Microsoft Natural keyboard

Categories: Computer keyboards

The Microsoft Natural Keyboard was introduced by Microsoft in 1995. The keyboard was a split keyboard with each half of the keyboard separated and tilted upwards and down from the center of the keyboard. This key arrangement was ergonomically designed to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries associated with typing for long periods of time. The keyboard also helps to ensure correct posture while sitting in at the computer.

Although it was not the first ergonomic keyboard, it was the first that was widely available and reasonably priced.

This keyboard has gained wide popularity. However, a common criticism is that the arrow keys of common inverted-T layout has been changed into a cross-like layout, with left/right arrows keys side by side and up/down keys bracketing them from above and below. It is said that this change makes the arrow keys hard to use.

In 1999, Microsoft introduced the Natural Keyboard Pro as an upgraded replacement for the original Natural Keyboard.


In 2004, Microsoft introduced Wireless Natural MultiMedia Keyboard, which introduced a row of customizable buttons above the function keys for launching applications or controlling play of music. A common criticism of this keyboard is the F Lock key located right beside F12, which toggles the functions keys from sending normal signals or common task signals such as Undo Redo, Open etc. It is not possible to disable this toggle through the bundled software. Another common criticism is that although the bunched arrow keys of previous generation has been fixed by returning to the standard inverted T layout, but the Home/End/Del/Ins/Page up/down set has been changed to 3x2 vertical layout, with ins keys removed and del key expanded.

In September 2005, Microsoft introduced the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. In this version, the home/end key location set has been fixed by returning to the standard 2x3 horizontal rectangular layout.

With most of Microsoft keyboards, a software (Microsoft IntelliType) is bundled for both Mac OS X and Windows, which allows users to customize the function keys and modifier keys fairly extensively.

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Reviews of the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000