Odd shape but a god send (Microsoft Natural Pro)

Member Name: romybuzzer

Product:	Microsoft Natural Pro
Date:	22/01/02 (156 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I like the shape now

Disadvantages: took some getting used to.

I own this keyboard. In fact, I could not even think about using anything else now.
You would think a keyboard is just like any other, until you see the Natural by Microsoft.
Instead of its normal linear fashioned layout, the Natural takes the standards for tradition and throws them out of the window in the way the type writer was discarded by the PC.
It does this in its shape and usage.
The normal layout of the keyboard would be 4 lines of numerical keys and letters in a continous line from Right to Left. Not forgetting the spacebar at the bottom.
Now, the keys have been divided along the middle vertically into 2 parts and angled to each other. This is so that when you type, the keys are aligned to your fingertips. No bending of wrists to hit the keys and thus relieving all Wrist strain related injuries such as RSI.
The space bar however remains as one piece, it sweeps around in a curve under both sets of keys.
SO rather than having.....
QWERTYUIOP

You now have
QWERT YUIOP

This is great if you use the keyboard in such a manner that you do not need to "stray" across to the other keys with your typing. I, however, tend tended to use my Left hand on the Y key and it took some re-education.
A small price to pay for a much more fluid and pain free typing style.

Fitting it is not a problem. It plugs straight into a traditional Keyboard socket and even comes with an adapter if you do not have the P/S2 style socket. Alternatively you can plug it into a USB socket if you have one.

Extras that the keyboard has includes 19 hot keys which you can use to access the web and your email at the touch of a button. No scrolling through menus. You can set your favourite web sites up to link to these keys.

You also get 2 USB ports on the actual keyboard. This saves pulling the back of the machine out when you need to plug in your joystick, scanner or printer. Desktop plug and
play should be the future.

This is a great Keyboard and one of the best investments I have made for my Home Computer.
Buying one cost me £55. This is quite expensive when you think that you can buy one for as little as £5 and a similar shaped one by an alternative manufacturer for £25. You don't, however, get the microsoft build quality, piece of mind or guarantee that you will get maximum compatibility. I say stick with Microsoft. A few more pence makes a lot more sense.

Summary: