[dead] MS USB Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 $30AR

[Devistater]

edit: There's a new sale at OD where you can this for for about $22 NO REBATES for week starting April 9.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=40&threadid=1840337

I found this deal initially on SD, but I've done a bunch of research and found out lots of interesting stuff about the keyboard.

You can also get it from Amazon. You can get a very easy practically automated price reduction if it goes down within 30 days of when you order. There was a thread about how to do the price reduction.

Note that this keyboard has a split in the middle. I think it makes for much better touch typing and more natural hand posture, but it can take some getting used to at first. And some people do not like it.

If you dont like details and are a cliff notes person, stop reading here.

Here's the stuff I've learned about the keyboard (my personal experiance, googling, and searching in MS newsgroups, etc).
I just went and got the keyboard tonight. So far I love it. I have one of the original MS natural keyboards, most of the rest since then had crappy changes like weird F key layouts and the insert/home/page block all screwed up. Some of them have had the arrow keys weirdly arranged too. Ugh. I've taken my original natural keyboard apart to clean it before because I use it and love it so much. This might be one of the first worthy successors.
Back to the 4000.
I love the naugahide/leatherette wrist rest. Its the most comfortable wrist rest I've ever had. The reverse tilt is an interesting feature. I like the volume controls, they come in quite handy. I also like the back/forward buttons they are also handy.

Microsofts product page:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=043

Some reviews:
http://www.everythingusb.com/microsoft_natural_ergonomic_keyboard_4000.html
http://www.techfreaks.org/reviews/nke4000.shtml
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000400.html
http://hardware.earthweb.com/peripherals/article.php/3550211
User reviews: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A6PPOK

Wireless or USB ports?
Sorry there's no wireless version of this keyboard yet. If you want the revolutionary features (like reverse tilt for natural hand posture) you'll have to go wired. As well there's no USB hub/ports on this version of the keyboard

Software Installation
The software on the cd is not required, keyboard works fine just plugging it in without any installation. Theres a couple keys like the favorites that dont work without it (and you wont be able to easily customize some of the keys). Volume and stuff work fine.

F Lock
If you dont like the F Lock behavior it can be changed to work the opposite way, or the function keys can be set to be always on.
http://www.mvps.org/jtsang/flock.html
BTW, from what I've heard the F lock stays in whatever state you set it at between reboots. So you can just toggle it off or on and leave it that way forever if you like, then you dont have to mess around with changing windows registry.

PS2 Adapters
A ps2 adapter does NOT work per MS product support
(some people have tried the adapters that come with MS mice and stuff)
so this keyboard is USB only

64 bit xp drivers:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta...-424d-870c-32288020f788&DisplayLang=en
As of January 4, 2006. IntelliType Pro 5.5 Keyboard Software for Windows 64

Keyboard Tilting
The part that tilts up the front of the keyboard can be removed and it has the flip stands on the top back so you can still tilt it "normally" like most keyboards if you prefer.

Bios/startup issues
If you have startup issues change bios option to enable support legacy USB keyboard

interested in reassigning keys (even the special ones)? You can screw with registry, or this program should work:
http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~tsr22/apps/hoe.php

Useless Zoom slider to scroll slider?
There's a possible solution to change the useless zoom slider to scroll functionality (let me know if it works)
http://support.microsoft.com/newsgroups...0010b&lang=en&cr=US&sloc=en-us&m=1&p=1

Just got a new ms ergonomic keyboard 4000, and I was unimpressed to
find that you can't easily change the large Zoom slider in the middle
of the keyboard to do anything more useful, like scrolling.

After a couple of hours messing about here's how to change it.

I copied the contents of the supplied intellipoint disc to my
harddrive, and discovered the file IType/SETUP/Files/Commands.xml.
This contains the key-action pairs for all the supported applications.
The really interesting ones start with C319 and C320, these are the up
and down commands of the zoom slider.

Therefore pick whatever application you wish to change the
functionality for, eg Internet Explorer (no I don't use it either).

