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+--- Thread: Does Anyone Besides Microsoft Make a "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard"? (/showthread.php?tid=137511)
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Does Anyone Besides Microsoft Make a "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard"? - mrlynn - 06-14-2012
I like my MS Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, but—
• The characters on the keys quickly wear off (about 40% now totally blank); never happened with any other keyboard.
• The action is getting mushy; I should say mushier—it was never crisp.
•Resting my hands on the wristpad is causes stuck-key errors.
Basically, it's well-designed for comfort, but poorly made.
So does anyone else make one that's comparable?
/Mr Lynn
Re: Does Anyone Besides Microsoft Make a "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard"? - Paul F. - 06-14-2012
Eagerly watching this thread for answers... as I am typing this on a MS Ergo 4000 with most of the home row worn off...
Re: Does Anyone Besides Microsoft Make a "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard"? - Zoidberg - 06-14-2012
I buy myself a new 4000 from Amazon (about $36) about once a year. I type all day and usually within a year, as mrlynn says, the letters are worn and the action's a little soft. Still and all, It's by far the best ergo board I've come across, and I've used a handful over the years. Given my daily job, and how much abuse it takes, $30 to $40 is a small (deductible) price to pay to keep things rolling smoothly.
Logitech has the Wave but it's not true ergo, just semi. Logitech has also not been very Mac-friendly in terms of software for their keyboards lately. Don't have time to search for the threads but there's some over at Logitech's support site about no software updates (for program keys) since before 10.6 or something like that. (FWIW, all my Microsoft Keyboard software still works great, from the iTunes keys to the Favorites buttons).
Kinesis has some interesting stuff; I had one or two of their boards in the last couple decades. Nothing memorable.
There are also a few others on this site, but they're mostly contoured and not true ergonomic.
Ages ago, I used Adesso boards (as far back as my ADB days). They still make two TruForm boards, one regular and one with a touchpad.
Thing to remember, too, is that *any* USB ergonomic keyboard will work with any Mac. You just need to go to the System Prefs and reset a few things (like swapping the Command/Option key). Its just that the dohicky stuff (favorites, shortcuts, audio, etc.) may or may not work depending on the board and its software.
Re: Does Anyone Besides Microsoft Make a "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard"? - Zoidberg - 06-14-2012
== error post
Re: Does Anyone Besides Microsoft Make a "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard"? - mrlynn - 06-14-2012
Thanks for the informative response, Zoidberg.
I'd like to try the three Kinesis boards, but they're very expensive. I've never seen them in retail stores, so hard to get the feel.
The ergodirectusa page comes up blank.
I still have one or two Adesso ADB keyboards kicking around. I'm tempted to try one of their 'PC' boards; only $40. Do you know if they include Mac software for the special keys? I must say I really rely on the Zoom button on my MS Ergo keyboard.
Years ago I toyed with the idea of designing and building a keyball, a keyboard in the shape of a sphere. I still think it would be neat.
/Mr Lynn
Re: Does Anyone Besides Microsoft Make a "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard"? - SDGuy - 06-14-2012
Re: Does Anyone Besides Microsoft Make a "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard"? - mrlynn - 06-14-2012
[SDguy posted that picture as I was typing this]
Got into the ErgoDirectUSA site (using search). This one is actually pretty interesting:
http://www.ergodirectusa.com/Goldtouch-Keyboard-PC-MAC-p/gtu-0088.htm
It's a split keyboard that opens up to 30º horizontally, and 'tents' up to 30º vertically in the center. Reminds me of the Apple Split Keyboard from the '90s, adjustable horizontally (but not vertically); I tried 3 or 4 of them before giving up because of key problems. This one (like the Apple) requires a separate numeric keypad, which could be annoying—I use mine a lot.
Still, tempting. . .
/Mr Lynn
Re: Does Anyone Besides Microsoft Make a "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard"? - Zoidberg - 06-14-2012
I wish J Ive would go ahead and do an actual Apple ergo board again, but it'll never happen. Too tactile; touch is the future.
mrlynn - Adesso basically abandoned the Mac platform after the candy iMacs went away. That was their thing for a while; I actually kept in touch with their marketing head for a while back in the late 90s/early 00s. Once Apple stopped what she called "mass appeal" they didn't see a future in supporting it. If you look at their drivers page, there's barely any noted. Again, though, many items should work -- and I don't recall if there is even a zoom key on the Adesso.
Bottom line; after trying a bunch, I came back to the MS Natural 4000 and just parked here. I never have RSI and, other than the annual replacement (which I don't think is a big deal), I'm happy with it.
BTW, MS makes crap software, maybe, but great hardware. They used to make a trackball line so good that refurbished versions sell for several hundred on eBay and Amazon.
Re: Does Anyone Besides Microsoft Make a "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard"? - mrlynn - 06-15-2012
Zoidberg wrote:
. . . BTW, MS makes crap software, maybe, but great hardware. They used to make a trackball line so good that refurbished versions sell for several hundred on eBay and Amazon.
Can't call a keyboard that last only a year or so "great hardware."
Did you ever try that Goldtouch V2 keyboard? There's a video on the web page. I'm intrigued, but with extras it's a lot more than a few MS boards.
/Mr Lynn
Re: Does Anyone Besides Microsoft Make a "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard"? - Zoidberg - 06-15-2012
Eh; it does what I want; I just like to treat myself to a new board every year.
Yeah, it could have a little more longevity, but what is a long life for a 12-hour-workday keyboard? http://www.goldtouch.com/c-2-adjustable-keyboards-numeric-keypads.aspx
I used one of those at a clients' once, now that you mention it -- full split. That was kind of weird and the thing I remember most was that it had no "solid" to it; always felt like it was about to slide away, even when it wasn't. That was a while ago, though.