Naturally Speaking.. my second!
Written: Jun 09 '01 (Updated Jun 10 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Added Hot Key row; USB; Full Size; CALCULATOR key!
Cons: Hot keys not color coded/fully reprogrammable; Media not manually changeable
The Bottom Line: Enjoyable to work with; nice to have extra hot keys; requires some refinement.
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| bellyman's Full Review: Microsoft Natural Pro (B61-00002) Keyboard |
The full sized natural keyboard is NOT DEAD!!!
History
A few years ago, Oct 1997, when buying a new system I saw the (then) new Microsoft Natural Keyboard. I am a programmer and spend all day at work, and all day at night on the computer. I was having the occasional hand and wrist pain and decided to try out the keyboard. Larger than most, it took a short time to get use to it. The keyboard is "separated" down the middle - with keys 1-6;Q-T;A-G and Z-B on the left at a slight angle, and the rest of the keys to the right with a slight angle. In both cases the keys are sitting in a way that your hands "naturally sit". All other standard keyboards are straight across and your hands bend OUTwards to use them -- not ergonomically correct.
Over the last few years I noticed Microsoft came out with another - Microsoft Natural Elite. A slim down version of the original Natural. The Natural would not fit any keyboard trays and did take up a bit of room, but the Elite was "about" the same size as a regular keyboard - will with some major exceptions -- instead of the standard INSERT,DELETE,HOME,END,PGUP,PGDN cluster of keys going 3 across and 2 down, they (Bill Gates and Co.) put them 2 across and down 3. The arrow cluster was turned into a DIAMOND. A lot of the keys were made smaller. In the end you would have to not only adapt to the "natural" shape, but to the cluster keys which, for me was "STUUUUUUUUUPID!!!!!!!!"
When buying a new system, in Oct 1999, I ended up seeing and buying the "Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro". This keyboard took the basic design of the FIRST Natural and added a few extra features including internet/multimedia/extra function keys and USB ports.
Layout & Design
This keyboard is similar in size to the original Natural keyboard.
All keys standard in size. The Enter,Shifts and Backspace are all nice and large - straight across - the enter is not one of those "extra height" keys.
On the top row, above the main keyboard, there are a bunch of extra "gray/grey" buttons.
To the left - "BACK,FORWARD,STOP,REFRESH,SEARCH*,FAVORITES,WEB & HOME"
In the center - "MAIL*"
To the right - "Mute,Volume,Play&Pause,Stop,Prev Track,Next Track,Media"
Above the keypad are three others - My Computer*,Calculator* and a larger "SLEEP".
Only the four (*) keys above are customizable. Mail - you can change the client to use; Search - change your starting web page for searching. My computer/calculator - run any application you like. Sleep - either enters CPU sleep mode or screen saver depending on WHAT your system is capable of. If your system can go into SLEEP mode, this will do that. You don't have a choice (bad). Sleep mode goes into low power - shuts down the drives/monitor etc.
On the back, they have added USB support. The keyboard itself still plugs into the keyboard plug on the CPU. Optionally you could plug the USB into the USB port on the CPU as well. It appears to be a low powered USB. My Viewsonic (see review) (has USB) - allows up to "500mA" per port (there are four) whereas the keyboard allows up to "100mA" per port (there are two). My Logitech mouse (see review) and when I had the Hammerhead FX (see review) plugged into the keyboard. I found the 3Com WebCam (review soon!) did NOT work when attached to the keyboard - only when I plugged it into the monitor.
The bottom just has two feet at the back to raise the keyboard higher. The original Natural had a bar in the middle which allowed the user to have the keyboard slanting to the back and down (SPACE would be higher than number row) - I never used that and I can only assume not many did either. I have the keyboard flat and with the proper chair/desk height it works ok. I would guess the keyboard would STILL not fit into a standard keyboard tray -- but then again they are C-R-A-P anyways since they are not designed with ergonomics in mind. You need to spend mucho bucks to get a "flat" tray and pivot arm style keyboard holder (>$100).
The Natural keyboard had extra "WINDOW" keys -- e.g. WINDOW-K opened up Keyboard properties. It does not appear that this Pro had the function. And or it was lost somewhere along the many "upgrades" to the PC. It was nice, but something else to memorize and non-standard.
*** As a side note, there are other keyboards released, that also have the extra keys at the top - but not natural. I don't think they have the multimedia buttons - but look into it.
OS -- I used the Natural under Win95, and the new Natural Pro works fine under Win98SE. NO idea about W2K.
