Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 Computer keyboards are like mattresses-you don't know how crappy yours is until you try a good one. If you don't have an aversion to split keyboards, the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 can help you keep therapy off your list of things to do this year. The split keys and the angled keyboard keep your wrists in a more natural and comfortable position, and the dedicated (and programmable) buttons reduce the amount of mousing you do. At $64.95, however, the keyboard is rather pricey, and it takes up a lot of desktop acreage. Setting up the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 is a breeze. Load the IntelliType Pro 5.3 software from the included CD, restart your computer, and plug in the USB keyboard.
The printed quick-start guide gives instructions for using a PS/2 adapter, but we tried it on two different systems and couldn't get that to work. Microsoft confirmed our findings that the keyboard isn't PS/2 compatible; we would rather use the PS/2 connector to free up a USB port. Along the top edge of the bulky Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 is a row of programmable silver buttons. Aside from the five Favorites buttons, they come preprogrammed to do things such as open a browser window, open an e-mail client, control media playback, and open the desktop calculator.
You can easily reprogram them to open a different version of a program (for example, Firefox instead of Internet Explorer or Outlook instead of Hotmail) or to do something different altogether (such as open a particular file or launch a program). The five Favorites buttons aren't preprogrammed; if you forget what functions you've assigned them, hitting the My Favorites button calls up a window that shows you. The function keys also do double duty on this keyboard. With the F Lock on, they perform their standard functions. With the F Lock off, they execute a number of shortcuts, including undo/redo, save, print, and reply/forward/send for e-mail programs. The F keys are all labeled with their secondary functions.
Microsoft has announced a new “” line which will offer the company's high quality Microsoft webcams, headsets, mice and keyboards, all of which will be packaged up for volume purchasing by businesses. The line of hardware products includes the recent release of LifeCam Studio for high-definition video calls, which the company say could help businesses save money on time and travel costs. Microsoft Hardware for Business offers the range of products to order in any quality, which will help suit various business sizes from small to large, while also offering 50pks which will be suitable for enterprise size roll-outs. Buying in volume will allow businesses to save money, while Microsoft will also offer support for each product and reduction of waste thanks to less packaging.
According to the official website, products available in the Business for Hardware Range include: LifeCam Studio for Business: available for an ERP of £54.99 per unit or £2,600.82 for 50 pack Wireless Desktop 800 for Business: available for an ERP of £18.29 per unit Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 for Business: available for an ERP of £18.29 per unit. Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000: available for an ERP of £17.51 per unit.
The Microsoft Natural Keyboard is an for computers, introduced in 1994. It was designed for by Ziba Design.
The was a split keyboard with each half of the keyboard separated and tilted upwards and down from the center of the keyboard. This key arrangement was designed to prevent and other associated with typing for long periods of time. Another innovation was the integrated wrist pad helping to ensure correct posture while sitting at the computer and further reducing strain on the neck, arms and wrists. This keyboard also introduced three new keys purposed for Microsoft's: two between the and keys on each side, and a between the right Windows and Ctrl keys. Although it was not the first ergonomic keyboard, it was the first widely available sub-$100 offering. The keyboard gained popularity quickly, selling over 600,000 per month at its peak. As with most Microsoft keyboards, software (Microsoft ) is bundled for both Mac OS X and Windows, allowing users to customize the function keys and modify keys fairly extensively.
Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite The Microsoft Natural Keyboard has had several upgrades and refreshes since its introduction. The first of these was the Natural Keyboard Elite, introduced in 1998. The Elite features a nonstandard layout of the key block normally found above the cursor keys. Another common criticism of the Elite is that the arrow keys' inverted-T layout has been changed into a cross-like layout, with left/right arrows keys side by side and up/down keys bracketing them from above and below, increasing the distance between the vertical keys.
Another significant change was the keyboard's adjustable feet. While the original Microsoft Natural Keyboard had feet in the front, the Elite and its successors have their feet in the back.
The Natural Keyboard Elite was manufactured in at least two different color schemes; white with black lettering and black with white lettering. Natural Keyboard Pro. Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro, circa Q4 1999. The third iteration was the Natural Keyboard Pro, introduced in 1999. The Natural Keyboard Pro regained the original inverted-T layout of the cursor keys, and gained a row of program shortcut keys along the top edge of the board, including multimedia keys and.
In versions of Windows prior to, Microsoft's software is required to configure the behavior of the shortcut keys. Vista and have the ability to customize shortcut key behavior without additional software when using the 'internet keyboard' keyboard layout.
