Comments on: Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 http://www.rsi-relief.com/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/ Repetitive Strain Injury Prevention, Support, & Recovery Fri, 16 May 2008 02:25:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Digabyte http://www.rsi-relief.com/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-50 Digabyte Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:56:07 +0000 http://www.rsi-relief.com/blog/archives/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-50 As someone who suffers major RSI, I love this keyboard; I've been using mine for nearly a year now. However, I have a new problem. The thing is sooo wide that I have to hold my arm unnaturally far to the right to use my mouse, and this has caused new chronic shoulder pain. Why oh why can't they put that damned number pad on the LEFT side (or better yet, make it detachable so you can put it wherever you want)? As someone who suffers major RSI, I love this keyboard; I’ve been using mine for nearly a year now.

However, I have a new problem. The thing is sooo wide that I have to hold my arm unnaturally far to the right to use my mouse, and this has caused new chronic shoulder pain.

Why oh why can’t they put that damned number pad on the LEFT side (or better yet, make it detachable so you can put it wherever you want)?

]]> By: Patch http://www.rsi-relief.com/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-53 Patch Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:26:53 +0000 http://www.rsi-relief.com/blog/archives/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-53 Had a play and have come up with the following work around; use a macro editer program to create hotkey macro's fo send [Ctrl+Enter] Forward [Ctrl+l] Reply [Ctrl+r] and Close [Ctrl+w] These are exported as playable macros which can then be assigned to the relevent mail key giving the keyboards email functionality to Thunderbird Macros can be created to do pretty much what ever you want and assigned to whichever special key you choose. Only down side is I hven't found a totally free macro program, tested the theaory with a trial copy of Macro Express and it all works fine. at a one off purchase price of $39 I am personally going to splash out as I both want the functionality to work but also I have thought of a zillion extra uses for macros. sorry to repspond to a blog from last year but thought it may be useful. Had a play and have come up with the following work around;

use a macro editer program to create hotkey macro’s fo send [Ctrl+Enter] Forward [Ctrl+l] Reply [Ctrl+r] and Close [Ctrl+w]

These are exported as playable macros which can then be assigned to the relevent mail key giving the keyboards email functionality to Thunderbird

Macros can be created to do pretty much what ever you want and assigned to whichever special key you choose.

Only down side is I hven’t found a totally free macro program, tested the theaory with a trial copy of Macro Express and it all works fine. at a one off purchase price of $39 I am personally going to splash out as I both want the functionality to work but also I have thought of a zillion extra uses for macros.

sorry to repspond to a blog from last year but thought it may be useful.

]]> By: AlanT http://www.rsi-relief.com/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-51 AlanT Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:56:33 +0000 http://www.rsi-relief.com/blog/archives/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-51 I like this keyboard, but on my first PC when I hit, say the search button, it would open Google in a new browser window whereas now it is overwriting my current browser window. I have tried using target="_blank" in the shortcut properties but can't get it to work for me - anybody know solution to this? I like this keyboard, but on my first PC when I hit, say the search button, it would open Google in a new browser window whereas now it is overwriting my current browser window. I have tried using target=”_blank” in the shortcut properties but can’t get it to work for me - anybody know solution to this?

]]> By: Kathryn Jang http://www.rsi-relief.com/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-52 Kathryn Jang Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:53:23 +0000 http://www.rsi-relief.com/blog/archives/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-52 I have just bought this keyboard - how do I get it installed to use with a Logitech mouse? I have just bought this keyboard - how do I get it installed to use with a Logitech mouse?

]]> By: Eddy Young http://www.rsi-relief.com/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-48 Eddy Young Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:19:48 +0000 http://www.rsi-relief.com/blog/archives/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-48 Hi-- I just bought one of these keyboards myself, and while I like the ergonomic shape, I am a bit disappointed with the build of the keys. They do not feel much different from the ones on the generic keyboards. The issue is particularly acute with the space-bar, which requires "re-training" the thumbs to extend a bit further and hit right in the centre for the key-press to register. Other than this, the keyboard is great. For once, I am finding the extra keys to be useful -- I have re-mapped one of the custom keys to open Windows Explorer and another to launch the command prompt. Regarding the zoom slider, you may already have figured out that it can be re-programmed by editing the configuration file manually, but just in case you have not, take a look in the "commands.xml" file. Good luck with your RSI! Eddy Hi–

I just bought one of these keyboards myself, and while I like the ergonomic shape, I am a bit disappointed with the build of the keys. They do not feel much different from the ones on the generic keyboards. The issue is particularly acute with the space-bar, which requires “re-training” the thumbs to extend a bit further and hit right in the centre for the key-press to register.