Media Key
When you install applications they get "Registered" to be used with the keyboard. I haven't gone into the system looking for how these are added. But I think the implentation is POOR.
Pressing MEDIA pops up a list of applications available -- Windows Media Player,Real Player,WinAmp,Creative DVD Player,Media Player (original). You then can choose which you want and it will start. Once started the other keys will work - Winamp .. prev,next track, volume etc. Same as with media player and even the DVD.
I originally had WinAmp installed under "d:\winamp". The MEDIA list did not show Winamp. After some digging apparently MEDIA checked "specific" directories for the applications. Only when I installed WinAmp under "c:\program files\winamp" did it work ok. Personally I should be able to go into a program and add/del any program I want. I tried PowerDVD and it did not get registered in the Media list. Again hacking and or the proper installation and or an upgrade to the keyboard software MIGHT solve this problem. I use PowerDVD a lot and it is ashame the keys don't work.
The Good and The Bad, and the Ugly
Goods..
A major strong point is that the extra keys (calculator/media) when used, do NOT change focus. I can have WinAMP going and hit "PAUSE" and still work in the application without having to "change task" back to it. Hitting mute instead of moving the mouse to the bottom and clicking and hitting mute, is a painless step.
A HUGE bonus is the CALCULATOR button. I cannot tell you how many times I hit the "spot" where calculator is only to not have the calculator pop up. With this, I can hit the button and boom, start typing knowing the calculator is there. No need to "find" the open version of it amoungst the other 10-15 tasks open.
USB - nice to be able to plug the mouse into the keyboard without having to have "YET ANOTHER" wire going to the back.
Large? Could be bad or good depending on your point of view. The Elite was C-R-A-P - I would have not bought it SPECIFICALLY because of the "non-standard" cluster keys. I have large hands - and expect to be able to hit every key nicely without having to worry about hitting more than one key. I used it a while at a shop I worked at and found it to be terrible.
Ink - the original Natural over the many months has had some fading on the keytops - after 1.5y the current Pro has no signs of fading at all (the Natural had fading within this period). Also they have added "HELP" to the key faces. On "C" you see "* CUT" On CTRL you see at the top "CTRL *" -- so you hit CTRL-C for CUT. Nice value add.
Last but not least.. the keys feel nice and they don't stick. I had some issues with the SPACE on the NATURAL keyboard which I was able to fix. Some might not like the way the keys feel when pressed - personal preference I am sure -- once again, buy from a place where you can RETURN (not exchange) after 30 days.
Bads..
The configuration of the keys are poor - They have made MY COMPUTER,CALCULATOR customizable - ironically not the ones I would have made changeable. I really don't see the value for the internet keys (BACK,FORWARD,STOP) when moving to the top of the screen and hitting FORWARD is easier. I believe the Logitech keyboard (haven't touched it) might allow ANY key to be programmable... heresay..
Sleep mode - I should be able to go into CPU sleep or Screen saver - MY CHOICE.... would have been nice to have a "screen saver" button actually.
Ugly..
I would have liked to have seen a color coded top row of keys. It is hard for me to "press" a specific key without looking to see what key it is (unlike typing). If they would have had a simple color pattern - to the left and to the right it would have been better to use. e.g. Left RED would have been "STOP" and maybe Right Light Blue would have been "Volume down". Likewise Right RED would have also been "STOP" for the multimedia. I might color code myself with some Sharpies -- haven't gotten there yet.
Summary
In closing I really enjoy the keyboard. Programming all the time I can adapt to any keyboard, including the Natural/Natural Pro, within a few keystrokes. Some might have a problem - again BUY & TRY & RETURN if you don't like it. It is NOT for everyone. Again as with my mouse and monitor (see reviews) this is a MAJOR component NOT to skimp on. I am not saying a NATURAL keyboard is "required" or "recommended", but I am saying that you should invest your money in getting a keyboard that feels GOOD, since it is one of the major things you will be using ALL THE TIME.
The extra keys are excellent. I think Microsoft should make improvements like color coding and allowing FULL reprogrammability to the extra keys. In addition, changes to the Media to allow other programs to be registered MANUALLY and not look for "specific" installation directories are desired.
A good keyboard -- excellent would require the improvements, therefore I will rate it as "ABOVE AVERAGE".
**Updated**
Price paid was converted wrong.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 60
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Epinions.com ID:
bellyman
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Location: Richmond Hill, ON
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
Self employed programmer; Father of two sons, wife
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