I just got a new Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic desktop (keyboard, separate number keypad, mouse). It looks cool, it’s ergonomic (as advertised) and the mouse encourages good wrist position (or so it seems so far). I also like having the keypad separated, I can put it where I want, and without it the keyboard is much smaller. My only problem so far is homing my right hand on the right set of keys, which will just take a little getting used to.
Anyone else tried one?
I had the keyboard for about a week. Typing on it was heavenly. I was surprised at how much better it felt than the 4000 that I’ve been using for ages. But it’s wireless and it couldn’t keep when I tried to play games on it. If I was moving too fast it would skip key presses. So I sent it back and bought another new 4000 to replace the one I’d dropped my coke can on - but I still miss the Sculpt. If they made a wired version I’d buy it again in a heartbeat.
I’ve had lots of wireless keyboards, but I was having trouble finding one that was ergonomically-shaped enough for me until this one. The last one I had was the Logitech Wave, which really wasn’t very ergo at all. At work I have an Adesso wired ergo keyboard, which works fine, but I wanted wireless for home. I don’t do gaming, so what you describe is not an issue for me.
This caught my eye. I use a 4000, and it works well for me. I’m not into gaming, so now I guess I’ll be taking a serious look at the Sculpt Ergonomic.
The mouse looks like nothing to write home about though. I’ll be keeping my Logitech performance Mouse MX; the ergos are great, the frictionless scroll wheel is awesome, and there are four buttons within reach of your thumb.
I haven’t liked any ergonomic keyboard I’ve ever tried… but I’m sure if I went and used them more often and got used to them, I would wind up preferring them. Might have to at some point soon too - I can be rather clumsy, so my poor keyboard has been through a lot. Kind of surprised it still works… seems to be a tank.
nvamind
Huh, that’s the mouse I have at work (that I bought for myself). I like it fine, but the Sculpt one lets me hold my hand almost sideways (vertical to the desktop) which reduces wrist stress even more.
Not trying to proselytize anyone, just sharing. I was ok with my old mouse, I got this set because it reduces the number of little plug receivers from 2 to 1.
Thanks for sharing.
I don’t have any carpal tunnel symptoms yet (other than for a bit, 15 years ago, when I was playing Doom multiplayer using keypad rather than mouse … mistake! but easily corrected). I do three things all of which can lead to it: computer use, and playing guitar and piano. The fact that I do all three probably helps avoid it. But it might just be a matter of time (and I do have a minor cubital tunnel issue).
A lot of ergo keyboards wouldn’t work for me because I use a keyboard tray below my desk, with space limitations and a straight gel pad installed already. But with the separate numeric keypad (which I’d almost never use), it looks like it could fit, and if the wrist pad is sufficiently soft I could ditch the current (and rather beaten up) gel pad.
It looks like a good contender for me, so, thanks again!
I recently bought myself a Ducky Shine 3 mechanical keyboard and while it’s early days yet, I’m finding it much better than the previous £5 keyboard from ASDA I was using.
I haven’t used a mouse in a decade as I started getting twinges in my fingers and decided to do something about it and bought a trackball, a Kensington Orbit Elite. I now have the one with the scroll ring.
I’ve only bought two keyboards since 1999; a Microsoft Ergonomic and now a Natural 4000 (which fits nicely in my built-in keyboard tray).
My major complaint with the 4000 is that in switching to a black plastic with white lettering, they were unable to choose an ink that will hold up. I touch type, but when adding passwords or the like, I need to see the keys. I’ve only bought it once, but Microsoft’s hardware support is fantastic and they’ve sent me two replacements so far (just because of the faded keys). Nice as that is, I bought some keyboard stickers the last time the letters faded and hope these will last.
My mouse is a 12-button Logitech MX 610. I love macros in Word, so I make good use of all 12 buttons (shift- alt- and ctrl- combos make it incredibly versatile). I can do anything from pasting unformatted text to highlighting text, bookmarking it, and splitting the window.
They don’t make the 610 anymore. When I found that out, I hit Ebay and bought up several that I keep in the basement and use one with my travel laptop.
When something works, I stick with it.
The Keyboard is the only thing in the world that was ever designed favorably for Left-handed people. Who don’t have seven inches of space wasted, between the mouse and the every-day useful part of the keyboard (the alpha-numeric keys).