Some other modern operating systems, such as and most distributions, have comparable configuration options. The Natural Keyboard Pro also included an internal two-port, which was commonly used to connect other input devices such as a mouse or trackball, but this was dropped in subsequent iterations. Natural Multimedia Keyboard. Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard In 2004, Microsoft introduced the restyled Natural Multimedia Keyboard, which reworked the row of multimedia buttons and included the controversial feature, originally debuted in the.
Another common criticism is that although the bunched arrow keys of previous generation has been fixed by returning to the standard inverted T layout, the Home/End/Del/Ins/Page up/down set has been changed to 2x3 vertical layout, with the Insert key moved to the 'PrtScn/SysRq' key, and del key expanded. On the Natural Multimedia Keyboard, the status indicator lights for, and were moved from between the banks of alphanumeric keys to a more traditional location above and to the right of the backspace key. The Natural Multimedia Keyboard was manufactured in at least three different color schemes, including white with blue accents, black with silver accents, and white with black accents. Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 In September 2005, Microsoft introduced the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. This keyboard provides a significantly changed ergonomic design, including an integrated leatherette wrist rest, noticeably concave key banks, and a removable front stand to help straighten the wrist and allow the fingers to drop naturally onto the keys.
The multimedia keys have again been redesigned, and the home/end key location set has been fixed by returning to the standard 3x2 horizontal rectangular layout. The F Lock key now defaults to 'on', providing the original function key features rather than the new 'enhanced' functions, and retains its setting across reboots. The 4000 has the indicator lights for Caps lock, etc. Moved back to between the banks of keys, although they are now below the Space bar, rather than above. The 4000 is also significantly quieter to type on, with less of the distinctive 'click clack' noise that is common with older keyboards. The space bar, however, has been reported by several reviewers to be unusually noisy and difficult to depress.
The 4000 is available in two variants, Business and Retail. The exact differences are not known, although product descriptions imply that the packaging is different, and prices are often slightly higher for the Business edition. Natural Ergonomic 7000 keyboard In June 2007, Microsoft introduced the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 7000. This keyboard has the same key layout as the older Natural Ergonomic 4000. The biggest difference between the two is that the Natural Ergonomic 7000 keyboard is wireless.
Besides the color palette, the other difference is that the Natural Ergonomic 4000 includes light indicators that signal when the Num Lock, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock and F Lock keys have been depressed and active. In their place, on the Natural Ergonomic 7000 keyboard, resides the battery indicator light.
The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 comes with a USB wireless dongle that connects both the mouse and the keyboard. The attachment to elevate the front of the keyboard is separate in the box. The Natural Ergonomic 7000 keyboard also comes with batteries, a very brief user guide, a disk containing the Microsoft Intellitype and Intellipoint software, and is normally bundled with the Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000. References. 1 February 1994.
Archived from on 30 March 2014. ^ FISHER, LAWRENCE M.
(6 September 1994). The Microsoft Corporation will begin shipping a keyboard on Tuesday with a suggested retail price of $99. The O-Factor. Archived from on 2008-09-25.
Retrieved 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2008-06-13. Archived from on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
Retrieved 2008-06-13. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to.
The Microsoft Natural Keyboard is an for computers, introduced in 1994. It was designed for by Ziba Design. The was a split keyboard with each half of the keyboard separated and tilted upwards and down from the center of the keyboard. This key arrangement was designed to prevent and other associated with typing for long periods of time.
Another innovation was the integrated wrist pad helping to ensure correct posture while sitting at the computer and further reducing strain on the neck, arms and wrists. This keyboard also introduced three new keys purposed for Microsoft's: two between the and keys on each side, and a between the right Windows and Ctrl keys. Although it was not the first ergonomic keyboard, it was the first widely available sub-$100 offering. The keyboard gained popularity quickly, selling over 600,000 per month at its peak. As with most Microsoft keyboards, software (Microsoft ) is bundled for both Mac OS X and Windows, allowing users to customize the function keys and modify keys fairly extensively.
Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite The Microsoft Natural Keyboard has had several upgrades and refreshes since its introduction. The first of these was the Natural Keyboard Elite, introduced in 1998. The Elite features a nonstandard layout of the key block normally found above the cursor keys. Another common criticism of the Elite is that the arrow keys' inverted-T layout has been changed into a cross-like layout, with left/right arrows keys side by side and up/down keys bracketing them from above and below, increasing the distance between the vertical keys. Another significant change was the keyboard's adjustable feet.
