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The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 is the best ergonomic non-mechanical keyboard out there, given the comfort it provides and how it positively impacts user’s overall posture and health. This is mainly due to its key layout designed to adapt to the natural shape of the hands. It’s a perfectly affordable non-mechanical option for programmers who want to code faster, easier and healthier.
SpecsUpdate
Pros
Pro Ergonomic and comfortable
The 4000 keyboard is designed to be more comfortable to type on than regular rectangular keyboards. Its key rows curve to match the human hands’ angled resting position, eliminating the wrist strain that happens with regular keyboards. This is an important factor in reducing the risk of injury.
Pro Great value for money
With a retail price of $39.04, this keyboard is considerably more affordable than most ergonomic keyboards on the market. It doesn’t have the same caliber as more premium keyboards, but it’s a top option for those on a budget who are looking for a good ergonomic option.
Pro Several additional, personalizable keys
This keyboard has hotkeys for things like media control, zoom or launching applications. The function keys also have secondary functions, activated by an F-lock key. Some of them are customizable via a companion app (for Windows and macOS) that ships with the keyboard.
Cons
Con The space bar is hard to press
While it's new, the space bar needs quite some force to be pressed down.
Con No mechanical switches
The 4000 keyboard uses the same traditional rubber dome switches found on common keyboards, unlike the mechanical switches found on many other good programming keyboards. Rubber dome switches are inconsistent and always need to be bottomed out with each key press. They are also not especially durable, lasting about a quarter of the time their mechanical counterparts last. It should be noted this switch option is one of the main reasons why this keyboard is so affordable.
Con Almost all the keys are hard to press
The keys can feel too rigid due to the force needed to press them down. This hinders the typing process, making it less fluid.
Con Most of the extra functionality keys are not supported on macOS
This keyboard has a lot of extra functionality keys useful for daily tasks, like media controls or back/forward keys. Unfortunately, most of them are not supported on macOS, even after driver installation.
Con Only solves some RSI problems
While this does help with many RSI problems, it still has the ergonomic disadvantages of a standard keyboard layout.