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Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 3000
by lloydb619
My previous keyboard stopped working unexpectedly in the late evening while writing a report which was due in the next day, which made me rush out to comet which was the only place open and buy the cheapest laptop I could find, which was unfortunately this one...
I can see benefits to this laptop, however none seem to be ... convenient for me;
---Layout and Buttons---
Unlike most keyboards, Microsoft seem to have made the important keys smaller than the less used keys. The Esc key for instance is tiny and is located lower down than normal (i.e. it is not the top key on the left of the keyboard) which makes me press the wrong key all the time.
The media controls another example, they are reasonably small, if you are someone like me that likes to watch movies on your computer without the lights on then you want to be able to reach for the play/pause and volume buttons and be able to feel where they are... this keyboard makes that very hard to do.
---Functionality---
In my opinion, it tries to do too much, making it complicated to use. To use the function keys (F1 - F12) you need to use an F lock, which I find stupid and it makes using some applications and shortcuts much harder. Although this is compensated with the fact that each of the function keys can do other things such as undo, save, open etc however personally I'd rather stick with what I know rather than looking at the keyboard to see which button to press each time.
The volume controls seem to have a rather large delay also, making it hard to fine tune the volume.
The lack of indications as to what is currently active on the keyboard (i.e. if the Num Lock is on or not) is also a massive drawback.
---Ease of use---
I find the keyboard very easy to use for basic typing, the keys are good distances apart and the design / shape is comfortable.
Overall, for the price I paid (around £30) you can get far better. However, if you do learn to use everything this keyboard has to offer such as all the shortcuts then maybe it would suit you, yet if not then you're better off getting something far more simple.
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Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000
by PixieDana
OVERVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION
A beautiful and practically shaped USB keyboard with extra buttons for easy use and comfort, for a great price from £5-£20 widely available from most retailers.
I would highly recommend this keyboard for anyone any skill set or age range, I have bought a couple of these due to owning several ... computers, none of my keyboards have ever had any issues and all work perfectly years after.
PACKAGING
Microsoft Curve Keyboard comes in a detailed red Microsoft box, with a picture of the keyboard on the front with clear details of contents, keys and specifications.
INSTALLATION
The keyboard itself it very easy to install, it doesn't come with any installation disks, just plug it in and it takes seconds to install, if your PC does have any trouble installing the keyboard you can download the driver for free from the Microsoft website (although I have never had any trouble.)
FEATURES
- Media Keys
The keyboard is designed for office use, with extra media buttons such as Back, Forward, Play, Pause, Volume and Mute. They have thought about everything with useful additional buttons for your browser too including email, homepage and search with an easy calculator button above the number keypad too for easy, quick calculations.
- Style and Comfort
Its shape is designed for comfort, attractiveness and space saving, with a curved bottom edge, keys and top edge, hence the Keyboards name. It is beautiful to type on with its easy, sleek, elegant keys that hardly make noise at all, so typing at night isn't an issue. The keys are slightly curved which works and fits well within your fingertips to make typing comfortable and easy using the QWERTY Keyboard.
- Intergrated Water Channels
This keyboard has intergrated water channels for accidental spills. Obviously no keyboard is completely drown proof, but if you do spill anything this will help channel any spillages out and helps keep it splash proof.
- Easy clean
Just wipe over with a lighly dampened cloth or wipe to clean over the keyboard, this is best to do once the computer is switched off to avoid any accidents.
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Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000
by Abski2001
Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000
I have been lucky in my new job in that all of my monitors, computer and accessories have been bought nice and new for me and so far seem to be of a very high quality. I use two keyboards and they are both the Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 versions for simplicity.
I ... cannot describe the packaging as these were already set up for me. However from experience Microsoft keyboards come in a nice, well packaged cardboard box. Much like what you would get with any keyboard.
The Specs
This keyboard needs a USB port connection and has a cable that is approximately 1m in length. The operating system needed with this product is Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP (excluding Windows XP 64-bit). The keyboard has easy access media keys across the top of the board where you can control your music, videos, and open the calculator with the touch of a key (I do not use these).
The Design
The keyboard is quite a funky design in my opinion. It is a curved shape rather than your standard rectangular design. Both the top of the keyboard and the bottom are mirrored in this slightly curved shape which gives the keyboard quite a modern and stylish appearance and I find it to be very pleasing to the eye. The keyboard is black, with matt black keys and a glossy black surround.
This Microsoft keyboard is a lot flatter than your average keyboards and has approximate dimensions of 470 mm length x 175 mm width and a maximum depth of 10 mm. This is all part of its unique design and comfort use. The Comfort Curve is engineered to be an ergonomic product that will maximise productivity and lessen discomfort in your workplace or home. I like to think that my workplace bought me this to not only enhance my efficiency, but also make sure that I am using well-made and comfortable tools, which is very important when you are sat at a desk all day.
The keyboard is designed to let you use a more natural wrist position, i.e. straight rather than bent over on the wrist. It is very comfortable to rest the palms of your hands on the desk and type away for long periods of time with this board. I find that I barely have to lift or bend my wrists very often at all, as the keys are nearly streamlined against the desk and are quite small and easily reachable, even for myself with small hands.
The keys are almost conjoined and because they are very flat and even I do find that pressing surrounding letters and numbers can be a problem, especially when it gets to 3 or 4 pm and my minds starts to wander. I would say that people with larger fingertips may find this slightly annoying, although Microsoft claim that the keys are the same size as your standard keyboard, the curved layout of them can cause problems to start off with.
Overall
I really enjoy using this keyboard and have gotten used to its unique curved design. I find it is very comfortable to use during the day and it definitely makes a difference when you are typing long documents. My only quip with this is that I find it easier to press surrounding keys than on a normal keyboard, but this is not a huge issue for me and as long as you check your work and spell check will not be a hindrance. This keyboard has an RRP of £19.99 on the Microsoft website and I feel this to be a very good price for a comfortable and good looking keyboard.
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