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Add to SafariWhen comparing Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard vs MechanicalEagle Z77, the Slant community recommends Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard for most people. In the question“What are the best computer keyboards under $100?” Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard is ranked 7th while MechanicalEagle Z77 is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard is:
Our hands naturally rest angled when in front of us, and this keyboard has been built to conform to that, rather than having us awkwardly trying to straighten our hands on a regular flat keyboard, putting strain on our wrists. The keyboard is also curved into a dome shape, which contributes to its ergonomic shape.
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Ergonomically shaped
Our hands naturally rest angled when in front of us, and this keyboard has been built to conform to that, rather than having us awkwardly trying to straighten our hands on a regular flat keyboard, putting strain on our wrists. The keyboard is also curved into a dome shape, which contributes to its ergonomic shape.
Pro Quiet
Thanks to the scissor switches used, this keyboard is very quiet.
Pro Low impact keys
The Sculpt's keys absorb impact quite well, avoiding injuries related to repetitive movements.
Pro Cushioned palm rest
This keyboard has a comfortable, cushioned palm rest.
Pro Clean look and flexible positioning due to wireless connection
This keyboard connects wirelessly to the computer. This offers many benefits, such as a clean, tidy look (no cable mess) or a flexible positioning (greater use range). On top of that, it doesn't occupy one of the ports.
Pro Number pad can be placed where it is more convenient
Since the number pad is a separate part from the main keyboard, its position can adjusted and it can be moved out of the way when it isn't being used. This allows for a more ergonomic mouse use, since it can be placed closer to the keyboard, just like in a tenkeyless design.
Pro Very comfortable
Using this keyboard with vim bindings you can sometimes nearly forget there's a keyboard between you and the editor.
Pro Slider switch for special functions
Rather than the usual Fn key that needs to be pressed in combination with other keys to activate said key's secondary functions, the Sculpt has a slider switch that does this. This makes it easier to default to those functions.
Pro Coloured lighting (not RGB)
This keyboard offers colourful lighting, and a number of lighting modes from reactive (which lights up the buttons you press) to pinwheel or linear movement. You can also program which keys you want to light up, and create your own custom lighting mode.
Pro Real mechanical switches provide comfortable typing
While the keyswitches aren't the popular Cherry MX switches, they are still mechanical switches: more specifically Outemu blue switches. These switches are made in China, and work similarly to the Cherry MX blue switches. They offer a tactile bump and a click at the activation point (about half way down) which is not only satisfying to hear and feel, but also provides more accurate and comfortable typing.
Cons
Con Functions keys are not easy to use
The function keys are too small.
Con Bad separation of key clusters
The Page Up, Page Down, Home, Insert, End, Delete and Arrow keys are squeezed together, right next to Enter, right Shift and right Control, without any physical barrier/marker to separate the two key clusters. Since this is not an usual layout, it is disorienting for users.
Con Less durable than flat keyboards
Because of its shape and thin design, this keyboard will break more easily than the typical, flat rectangular keyboards. This makes it less portable, unless you're very careful.
Con The key switches used aren't ideal for long typing sessions
The switches used are scissor switches, which are the ones used in many laptops. They provide shallow keystrokes which don't give the same feedback as a mechanical keyboard. These keys need to be bottomed out in order to activate, which creates some strain on your finger's joints as they are constantly hitting the bottom of the stroke. Scissor switches are also known to be less accurate than other keyboards.
Con Some keys aren't very reliable
Some keys (like Backspace or Enter), if not pressed perfectly perpendicularly, hit the shelf of the frame and get blocked on their way down. This means the stroke isn't registered and, on top of that, feels awkward. On the (slightly) bright side, this awkward feel acts as feedback that the key wasn't fully pressed.
Con Uses knockoff mechanical switches
This keyboard uses the Outemu blue switches which are clones of the massively popular Cherry MX blue switches. There isn't much information available on these Outemu switches, but they are made in China and likely aren't help up to the same standard that the German made Cherry switches are.
Con Per-row lighting only (not RGB)
Each key only has a single LED beneath it, and can only illuminate a single colour. When all lit up, it looks colourful however the QWERTYUIOP (top row) keys will always be green, and the ZXCVBNM (bottom row) keys will always be purple.
