difficult to take apart and clean. Everything fits very, very snugly together, and once dust or crumbs get between the rubberised palm-rest and the plastic, theyre there for good. Lastly, the long piece of plastic that can be attached to raise the palm-rest up (for straighter wrists), is just that- a long piece of plastic. It doesnt fold or tuck away, and its not as solid as the rest of the keyboard. When not in use, you have to find a place to store it, and its awfully bulky and strangely shaped.


Overall, I am very pleased with this product. The software was easy to use, the keys work great and are neither too quiet nor too noisy, and I feel like I got my moneys worth ten times over. Its not a gaming keyboard, its not wireless or bluetooth, and it doesnt have a million weird gadgets attached all over. Its just a simple, solid workhorse of a keyboard that happens to be shaped to keep your hands as comfortable as possible so you dont even notice its there.

by: P. Watkins (United States)
on: Thursday, 23-September-2010

I ordered this unit for the spouse who does Medical Transcription for the local hospital. She has used all previous models of the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard and says this is the best one yet. Happy wife..happy life.

by: D.E. (Boston, MA USA)
on: Tuesday, 21-September-2010

Id be lost without this keyboard. It may take some a while to get used to, but if you type in the correct way with two hands from the home row, this is far more comfortable. Other split keyboards dont have the rise in the middle, and for me thats incredibly important for comfort. The only issue would be if you didnt have a lot of desk-space.

by: S. Anible (United States)
on: Monday, 20-September-2010

Ive had this keyboard for about four years, and its way more comfortable (and has lasted longer) than all of my other keyboards. There have been at least 5 others. The keys have a soft touch to them and press down more softly than a standard keyboard. I enjoy that its black (wish it was backlit, but Im spoiled), and I dont think Ill be replacing it for awhile. The ergonomic design is great except for blind reaches for keys (Im a touch typer.).

By the way, the part of this rating system where were supposed to give stars for certain attributes has a misspelled word. Its incredible, not incredable. I wont fault the product for that, though.

by: Michael P (United States)
on: Monday, 20-September-2010

Best erganomic keyboard I have ever used. I like the raised section which helps reduce my carpel tunnel. My only complaints are that the keys are too loud.

by: Optimus Rhyme (NJ, USA)
on: Monday, 13-September-2010

This keyboard had everything I wanted in an ergonomic model so I purchased it. However, the space bar causes problems for me. I tap the very right side of the space bar when I type, and it sticks. It doesnt stick if you tap the center of the bar, but that isnt comfortable (or quick) for me. Probably because the actuator is in the middle of the bar and the bar is so big. I dont know if this was just a defective keyboard, but I saw a couple of other reviews with the same problem. I ended up sending the keyboard back, only because I am really finicky when it comes to keyboards.

I gave this four stars because everything else about the keyboard was what i wanted. Layout of the buttons (including the 6-key cluster), depth of buttons, add-ons, wrist rest, and the bottom supports at the front of the keyboard instead of the back. But I just couldnt get past the space bar. The way I rate these things, the keyboard would have to get a 5-star rating in order for me to keep it. I also tried the Logitech Wave keyboard, and althought there are no space bar issues, the Logitech keyboard is inferior compared to this one IMO. I used to own one of the older white ergo MS keyboards with the front supports, and it was great, but i wore it out. Still looking for them on e-bay...

by: Rod A. Stierwalt (northern Calif)
on: Friday, 10-September-2010

I purchased these for a relative who was straining to use the standard strait qwerty keyboard. I couldnt have hoped for better results. This fixed several ergonomic stresses. Highly recommended ROD

by: bkforeman (United States)
on: Monday, 6-September-2010

Works great! Very easy to navigate and so comfortable. I actually type faster now!

by: BleedBlue (United States)
on: Friday, 3-September-2010

I have this Keyboard at home and work and LOVE IT!! If you need a keyboard and it does not need to be wireless, look no further!!

