Recently, my wrists have been once again ravaged by the scourge of carpal tunnel. So, I have been forced to take additional precautions. This has included dumping my Logitech Wave keyboard in favor of the moderately better Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard.
I’m glad to say that on the first day of use, I still had feeling in my right hand, which is always a plus.
Years ago, I had a MS ergonomic keyboard, back when I was suffering through the use of Windows. Up to that point it was the best keyboard I had ever used. Unfortunately, I was forced to kick it to the curb when I switch to OSX, because it was a PS/2 connector, and lacked an adequate driver for OSX.
For a while I was using logitech’s comfort duo, but it was not really a competitive product. So, for a while I was bouncing around a with a variety of the default Mac keyboard, a few different logitech keyboards, and so on.
Now, I have to say that, as of this point, the new MS ergonomic keyboard remains the top dog in ergonomic keyboard market. The only real draw backs are that it is wired, and the space bar tends to be a little fussy.
Overall, I’d rate it a 9.5/10.
that keyboard is the most amazing one i’ve ever used… the zoom and back/forward buttons i could do without, but everything else is dead-on… good choice
I love the 7000 combo set. The mouse is HUGE. But hey its all about size right? Anyways… LOVE the keyboard. First used it at home, then got my work to buy one. I wish i had the mouse at home. I’m still stuck with a logitech at home. I wish the wireless would be stronger on the MS keyboard/mouse though.
1. I use this at work: http://kinesis-ergo.com/contoured.htm . I have a maxim at home, but don’t use it. I used to use it, but there’s no place to put your wrists – so it hurts my shoulders.
2. If you compute a lot at work, have them to an ergonomic evaluation. Buying you a keyboard isn’t enough. You probably need a decent chair, properly adjusted monitors, keyboard, and mouse. If they balk, tell them you’ll talk to the folks at worker’s compensation, and that ought to kick them in the ass – a few thousand to properly fit you is a lot cheaper than $20,000 in doctor’s bills.
3. If you’re *really* having CT issues, take it seriously.
1. The contoured kinesis ergo keyboard looks interesting. But, I would want to try one out before I drop $300-400 on one. For now this keyboard is a marked improvement to get me by.
2. I work for myself, so I have no one to bit too. I have a pretty awful setup in the office though. It’s basically my macbook pro on a stand, with an additional external monitor, this ms keyboard, and a trackball. Everything is sitting on some shitty old desk from the 50-60′s. And I have a base task chair.
3. It’s definitely CT, at least according to two doctors. Normally, I can take care of it with night splinting, but the medical supply place stopped stocking the brand of brace I used. So, over the past couple of weeks I have dumped $200 on braces trying to find a decent replacement. I think the next thing I’ll be doing is getting a better chair. I have never really found one that I liked, I used an Aeron for a while, but it really wasn’t worth the cost.
jja – i have two of these keyboards – one for work, one for home. truly an amazing kb.
A good chair that is properly positioned is worth it’s weight in gold. I think reddit had an article recently about the importance of a chair to a programmer – although it basically applies to anybody in IT at a keyboard. My chair cost about $625, and it was worth every penny. My chair at work probably costs even more – but again, it’s worth it…
Chou.se, me too. For $60 these keyboards are a steal.
Adam, that sounds about right, I’m looking for something in the $400-700 at the moment.