While the original Microsoft Natural Keyboard had feet in the front, the Elite and its successors have their feet in the back. The Natural Keyboard Elite was manufactured in at least two different color schemes; white with black lettering and black with white lettering. Planswift 9 crack download. Natural Keyboard Pro. Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro, circa Q4 1999. The third iteration was the Natural Keyboard Pro, introduced in 1999. The Natural Keyboard Pro regained the original inverted-T layout of the cursor keys, and gained a row of program shortcut keys along the top edge of the board, including multimedia keys and.
Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite
In versions of Windows prior to, Microsoft's software is required to configure the behavior of the shortcut keys. Vista and have the ability to customize shortcut key behavior without additional software when using the 'internet keyboard' keyboard layout. Some other modern operating systems, such as and most distributions, have comparable configuration options. The Natural Keyboard Pro also included an internal two-port, which was commonly used to connect other input devices such as a mouse or trackball, but this was dropped in subsequent iterations.
Natural Multimedia Keyboard. Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard In 2004, Microsoft introduced the restyled Natural Multimedia Keyboard, which reworked the row of multimedia buttons and included the controversial feature, originally debuted in the. Another common criticism is that although the bunched arrow keys of previous generation has been fixed by returning to the standard inverted T layout, the Home/End/Del/Ins/Page up/down set has been changed to 2x3 vertical layout, with the Insert key moved to the 'PrtScn/SysRq' key, and del key expanded.
On the Natural Multimedia Keyboard, the status indicator lights for, and were moved from between the banks of alphanumeric keys to a more traditional location above and to the right of the backspace key. The Natural Multimedia Keyboard was manufactured in at least three different color schemes, including white with blue accents, black with silver accents, and white with black accents.
Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 In September 2005, Microsoft introduced the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000.
This keyboard provides a significantly changed ergonomic design, including an integrated leatherette wrist rest, noticeably concave key banks, and a removable front stand to help straighten the wrist and allow the fingers to drop naturally onto the keys. The multimedia keys have again been redesigned, and the home/end key location set has been fixed by returning to the standard 3x2 horizontal rectangular layout.
The F Lock key now defaults to 'on', providing the original function key features rather than the new 'enhanced' functions, and retains its setting across reboots. The 4000 has the indicator lights for Caps lock, etc. Moved back to between the banks of keys, although they are now below the Space bar, rather than above. The 4000 is also significantly quieter to type on, with less of the distinctive 'click clack' noise that is common with older keyboards.
The space bar, however, has been reported by several reviewers to be unusually noisy and difficult to depress. The 4000 is available in two variants, Business and Retail. The exact differences are not known, although product descriptions imply that the packaging is different, and prices are often slightly higher for the Business edition. Natural Ergonomic 7000 keyboard In June 2007, Microsoft introduced the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 7000. This keyboard has the same key layout as the older Natural Ergonomic 4000. The biggest difference between the two is that the Natural Ergonomic 7000 keyboard is wireless. Besides the color palette, the other difference is that the Natural Ergonomic 4000 includes light indicators that signal when the Num Lock, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock and F Lock keys have been depressed and active.
In their place, on the Natural Ergonomic 7000 keyboard, resides the battery indicator light. The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 comes with a USB wireless dongle that connects both the mouse and the keyboard. The attachment to elevate the front of the keyboard is separate in the box.
The Natural Ergonomic 7000 keyboard also comes with batteries, a very brief user guide, a disk containing the Microsoft Intellitype and Intellipoint software, and is normally bundled with the Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000. References. 1 February 1994. Archived from on 30 March 2014.
In this case the huge investment on the old machine becomes bad and it incurs a great deal of loss to the firm. Worker's Resistance Workers are hostile on the introduction of a machine and they resist mechanization because of fear of loss of employment, promotion and other facilities. Risk of Obsolescence's Some machines are liable to become absolute when a new machine is put into operation.
^ FISHER, LAWRENCE M. (6 September 1994). The Microsoft Corporation will begin shipping a keyboard on Tuesday with a suggested retail price of $99. The O-Factor.
Archived from on 2008-09-25. Retrieved 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2008-06-13. Archived from on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
Retrieved 2008-06-13. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to.
Image: CNET I recently decided that it was time to retire my good old Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. After all, I have been using that keyboard since 2005. While there is nothing wrong with my trusty old keyboard, I just figured it was time for a change. And I've wanted to get my hands on the keyboard and mouse combo ever since I first saw back 2013. So I recently picked one up at a local Best Buy, where it was on sale for $84. The keyboard and mouse combo was first introduced in the Windows 8 timeframe, but it has been updated and optimized for Windows 10. And the most current version of the Mouse And Keyboard Center allows you to customize the heck out of the keyboard.