by: jschristian44 (United States)
on: Thursday, 2-September-2010

When I first got this keyboard I hated it. But after I took off the slope thing and sloped it the other way, I really like this keyboard. If your not used to ergonomic keyboards but are trying to transfer to the type because of comfortability and posture, I recommend this one. Once you feel comfortable enough with it, put the slope back on. But how I have it setup now is how it looks in the first photo, and it works great. Couldnt be happier because the wrist rest is pretty comfortable and looks like it will last. Keys are almost silent too which is nice. Highly recommend this keyboard for its price/comfort.

by: K9Mom (New Jersey)
on: Wednesday, 1-September-2010

This is my second Microsoft Natural Ergo Keyboard. The first was the wireless version but eventually broke after 2 or three years of tough use (kids, etc...). I ordered this wired one because it was less expensive, but the same keyboard. I am so used to this style that I find I dont like the regular keyboards anymore. Great for carpal tunnel sufferers like me.

by: Richard LaPoint (United States)
on: Wednesday, 1-September-2010

I have an older version of this keyboard that has the same problem everyone complains about, i.e. the sticky space bar.

Today I received a new second keyboard and there are a few differences. The Space Bar is a little smaller, just enough so that it no longer rubs against the other keys. That older versions Space Bar was a bit bigger and would hang onto other keys if hit at various angles. Thats what I believe caused all of its problems.

The other nice thing I noticed about this new version is the keys themselves are not as wiggly. The older keyboards keys would wiggle in all directions quite a bit. If this was a result of age, I dont know.

Based on the older keyboard I wasnt thrilled about getting a new one, but from all my research this was the best I could find. Now that I have been using the new version for most of today, I am very happy with it. So much so that I took the time to write this :-)

by: Patrick mcclory (United States)
on: Friday, 27-August-2010

So I do a lot of typing. I work in technology and at every job Ive had in the last 5 years, Ive made sure to get one of these keyboards along with my Logitech Performance MX mouse. This is my go-to set up on every computer I use.

I love the wrist riser and how it keep my shoulders comfortable while Im typing for hours on end. Ill admit, it took me about 2-3 days to get used to the split keyboard deal, and you have to be able to type... but its a CRAZY good keyboard, its quiet and Ive found that I actually type faster on this than I ever could on a straight keyboard.

get it... get it now... you wont regret it and you wont go back

by: John Brown (Atlanta, GA USA)
on: Thursday, 26-August-2010

Many other reviews here are right on, so I will not repeat everything.

--->>> I have ONE SUGGESTION for everyone with this keyboard. Get some CLEAR nail polish. Cover your key labels.

The one drawback for this keyboard for me is the most-used letters rub off in the first six months to a year or so. Clean the keyboard well, then put the nail polish on as a clear protective shield over the keys. A second coat the next day will help. Let it dry at least an hour. You will have to refresh that maybe every 4-6 months for best results. Well, try it on one key first and make sure it dries well before using it. Then you can see if it changes the feel for you. I had to find a silver metallic paint-pen (fabric store) to re-label a couple keys. [Elmers Painters Metallic Opaque Paint Marker]. Get all the keys you use- arrows, etc. are easy to overlook until they are blank! I read other comments where people report calling Microsoft to complain or comment and they are told basically tough, buy a new one. At $50+ I dont think so. As this is an EASY workaround I wont downgrade the product review, but I am not happy with MS on it. <<<---

I think it is great, but I can see why it is not for some people. Besides pushing the envelope where something standardized like keyboards usually are... it has a few quirks. I use the computer about 8-9 hours a day total. I had some persistent and reoccurring wrist pain, carpal tunnel. I use to roll my eyes when people complained about that kind of thing- not any more! Holy cow, I couldnt do ANYTHING with my right hand (holding a fork, picking up a glass, turning the car on, etc.). Since using this keyboard at work (and similar 4000 at home) for a couple years I have little or no issues with that pain any longer. Dont remember the last time my hand/wrist hurt at all. That is the primary consideration for me. I am not super picky about minor details.

I also get an occasional delay as I type fast. Not really a problem- it catches up in a few seconds. I have used the keyboard for many months, and have found it easy to adjust to. The mouse was a little harder to adjust to but worth the effort (just remember to move you arm and not your wrist for best results- its not that hard). I type by touch 95%. Expect it to seem odd at first, but really after a few days or weeks it will probably become preferred. Other non-ergo keyboards seem tiny and cramped when I have to use them.