Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 vs KB Paradise v60

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.

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.

While the 4000 keyboard can be raised at the back like conventional keyboards, it also comes with a detachable platform that raises the front of the keyboard. This creates a negative tilt more natural to the arm-hand alignment.

Foam cushions support one’s wrists while typing, preventing “hanging hands,” which can cause fatigue over extended periods.

Due to its size, this keyboard is great for those who have big hands.

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.

On macOS, users have the option of swapping the Windows and Alt keys, so they match the Option and Command key order found on standard Apple keyboards, even if no alternate keycaps or stickers are provided for use with this OS.

The number pad, the arrow keys, Insert, Home etc. are all in their standard positions which is not common on Ergonomic keyboards.

The keyboard backlighting color can be set to either green and blue or red and blue. This option can be switched on the fly.

The 60% form factor means your hands almost never have to depart from home row for any reason, increasing efficiency.

With this keyboard, there's a wide variety of switches to choose from. From practically all Cherry switches to cheaper, non-backlit Gateron or Matias switches.

This keyboard is built to last.

The keycaps are typeset in Futura, arguably a more attractive option than what many similar keyboards (such as the KBC Pokers) feature.

The v60 has six DIP switches on the back that allow for a variety of layout customization options, and the keyboard comes with extra keycaps to reflect those options, so that the inscriptions always match the key functions. Some examples include replacing Caps Lock with Ctrl (a popular trick for programmers, as some Unix software was written with such a layout in mind) or swapping left Super and left Alt to accommodate users used to Apple keyboards.