Let's take a closer look at the keyboard and the benefits it brings to Windows 10. More about Windows.
A little keyboard history Before I get into the Sculpt, let me take a little trip down keyboard lane. I've been using one of the versions of Microsoft's Ergonomic keyboards since they first came out in 1994. At that time I was beta testing Windows 95 and Microsoft sent me a Microsoft Natural Keyboard and asked me to try it out. This first Microsoft Natural Keyboard, shown in Figure A, was a hulk—it was heavy and took up a good chunk of my desk, and its odd shape made it look a little gimmicky. Figure A The first Microsoft Natural Keyboard came out in 1994 and it was a hulk. Besides the shape, the other notable thing about this keyboard was that it was the first keyboard to sport a Windows key, which of course opened Windows 95's start menu. Providing direct access to the UI's newest feature made this first keyboard quite revolutionary.
(There were, in fact, two Windows keys—one on the left and one on the right.). Excited about the potential of the Windows key, along with the fact that I'd been feeling a bit of the carpel tunnel syndrome pains in my wrists, I thought I'd give the ergonomic design a try to see if it was all that Microsoft had made it out to be.
It took a little while to get used to, but after a month or so, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the split and tilted keyboard really did ease the stress on my wrists. SEE: During the Windows 98 timeframe, Microsoft came out with a new version called the Natural Keyboard Elite, shown in Figure B.
By this time I was hooked and felt cramped and out of sorts if I had to type on a standard keyboard. After obtaining an Elite, I discovered it was a bit smaller and lighter in weight. Figure B The Elite was a bit smaller and lighter in weight than the original. When Windows ME hit the stores in 2000, I moved up to the Natural Keyboard Pro, shown in Figure C. This version was slightly larger than the Elite but utilized the extra space for a set of additional multimedia buttons across the top of the keyboard.
Figure C The Pro featured a comprehensive set of multimedia buttons along the top. Even though Microsoft introduced the Natural Multimedia Keyboard, it really didn't offer any new features, so I continued to use Natural Keyboard Pro and the Natural Keyboard Elite until 2005, when I purchased the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, shown in Figure D. This version came only in black and featured a leatherette wrist rest. The multimedia buttons along the top were more streamlined and other nice features were added, such as the Zoom control in the center and the Back and Forward buttons between the wrist rest panels. Figure D The 4000 was black and featured a leatherette wrist rest.
The Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard As I mentioned, the Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop system isn't new and has been around since 2013. However, it has been updated with Windows 10 features, which is primarily what I'll be focusing on in this article.
Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 Instructions
Even so, I have to begin by saying that the keyboard piece of the Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop set is the smallest of Microsoft's ergonomic keyboards I've ever used. It took me a few days to get used to it.
However, I soon felt very comfortable typing on this keyboard's small form. Figure E shows the Sculpt Ergonomic next to the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 for comparison.
Figure E The Sculpt Ergonomic is really small when compared to the 4000. It may be a little hard to see a dramatic size difference here, but the real difference is in how thin the Sculpt Ergonomic is when compared to the 4000. The dimensions of the 4000 are 19.8'W x 10.3'D and the dimensions of the Sculpt Ergonomic are 15.4'W x 8.96'D. The keyboard is not only smaller, but it is much slimmer than previous versions—yet Microsoft reorganized the layout of this keyboard to include all the familiar standard keys plus a few of the more useful extras. Of course Microsoft designed this keyboard with its initiative in mind. In its literature, it describes the Sculpt Ergonomic as follows: 'With advances like the split keyboard—which includes a padded palm rest, palm lift, curved key bed, and a natural arc design—Microsoft offers products that work seamlessly with your body's natural posture and functions.' I'll talk about the mouse and keypad in a moment.
For now, let's examine the Windows function keys that make this keyboard a real extension of Windows 10. SEE: Windows function keys Whereas the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 and the Natural Multimedia Keyboard before it provided a separate row of multimedia and specialty buttons across the top of the keyboard, the Sculpt Ergonomic doubles up the function keys, just like a lot of laptop keyboards. The Windows function keys are shown with blue icons while the standard function keys are titled in white.
To toggle between the standard function keys and the Windows function keys, the Sculpt Ergonomic provides a slide switch in the top right of the keyboard, as shown in Figure F. Slide it to blue for the Windows function keys and to white for the standard functions keys.
