Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
Ever since my first Microsoft Natural Keyboard [wikipedia] almost ten years ago I have loved this line of keyboards. They have certainly had their ups (the original model) and their downs (the Elite which featured re-positioned arrow keys), but I’ve always kept my eye on them and upgraded when there was one with a layout that didn’t bother me.
I became somewhat excited when Microsoft announced the Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 two years ago. The Natural Keyboard line basically takes a regular keyboard, splits it down the center, and tilts the two sides so that one’s wrists do not have to bend as much to type. This new Comfort Curve line is allegedly based on more recent ergonomic research, changing the actual base layout of the keys to slightly curve as the hand curves. Unfortunately my excitement for the Comfort Curve line waned as I realized Microsoft was not releasing a split-key version (like the Natural keyboards) anytime soon.
At the end of 2005 Microsoft finally announced the hybrid: a combined Comfort Curve and Natural Keyboard under the name Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. It actually returned to the original arrow key and insert/delete/home/end layout! I put it on my Amazon wish list immediately.
Fortunately I did in fact receive one for Christmas, and I’ve used it enough that I can now offer some comments. I love it. The main drawback over my previous Natural keyboard is that it does not feature USB ports. These days it’s just expected that a wired keyboard should have USB ports. I’m disappointed that this one does not. On the plus side, it’s black. My keyboard was basically one of the last remaining beige devices I had (particularly since I use mostly Apple hardware these days), so I’m glad to finally have a non-beige keyboard.
One of the long-standing debates about split-key keyboards is what to do with the edge keys (particularly ‘T’ and ‘N’)—one could either make the key really long to line up with the middle, or make it a regular-sized key. 
Microsoft used to take somewhat of the middle road; the actual plastic piece for the key did end lined up with the middle, but the top area was standard-sized. The 4000 reverses that decision. The middle keys are now larger than the rest of the keys. It does aesthetically look a bit better, but I have noticed that it can make it slightly harder for me to align my hands without looking (I now rely more on the ‘F’/'J’ bumps). It’s a trade-off. I can appreciate that.
As a Mac user you may wonder if I am not bothered by the fact that the Windows/Alt keys are reversed from the Option/Command keys. I am. I used to just live with it and adapt to using two different arrangements, but once I got the 4000 I decided that the keyboard had enough additional functions to finally warrant trying IntelliType (Microsoft’s Keyboard driver) for Mac OS X. I was both pleased and disappointed. I was glad to find that it “just worked”—there was an option for swapping the Windows/Alt keys to have the proper Option/Command ordering, and even an option to just make the Application key be a Windows key (combined with the first option ends up making it a Command key; position-wise what it should be). The IntelliType software also lets me set up the favorites and the zoom button and all sorts of stuff. For the most part the keys just do what they should do!
On the other hand, for some reason the IntelliType software installs a Preference Pane in System Preferences, but when I click it it launches a separate application and window! The options should simply all be in the Preference Pane. I see no need for having a separate application to set the options. The setup for the Favorites keys and the option-setting software in general does not feel very Mac-like (showing full paths to applications including “.app/”, for example). I’m also not entirely certain, but I think that sometimes the right-side Command key (originally Alt) does not register when I press it—I find myself trying key combinations twice. It hasn’t happened enough that I think it’s a major problem, but there may be a bug lurking in there somewhere.
I love the fake leather. Great stuff. I can see why Microsoft is including it in most of their Pro-line hardware these days. I also love the ability to have the reverse-slope. If my desk weren’t so high already I know I’d use it.
All-in-all, this is the update to the Natural Keyboard I have been waiting for (for a long time). I know that there are people that simply do not like split-key keyboards in general, and I can respect that, but I am not one of those people.
I’ve been using a Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro that’s nearing the end of its life, and I’ve been looking for a good replacement. I switched to the Pro after wearing out a couple of the original Microsoft Natural Keyboards, and keyboards with PS/2 ports became less than useful (or more specifically, when my PS/2-to-ADB adapter stopped being useful). I’m now on my last remaining Pro, and I could definitely use a new keyboard. I haven’t found one I like as much yet, though.
Do you have any problems with the key feel of the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000? I tried one out briefly at the local Office Depot, and the keys felt very soft and mushy, similar to the god-awful Microsoft Natural Elite or Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard (both of which also features non-standard layouts.) I prefer a fairly tactile keyboard, and I wasn’t impressed by the Ergo 4000 I tried. Of course, it’s also possible that the floor model wasn’t in the best of condition.
I do like the look of the keyboard, though; the big blue buttons on the top of the Natural Keyboard Pro have always been an eyesore. Maybe I should just buy one and see how it works out.
The keys definitely are as soft as you experienced when you tried it. I’ve read reports that people have worn out the softness rather quickly and gotten back to the clicky feel, but mine has remained soft so far. I personally don’t mind it, but I do know some people prefer clicky keyboards.
If having really clicky keys is important to you, I wouldn’t get this keyboard.
I love my 4000’s, I have one at home and at work. Anyone else had problems with the Delete key not working with a osx powerbook?
You may want to check out this small but useful hack here. It’s good to know people are using this in OS X. I’d love to know if you can edit the XML file in OS X just as easily to enable scrolling.
Andy,
Thanks for the tip! Nice to know that it’s possible to change the Zoom control into a scroller. Unfortunately on initial inspection it looks like Microsoft stores the keyboard driver preferences in a binary file which isn’t even a plist binary! I guess that goes along with not using a standard prefPane either…
You’d think it would actually be more work to make all this custom stuff than to just use the standard OS X APIs… but what’re you gonna do? Oh well.
hi,
i m here to get some information about this keyboard . some peoples say natural is a good thing
because its natural and all the thing which are natural and good like the keyboard mention above
this kind of keyboard are good reliable and flexible and good in look as well as sharp and good for you typing speed
so did you tell me where i can buy this keyboard online .
reply me in to my email address mention above
bye ……
I bought that keyboard.
The only complaint is that the keys are CONCAVE UP which makes it harder to work on 4000 version than on any older one.
I’m pretty pissed abt that.
Also, “zoom” is usleess to me.
Bought my Microsoft Natural Erg 4000 V1.0 about 6 weeks ago. Use it 1-2 hours each day. Problem is key cap markings have either already been obliterated or are fading very quickly. Not sure but it may be something about chemistry of my hands and the keyboard marking inks. However, I need to find some keyboard caps to replace the ones I now have that I already can’t read. Between Microsoft’s great ergonomic changes (…this is a great keyboard, very comfortable to use)and my old-time touch typing abilities, I don’t really NEED to replace them but I would like to do so. Cannot contact anyone “live” at Microsoft without paying some on-line fee (telephone, chat room, etc) to see if there is any solution. Thanks for any info or guidance.
Vic
This keyboard is shite…… i BOUGHT one and returned it to new egg beause the c key would not work. THey replaced it and now I have a keyboard that the c, z, x keys do not work. So now what. Do not purchase this keyboard.