Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (2019) review: A worthy, modern evolution of a legendary keyboard

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Since 1994, Microsoft has been at the forefront of what it dubbed "natural" keyboards, now often referred to as ergonomic keyboards. This series of keyboards are designed to more than accurately represent how are arms and easily are meant to lay rather than when they're crunched, wrist-to-wrist when using a laptop.

The new Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard looks to be the successor to the 2005 Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 (non to be confused with the more recent Sculpt Ergonomic and Surface Ergonomic releases).

Equally a long-fourth dimension user of the 4000, Sculpt, and Surface Ergonomic keyboards, I have some thoughts nearly this new one.

Improved typing today

Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (2019)

$60

Bottom line: Microsoft's latest ergonomic keyboard costs less but delivers fifty-fifty more than value. With new defended keys for emojis, Microsoft Role, and the new snipping tool, plus an improved typing feel, this is the most comfortable ergo keyboard around. Besides bad there are no backlit keys.

Pros:

Larger keys, more consistent travel.
Improved layout and modern design.
Affordable.
Plug and play.

Cons:

No backlit keys.
Learning bend.

Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard design and emoji

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The Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard is a comparatively calorie-free keyboard, weighing just 35.98 oz, including the cable (1,020 g). It'southward made from all plastic and has a hollow experience to it. While light, though, information technology won't slide around your desk-bound due to the rubber feet.

A single USB Type-A 2.0 plug is needed to power the keyboard, so it is not wireless. Disappointingly, the keyboard is besides not backlit. That selection was likely to keep costs downwardly, simply information technology would have been amazing to have an option to purchase a more expensive version with backlit keys. Information technology's worth pointing out, also, that this is a skinny cable. I'yard not worried about information technology breaking or fraying, but I do appreciate how little room information technology occupies, letting you have a more than minimalist look.

The nigh significant change with this 2022 model is the addition of a few more relevant defended keys. At that place are new keys for the Windows 10 emoji picker, Microsoft Office, and the new snipping tool. Other dedicated keys include 1 for reckoner, task view, locking the PC, and Windows search.

__alt__ Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Middle app lets you configure the keyboard even more than.

The superlative centre row houses the expected media keys, including mute, volume controls, play and pause, skip, and forward tracks. The media-role player button defaults to opening Groove, simply users can program that button (and others incuding emoji primal) using the optional Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center application. There are three numbered keys on the top left that can be assigned a macro or to open any app you desire.

__alt__ The screen the Office key launches in Windows ten.

Similar other Microsoft ergo keyboards (except for the Surface Ergonomic), this one includes a wrist riser that can better help bending your wrists upward. On previous keyboards, Microsoft used magnets to attach that riser, merely now at that place is just a plug that snaps into the bottom. While this doesn't affair in day-to-day usage, I like the magnets better.

__alt__ Defended keys (left to right) for figurer, screen snip, task view, and screen lock.

The textile used for the wrist residual is interesting. It'due south not the leather found on the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, nor the Alcantara (which gets very dirty) on the Surface Ergonomic keyboard. Instead, it resembles that of the Sculpt Ergonomic. It's a soft, nylon-esque cloth that is darker than the Sculpt and presumably will get less muddied and hold up longer. It feels excellent and makes typing that much more comfortable due to the quarter-inch padding underneath.

Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard typing

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Typing on the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard is excellent, but some context is needed as Microsoft has various keyboards, all with different key designs. The travel on these keys is much deeper than the Surface Ergonomic and fifty-fifty Sculpt Ergonomic. Instead, it matches the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 more than closely.

Still, the keys on the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard are significantly larger (especially the arrow keys) than the Natural's, resulting in fewer missed keystrokes for a more consistent feel. But while the travel distance is like (depth), the newer keyboard has a much better bounce-back, alleviating some attempt when typing. While the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 is excellent to type on, the keys are also a flake mushy. That is not the case here.

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Too, the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 has a notoriously loud spacebar key that felt a scrap too difficult to depress. That is fixed here with the spacebar feeling like the other keys and not requiring much endeavour at all.

Finally, the "moving ridge" design is more than accentuated on the new Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard than on whatever release then far. This change likely reveals a more precise manufacturing and the latest science on the matter. (Microsoft famously studies this topic extensively in its Human Factors Group.)

And so should you buy the new Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard?

__alt__ Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard with the optional wrist riser installed.

If you are still holding onto your Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (2019) is a natural upgrade. The pedigree is similar, simply information technology'south clear Microsoft has dramatically improved and updated some of the core features of this series. Typing is more comfortable, and the keyboard looks more modernistic with a cleaner, more than straightforward pattern.

The new keys for emojis, Office, and snipping tool are excellent and charming touches. Emojis may seem goofy (depending on your historic period), but they are trendy, and that is only increasing equally the workforce gets younger. And if you lot don't use them, no big deal.

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If y'all're coming from the Sculpt or Surface ergonomic keyboards, this i will experience different. That's because the fundamental travel is much deeper than those, which some users prefer. This keyboard is too wired, making it much more than reliable than wireless models. And y'all don't take to replace or charge batteries. The Sculpt keyboard used a wireless dongle, which works well, simply you however need to go on spare batteries handy. The Surface Ergonomic is Bluetooth, which can suffer from interference and occasionally fail.

For those who never tried an ergonomic keyboard, the new Microsoft Ergonomic may be worth a shot. At but $sixty, the toll is one of the everyman of this serial, making it quite accessible. There is a learning bend, though, and it will take wat least a few days of practise to become used to the design. However, as people in comments here will attest, once you become ergonomic, information technology's tough to get back.

For me, I'm glad Microsoft made this keyboard. My only real complaint is the lack of backlit keys, but due to the benefits of typing on this improved blueprint, information technology's a tradeoff I'm willing to accept.

Typing right

Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (2019)

The most comfy manner to type

Microsoft'southward Ergonomic Keyboard for 2022 is an excellent follow-upward to the legendary Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. With larger keys, improve key actuation, fixed spacebar, and at present dedicated keys for the Windows ten emoji picker, Office, and Windows snipping tool, it's also the most useful. That $60 cost is quite off-white, though for a wired keyboard we would have preferred backlighting.

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