Other than this, the keyboard is great. For once, I am finding the extra keys to be useful — I have re-mapped one of the custom keys to open Windows Explorer and another to launch the command prompt.

Regarding the zoom slider, you may already have figured out that it can be re-programmed by editing the configuration file manually, but just in case you have not, take a look in the “commands.xml” file.

Good luck with your RSI!

Eddy

]]> By: Ilkka http://www.rsi-relief.com/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-46 Ilkka Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:40:34 +0000 http://www.rsi-relief.com/blog/archives/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-46 One exception to my previous comment: play/pause still doesn't work when iTunes is minimized... go figure. One exception to my previous comment: play/pause still doesn’t work when iTunes is minimized… go figure.

]]> By: Ilkka http://www.rsi-relief.com/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-45 Ilkka Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:38:24 +0000 http://www.rsi-relief.com/blog/archives/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-45 brad -- thanks, I was just cursing the lack of apparent support for other players. Works like a charm! Now the only problem is the stupid installer that won't let one install only the keyboard software but insists on istalling the mouse software also. Thankfully it can be uninstalled separately so that I get to use my Logitech Marble Mouse. brad — thanks, I was just cursing the lack of apparent support for other players. Works like a charm! Now the only problem is the stupid installer that won’t let one install only the keyboard software but insists on istalling the mouse software also. Thankfully it can be uninstalled separately so that I get to use my Logitech Marble Mouse.

]]> By: Kevin Renn http://www.rsi-relief.com/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-49 Kevin Renn Wed, 14 Mar 2007 23:59:42 +0000 http://www.rsi-relief.com/blog/archives/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-49 I also use the 4000 and Thunderbird as my browser. The zoom slider doesn't zoom but does scroll up and down like the mouse wheel which for me is probably more useful than the zoom feature. I still say this keyboard is one of the best I've used. If you hold down the CTRL key and roll your mouse wheel, your webpage will zoom in and out (just like the zoom slider does in Internet Explorer) so the missing zoom slider is not that big a deal. I also use the 4000 and Thunderbird as my browser. The zoom slider doesn’t zoom but does scroll up and down like the mouse wheel which for me is probably more useful than the zoom feature. I still say this keyboard is one of the best I’ve used. If you hold down the CTRL key and roll your mouse wheel, your webpage will zoom in and out (just like the zoom slider does in Internet Explorer) so the missing zoom slider is not that big a deal.

]]> By: brad http://www.rsi-relief.com/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-47 brad Sun, 04 Mar 2007 17:11:38 +0000 http://www.rsi-relief.com/blog/archives/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-47 Just go into Tools>Options>File Types in WMP and make sure it isn't set as the default audio player for CD Audio (I unchecked everything just to be safe). That will allow the play/pause button to work with whatever audio program you have open, and it will not launch WMP. Just go into Tools>Options>File Types in WMP and make sure it isn’t set as the default audio player for CD Audio (I unchecked everything just to be safe). That will allow the play/pause button to work with whatever audio program you have open, and it will not launch WMP.

]]> By: Computer Keyboard Reviewer http://www.rsi-relief.com/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-44 Computer Keyboard Reviewer Tue, 07 Nov 2006 04:03:50 +0000 http://www.rsi-relief.com/blog/archives/2006/08/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/#comment-44 Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 is by far the best computer keyboard that I would recommend to any serious "typist". I programmed a lot and this keyboard really makes a difference. Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 is by far the best computer keyboard that I would recommend to any serious “typist”. I programmed a lot and this keyboard really makes a difference.

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