I purchased the Microsoft wired keyboard 600 for writing essays at university and I have to say I'm very pleased with it. Currently, I have it plugged into my laptop and it couldn't have been easier to install, you just plug it in via USB and it works. The keyboard is in the standard qwerty layout.

The keyboard features a numeric pad to the right and short cut buttons along the top, which include pause, mute and volume adjustment. I found the short cut buttons to be genuinely useful whilst playing music, as they are always within a short reach.

The general feel of the keyboard is fantastic. Keys are soft but also responsive. They are also pretty quiet considering this. I found the numeric pad was well placed as I have done some extensive spreadsheet work without any problems. The keys themselves are well spaced out and I haven't had the problem of hitting two keys at once. It sounds pretty minor, but the keyboard extents to just the right height which makes it really comfortable to use over long periods of time.

Overall, I would highly recommend the 600 model as it has all the features you would want from a budget keyboard. It is sturdy and feels like it will last a long time.