Figure F You use this slide switch to toggle between standard function keys and the Windows function keys. On the Sculpt Ergonomic, the majority of the Windows function keys provide access to Windows 10 features, while the others perform operations we are all familiar with, such as mute and volume controls. Let's look at only those keys that pertain specifically to Windows 10. On the left-hand side of the Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard, as shown in Figure G, there are five Windows function keys that pertain to Windows 10.
Figure G The left-hand side of the Sculpt Ergonomic features five Windows function keys that pertain to Windows 10. The Task View key The Task View key, which shares space with the F2 function key, brings up Windows 10's Task View screen. Press the key again to close the Task View screen. Being able to bring up Task View using a Windows function key, rather than clicking an icon on the taskbar, can be more efficient way to switch between tasks, as you can coordinate your efforts—you press the Task View key with your left hand while you quickly target the window you want with the mouse in your right hand.
As an additional benefit, you can remove the Task View icon from the taskbar to make room for other applications you may want to pin to the taskbar. The Desktop Left & Desktop Right keys The Desktop Left key, which shares space with the F3 function key, allows you switch to the left desktop when running virtual desktops in Windows 10. The Desktop Right key, which shares space with the F4 function key, allows you switch to the right desktop when running virtual desktops in Windows 10. When you are using Windows 10's virtual desktop and have multiple desktops running at the same time, being able to instantly move from one to the next by pressing a Windows function key, rather than the two step operation of brining up Task View and then selecting a desktop thumbnail, is definitely more efficient. Using these Windows function keys is also much easier than using the Windows key shortcuts: Windows+Ctrl+Left/Right Arrow. The Cortana/Search key The Cortana/Search key, which shares space with the F5 function key, brings up the Cortana/Search panel.
The benefit of being able to bring up the Cortana/Search panel via a Windows function key is that you can keep your hands on the keyboard and immediately begin typing your search keywords. As an additional benefit, you can remove the Cortana icon from the taskbar to make room for other applications that you may want to pin to the taskbar. Of course, if you are using voice recognition via the 'Hey Cortana' feature, there really is no need for a Windows function key or an icon on the taskbar for that matter. The Share key The Share key, which shares space with the F6 function key, brings up the Share panel. The benefit of having a Windows function key to bring up this panel is that Share is virtually a hidden feature in most applications. While in the majority of applications the Share feature simply takes a screen shot and allows you to attach it to an email or pass it to OneNote, it can really come in handy. On the right-hand side of the keyboard, as shown in Figure H, there are two Windows function keys that pertain specifically to Windows 10.
Figure H The right-hand side of the Sculpt Ergonomic features two Windows function keys that pertain to Windows 10. The Connect key The Connect key, which shares space with the F7 function key, brings up the Connect panel, which is used for the Projecting To This PC feature. If you are using that feature (which I covered in the article ), you'll find this key to be quite handy, because access to the Connect panel is buried in the Action Center.
The Windows Settings key The Windows Settings key, which shares space with the F8 function key, brings up the Windows Settings window. This is where you'll find many, but not all, of Windows 10's configuration options. (I still would prefer that Microsoft and put them in Windows Settings.) If you are like most Windows 10 users, you are frequently accessing Windows Settings to change configuration options. And being able to open Windows settings at the press of a single key sure beats accessing the Start menu to click an icon or the pressing the Windows+I keystroke. SEE: The Sculpt Ergonomic mouse The Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse, shown in Figure I, also took a bit of getting used to. Rather than having the oval-like shape of most mice, the Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse has more of a round shape and feels almost like a ball in your hand. Figure I The Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse is rounder than a traditional mouse.
Of course, there is an ergonomic factor involved in this design. According to an illustration in the Quick Start Guide, shown in Figure J, the shape is designed to force you to hold the mouse differently.
Rather than covering the mouse with your palm, you are supposed to keep your hand sideways, almost like in a handshake position. Figure J The shape of the Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse is designed to make you hold the mouse differently. As you can see, the mouse has a Windows button, which seems kind of hokey at first, but I've found it to be useful at times. If you prefer not to use it to access the Start menu/screen, you can disable it or configure it for other functions using the Mouse And Keyboard Center.
The Sculpt Ergonomic keypad Having a separate numeric keypad is really a cool feature. Since you don't always need the numeric keys, being able to move the keypad off to the side and move the mouse closer to the keyboard is really a nice benefit.