<Application UniqueName="IEFrame" AppName="Internet Explorer">
<C319 Type="6" Activator="ZoomOut" />
<C320 Type="6" Activator="ZoomIn" />
</Application>

Changing this to:

<Application UniqueName="IEFrame" AppName="Internet Explorer">
<C319 Type="6" Activator="ScrollUp" />
<C320 Type="6" Activator="ScrollDown" />
</Application>

Means that the zoom slider now scrolls in ie.

Since I'm lazy I just replaced all the c319 and c320 lines with scroll,
this probably isn't wise as some of them are customised to do different
things depending on the application, but if your also lazy fire up vim
and use:

:%s/^.*<C319.*$/<C319 Type="6" Activator="ScrollUp" \/>/gc
:%s/^.*<C320.*$/<C320 Type="6" Activator="ScrollDown" \/>/gc

(note: It's not a very tidy replace, but it does the job)
(note2: Non vim people, I'm sure this can be done using a windows text
editor, but I've no idea how).
(note3: I'd guess you can also do this after IntelliType has been
installed by editing the commands.xml file directly in the Microsoft
IntelliType Pro directory, then restarting intellitype/windows)

Hope this helps.

Volume button problems
volume control buttons not working, you can fix this as follows:
http://support.microsoft.com/newsgroups...0010b&lang=en&cr=US&sloc=en-us&m=1&p=1

MS Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000: Volume Control Keys not working...

Volume control seems to work fine if you start the "HID Input Service".
If you are not able to start it (happened to me), fire up the registry
editor and find:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidServ\Parameters

If there's a string called "ServiceDll" delete it, and create a new one
(expandable string named "ServiceDll") with this value:

%SystemRoot%\System32\hidserv.dll

Gary

Some more good tips (like reducing the space bar clackiness if it clacks too much for you) and product help by actual MS employes can be found by going to:
http://support.microsoft.com/newsgroups
And on left pick english, redesigned list, hardware, MS hardware products. And type 6000 in the search at the top.

 

[mindwreck]

YES. i've been waiting to buy this keyboard. my natural pro is going to get a early retirement. THX : )

 

[brystmar]

Originally posted by: mindwreck
YES. i've been waiting to buy this keyboard. my natural pro is going to get a early retirement. THX : )

i love mine -- going on 5 years with the same keyboard now. glad to see they're still making natural keyboards with decent key layouts.

 

[madogvt]

Nice keyboard. I've owned several of the M/S Natural keyboards and am currently using a Logitech natural - mostly becuase it's wireless and black. This will probably be my next.

Great post btw.

 

[Vikroda]

Originally posted by: brystmar

Originally posted by: mindwreck
YES. i've been waiting to buy this keyboard. my natural pro is going to get a early retirement. THX : )

i love mine -- going on 5 years with the same keyboard now. glad to see they're still making natural keyboards with decent key layouts.

My Natural Pro worked great until I decided to clean it. There must have been some moisture left when I plugged it in because after that it stopped working. I got my 4000 from Amazon using the 25% coupon before the rebate was valid.

 

[CaliKev]

Kick butt deal! i bought one last week from surplus computers for $50... thought that was a great deal at the time.. but it did come with a mouse! the only thing i dont like about the keyboard is the space bar... has a funky feel that im not used to... this considering that all i have ever used for the past like 8 years has been some form of the microsoft natural line.... DAMN YOU ELITE, and your funky arrow buttons!

 

[Mday]

i got my first one back in september last year. I just got another one at compusa yesterday. I'm using it at work. Anyway, I wish I could scroll with the stupid zoom thing, or set it so I could scroll.

that's all. I wrote something in peripherals back then if you want to do a search.

 

[hkklife]

I can vouch for this keyboard 100%. I replaced a whole set of Natural Pros that were deployed @ home and @ work with these new Ergo 4000s. They look great, have a nice wrist rest, have a good but not overwhelming # of shortcut/media buttons and, best of all, have the PROPER arrow & ins/home/del/endp up/p down arrangement .

