Before I recently discovered that the typing-related wrist pain I was experiencing was caused almost solely by the wrong chair/table height ratio (most tables are too high to be used for typing, even for a tall feller like me), I picked up one of Microsoft’s ergonomic keyboards, the Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. It has two standout features:
- It is extremely comfortable (once you get used to touch typing).
- It is extremely ugly.
The new Sculpt aims to fix the latter.
It’s a real stunner. The keyboard uses the same split and domed design that the other MS ergonomic keyboards use, only the tall center section has been chopped out, leaving a dramatic gap. It also has what look like short-travel, chiclet-style keys, which may make the transition to this type of keyboard a lot easier for laptop users.
The kit also contains a mouse and a number pad. I love that the number pad is separate, so it can be used by left-handers, or just stowed out of the way — many people don’t like built-in keypads because they mean you have to stretch way over to the right to reach the mouse.
And speaking of “on the right,” the mouse looks to be “unidextrous,” which is to say for righties only. I’m pretty sure that anyone springing for an ergonomic keyboard will also be hand-picking a mouse, so that’s no biggie — I use a Magic Trackpad on the left, even though I’m right-handed.
The Sculpt kit will cost you $130. I’m on the lookout for one right now.
Source: Microsoft
