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Comment by humbledrone | Hacker News Reader

I am in love with my Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. Of course, if you don't like split keyboards, it is probably not for you. The two things like like about it most are the soft faux-leather palm wrest (very comfy), and the negative slope shim that it comes with. The shim makes the keyboard incline away from you slightly, which I find provides a more comfortable wrist angle.

There is, for me, one downside. I hate the F-Lock key with a passion. It turns the F keys into stupid M$ buttons when it is toggled on. For me, as a Linux developer, this means that my hotkeys start doing crazy stuff whenever I bump the F-Lock key. I really should get around to popping it off the keyboard.

Other than that, it is a good solid keyboard. I work on this thing for around 10-14 hours a day, and it has been pretty easy on my wrists.

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I hate the Microsoft Natural 4000 so much - I have one here. Apart from the split layout there's not much for me to recommend.

Problems I've faced on it are: 1) Long spacebar with pressing mechanism in the centre. Pushing from the side (where my thumb is) creates a slight resistance in the centre plastic which then causes a louder clack when it gives way. This is noticeable when working in a silent room, and noticeable on my fingers.

2) Too much key travel on all keys - when I went back to typing on my mac after using my 4000 for 6 months, I couldn't believe how much more relaxed my fingers were after not having to press so far down with the keys.

I think the MS Natural 4000 keyboard is designed for people who aren't aware of their fingers but think they're getting ergonomic benefits just from a split keyboard with a faux-leather palm rest. I tried many of these MS 4000 keyboards and they all had the same design that I consider to be a flaw.

I'm actually quite aware of my fingers. I have been playing piano, banjo, and several other instruments on a fairly regular basis for around 15 years now. If that doesn't make me "aware of my fingers," I'm not sure what would.

I don't see why having to press a key down slightly farther is necessarily a problem. If your forearms and wrists are in a comfortable position, it doesn't much matter how far your fingers have to move. In fact, I tend to think that a bit more movement is actually helpful with circulation.

You're entitled to your opinion of the keyboard, but I think it was just downright rude to say that the keyboard was designed for unaware sheeple like me.

> I hate the F-Lock key with a passion. I haven't managed to hit f-lock by accident. The older Microsoft keyboards didn't remember the f-lock state between reboots. THAT was annoying.

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