Is a natural (ergonomic) keyboard really better?

[KenSimone]

I'm about to replace my keyboard, and was wondering if there were any health benefits associated with natural keyboards. I'm 32, and have been typing since I was around 12. I've never had any pains or problems.

 

[Peter]

Yes there are. If it's a really ergonomic keyboard that lets your fingers move in straight directions, your speed and accuracy will improve quite noticeably.

Don't be misled to think all that "Natural Keyboard" stuff you get from the major brands really is it.
I'm using the SmartBoard, one of the few affordable ones that doesn't use staggered rows of keys, as well as having an individual low force switch for each key, not a single rubber mat for all of them.

www.ergocube.com is the US place to buy that kind of stuff. You'll HATE any other keyboard when you've had it for a while.

 

[KenSimone]

Thanks for the info. The Smartboard looks great. Unfortunately it's on backorder until "the first half of 2004". Oh well. I'm not sure I could've adjusted to the lack of a print screen key, and the new locations for insert and delete anyway. Again, though, thanks for the information. It's definately appreciated.

 

[lucky9]

I use the MS Natural and love it. It's also very inexpensive compared to many of them.

 

[Peter]

Print Screen is there, it's just two keypresses (RShift+Num/), like Pause. Insert and Delete are OK where they are, just some getting used to. The cursor keys being nearer to the main block are quite nice in fact, so is the fact that the mouse isn't as far away for the right hand as with the other "Natural" keyboards.
As I said, you'll never know how much better the straight "fanned" key arrangement is until you have to go back to standard "slanted" on someone else's machine. I'm using a total of three SmartBoards now at work and at home, a fourth is ordered, USB this time. This so I can bring my own keyboard when I need to type stuff elsewhere.

 

[Doomer]

I hate them. I tend to type with one hand and they're a royal PITA for me. The MS Natural keyboard takes up too much desk space to suit me.

 

[nork]

For me, the keyboard is not as big a deal as the mouse, or lack of.
You see, i had much more strain on my right hand with my mouse. Got real bad. I got a trackball and have never looked back.
If you try a trackball for a month you will never go back to a mouse. Its only a mouse upside down but works better, faster, and easier on the hand, fingers, and wrist too!
YMMV and this is about keyboards, but, again, i bet if you kept your keyboard and switched to a trackball you might be surprised at the results.
Unless you are a dos person and use the keyboard almost exclusively.

 

[Peter]

I just switched to a lightweight mouse (laser, no batteries, small shape) with teflon feet and low-force buttons. That cured the remaining problems that were left after changing keyboards.
Trackballs don't do it for me. Too slow. (No, I'm not gaming.)

 

[Alptraum]

I have been using the MS natural keyboards since they came out (however many years ago that was). They are fantastic. MS may jack up OS's but they build great mice and keyboards. The newer Natural Elite ones are better then the original. They are smaller and lighter. Now that I am used to typing on these normal keyboards seem crappy. I am pretty picky about keyboards and I really like these. There are some others I might try if they didn't have all those extra buttons for "multimedia/internet" that I have no desire for. The only thing that has me thinking of switching is this Logitech. If that set up had a nice split key design I would have it now, heh.

 

[LS20]

ive never had a problem using the normal one... but switched over to a Ms Natural PRO (the regular/lite sux) and i cant go back. since then ive bought 3 of these things.

they are all that and more

 

[Peter]

The MS Naturals have way too high a keypress force, no split spacebar (again, keypress force), the 6 key is on the wrong side, and then of course, they use the same slanted columns of keys mechanical typewriters 100 years ago did. Annoying for the right hand, really killing your speed on the left side. Too much lateral finger movement required for ANY keypress. And the tiny cursor and edit keys on the later model are plain ridiculous.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: lucky9
I use the MS Natural and love it. It's also very inexpensive compared to many of them.

i broke mine and havent bothered to get a new one, but use a very similar split keyboard by micro innovations

i cant stand normal boards for more than a few minutes at a time

 

[Alptraum]

Originally posted by: Peter
The MS Naturals have way too high a keypress force, no split spacebar (again, keypress force), the 6 key is on the wrong side, and then of course, they use the same slanted columns of keys mechanical typewriters 100 years ago did. Annoying for the right hand, really killing your speed on the left side. Too much lateral finger movement required for ANY keypress. And the tiny cursor and edit keys on the later model are plain ridiculous.

I disagree with almost all that. Keyboards are a pretty personal thing though so its not hard to find very different opinions

 

[nork]

Not trying to hijack your thread, but Peter mentioned trackball too slow. Impossible!

And i stand by that fact!
As i stated above, a trackball can do more than a new keyboard can.

 

[Peter]

Well, _I_ am much faster at what I'm doing with a precise mouse than with a trackball, and this is what counts for _me_. YMMV. Not everything is suitable for everyone.