Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 11:56:31 -0500 From: Elise Burgess Subject: Microsoft keyboard To: Multiple recipients of list SOREHAND I have tried the new MicroSoft keyboard: The split keypad is easy to get used to for a touch typist. The keyboard has 2 positions, one is tilted toward the user. The other is flat or tilted slightly away from the user. I found it to be most comfortable in this flat position. There is a problem with that position, though: the keyboard ends up a couple inches above the desk height. Even with my desk at knee height, the keyboard was too high for me for optimal ergonomics. I have relatively long arms, people with shorter arms or longer torsos may not have this problem. The reason that I have chosen not to use the keyboard is the touch. When you touch them gently, the keys click in a way that is almost indistiquishable from the real click. They do not, however, actually produce characters with that gentle click. I found myself banging on the keys far to hard, just to be sure I didn't miss half the characters in my words. Considering that I am extremely sensitive to any ulnar deviation, if I hadn't already taught myself to keep my wrists straight while typing on a normal keyboard, I might have decided to put up with the poor key feel. Your mileage may vary. I suggest anyone who's interested just go out and buy one. They're about $100, and I believe they have a 90 day money-back guarantee. They also have a warning label on the underside of the keyboard and on the cord stating that typing may cause RSI. Elise elise@palette.com