I do wish it had PS/2 functionality and they made a "gamer's edition" with backlit keys but you cannot ask for everything.

My only complaints are that the spacebar is a bit wacky (I preferred the old Natural & Natural Pro spacebard) and that sometimes the backspace key gets a bit mushy.

 

[kwo]

good deal OP! Thanks!! :thumbsup:

 

[MrPabulum]

Great keyboard. I've been using it for nearly two weeks. Quite pleased.

 

[Reckoner]

I just got mine today. How long does it generally take to get used to an ergonomic keyboard? This is my first

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: Mday
i got my first one back in september last year. I just got another one at compusa yesterday. I'm using it at work. Anyway, I wish I could scroll with the stupid zoom thing, or set it so I could scroll.

that's all. I wrote something in peripherals back then if you want to do a search.

See the OP, it may be possible to set it to scroll.
Edit: Updated links so they should work now.

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
I just got mine today. How long does it generally take to get used to an ergonomic keyboard? This is my first

It depends. I would give it a week or so, see if you like it. Dont cut out the UPC yet. Some people totally hate the split keyboard, but from what I've seen, most people who give it a chance and try it a while end up loving it and using one for all thier work. The tilt of course is up to you, you can go with the conventional forward tilt with the flip up things in back (and you can remove the front tilt thing), or try the new MS reverse tilt (the default from the box) for a better hand posture.

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: Devistater

Originally posted by: Mday
i got my first one back in september last year. I just got another one at compusa yesterday. I'm using it at work. Anyway, I wish I could scroll with the stupid zoom thing, or set it so I could scroll.

that's all. I wrote something in peripherals back then if you want to do a search.

See the OP, it may be possible to set it to scroll.

Link doesn't work

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Link doesn't work

It should work now. Sorry about that.

 

[Spuffin]

Curse you Devistater. My Natural Keyboard Elite is working perfectly... but it has the wonky pageup/down vertical block. and wonky arrow keys. and it's an ugly shade of beige. Sigh, this one is getting hard to resist.

Great post

Edit: Also keep in mind that you will have to pay tax at CompUSA on the full amount so the price between Amazon and CompUSA are probably about equal.

 

[NeoV]

great keyboard, can't recommend it enough!

 

[frank84]

natural keyboard... great keyboard for those who type the most

i've been using one at work for 3 years, and i absolutely love it.

but at home, i have regular one for gaming

-frank

 

[kitkit201]

picked one up from amazon.. going to go ergo now that my wrist is starting to hurt from all this typing..

 

[jiwq]

it's great, except a few minor gripes:

H key has a dead zone on the left edge. I have to press it pretty hard to register.

wrist lift came pre-installed and is kinda hard to remove. (any advice?)

lctrl is kinda sunken in. i tend to use it a lot in gaming.

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: jiwq
it's great, except a few minor gripes:

H key has a dead zone on the left edge. I have to press it pretty hard to register.

wrist lift came pre-installed and is kinda hard to remove. (any advice?)

lctrl is kinda sunken in. i tend to use it a lot in gaming.

The manual has some instructions on removing the lift at the front.

I agree about the left control, I use my keyboard for gaming and the previous natural keyboard was really good in terms of gaming. This one, the left control makes it hard. Oh well I'm thinking about getting one of those Nostromo things anyway, that should make the gaming better.

 

[Spuffin]

Amazon jacked the price up to $50 and ships in 1-2 weeks. Looks like CompUSA is clearly the better deal for now

 

[yelo333]

Thanks, Devistater!

Picked one up for myself...

I figure it's time to replace the clicky old IBM.

Edit: but I'm probably going to return it...After all of these years on the IBM keyboard, it just feels too mushy...

 

[masteraleph]

Sadly, the wireless sets don't include this model. Would love to have a new keyboard to replace my aging one, but wireless is just way way way too convenient to toss somewhere when you need the room.

 

[thawolfman]

:Q

Finally a true replacement for my original (Without the f'ed up Insert keys & borked arrows!)

:Q

 

[Mermaidman]

Circuit City has this for

$60-$20 MIR