Customer Reviews

Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard (K50-00008)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First, the warning...

Don't buy this keyboard if your computer does not have PS/2 ports. If you try to use a USB adapter, you will quickly discover that all of the programmable keys will not work. This is a major limitation that has caused a lot of folks to return the otherwise good keyboard. Microsoft and it's vendors really should do a better job of making this issue crystal clear.

If you have a PS/2 PC, you will find that the programmable keys and the flexible f-key assignment feature is very handy. Note: If you want to change the default f-key behavior, there is a registry fix available. Do some searching in the newgroups. Otherwise, this is a handy multimedia keyboard with all the appropriate controls.

The keyboard is somewhat light, however the click of the keys is solid and on the quiet side. The cable is reasonably long and the palm rest is firmly attached to the keyboard. Once the keyboard is in place, it tends to stay put.

Also note: This keyboard...as are most extended feature keyboards, does not register correctly with most KVMs. Though generic functionality is available, some issues, such as no variable key repeat rate, will dissapoint. There are a couple of other related problems, but not of Microsoft's making.

I give this keyboard 4 stars on the basis that though Microsoft has produced a good keyboard for the price, it does not thoroughly warn customers that they will lose some functionality if they try to adapt this keyboard to a USB-only computer.

I purchased the K50-00001. The issues are the same, except #3 & 4 may have been fixed in the k50-00008 model. You may want to see the reviews for the k50-00001 also.

The keyboard is nice with very quiet buttons. It would have been an excellent keyboard except for a few design issues:

1. The "6" key is in the wrong place

2. The Delete, Insert, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down set of keys are in an non-standard layout. I end up accidentally pressing the wrong keys often.

3. The Function keys are not on by default.

4. You have to turn off the Function Keys to make the "Print Screen" key active. So when I want to do a screen-shot of a window, I have to first turn off the Function Keys and then do the Alt-PrintScreen key.

These design flaws are probably the reason the keyboard is on clearance for so cheap. Despite these issues, I think it was worth the money spent.

I ordered this keyboard because I wanted an ergonomic style with a split keyboard. I had been looking for a while, and found that this one (...) so I ordered one for home and had work order me another. I'm running Fedora Core 2 at home, so I had expected to have problems with a Microsoft keyboard. I plugged it in, and the keyboard worked great! The task buttons at the top don't work, but I wasn't interested in those, anyway. All of the keys that you normally see on a keyboard work as expected. The one at work works fine too, but I have that on a Win 2000 machine, so that is to be expected.

I, too must voice a complaint about the F Lock key. You have to toggle it to use the function keys or the task keys, and also to use the insert or print screen button. Since the task keys don't work (until I get my hands on a good key map program), the F Lock key has to be pressed in order to use the function keys. The F Lock defaults to off, so it has to be turned on each time the computer boots up in order to use the function keys. I plan on mapping the task keys to their respective function. (Yes, I have multiple boot ups, I'm using a laptop!) It's really no more inconvenient than using the number lock button, but that can be set in the BIOS.

I'm also slightly irritated by the 6 being on the left. It's really not that big of a deal, but I don't understand why they couldn't have made it big enough to go across so that it could be accessed by either hand.

The block of keys that holds the home, end, delete, insert, and page up and down buttons has been re-designed on this keyboard. After using it for a week, I have found that I actually prefer this new design. (That's right, I like something Microsoft did.) The insert key is well out of the way so you don't accidentally press it when going for the delete key, which has been made huge. The home and end buttons are on a horizontal plane, which makes sense since that's how they work in most text/word processing programs; the page up is above the page down, which also makes sense.

All in all, not a bad keyboard. A few slight irritations, (...) I feel like I got a great deal.

pros:

1. has some useful direct keys to start frequently used programs. I wish those keys were programmable, though.

2. I love the volume control on the key board

3. the sleep key is very useful, and I'm glad there's NO power off key so I don't have to worry that I might turn off the computer by accident.

cons:

1. weird "home, end, pageup, pagedown, delete" keys layout. need some time to get used to it, and then you need more time to get used to switching between this one and other keyboards in other places you work

2. key "6" is located for left hand, not right hand.

3. have to press F-lock to activate function keys. for programmers function keys are more useful than those email keys.

overall, it's a good one for general document processing, but not for programming.

I like this keyboard alot, i've been using it for a few months and I havn't had any problems so far. The F-Lock is a REAL annoyance though. I play online games and I like to take screenshots, sadly if I want to use the Print Screen key then I must turn F-Lock off, which means a whole lot of clicking the F-Lock on and off... You do get used to it though. They keyboard shortcuts are GREAT! I never used to use the Windows Calculator, I do all the time now because I can reach it with the click of a button.

Oh yeah, and you hands never get tired! I'm on the computer 3-5Hours a day, and I never end up with tired fingers!

Overall, I think this is a decent keyboard. The "natural" keys are positioned in a comfortable ergonomic location. There are many buttons that you can override with applications, or leave the default programs.

However, my main complaint is that the "6" key is on the wrong side of the ergonomic keyboard. It is on the left side. If you touch type, you may struggle with this like I do.

Another concern is that the "INS" key has been moved. This is also an adjustment for me. They have extended the "DEL" key to cover the "INS" position, and moved the "INS" function as part of "PRTSCRN" with the help of using an added key--function lock (or "F LOCK").

(...). I would still probably purchased it knowing the "6" key problem because of the low price. However, after seeing how much better I can type on an ergonomic keyboard, I plan to start looking for another keyboard that will have the "6" in the right place.

I only use Microsoft Natural keyboards. If you have wide sholders (I do) - it makes a huge difference when you type all day (like I do). The keys have a nice feel.

This keyboard was a bit awkward to use due to its shape and was very bulky. It was fine for a backup keyboard but is not something I would use daily due to the size of the keyboard.

Bad feel, function keys are off by default, hard plastic wrist wrest, and it has the microsoft name on it.

A couple years ago when I received a new computer at my place of work, it came with a new keyboard that was frankly junk. My manager wouldn't pay for a new keyboard, so I went out and bought this one. I'm pretty pleased with it.

Pros:

1. Keyboard is split and slightly curved, making touch-typing very comfortable.

2. Smaller Enter key moves Whack/Pipe key down from the top row, making the Backspace key larger. This means easy access to all three keys. I personally can't stand the L-shaped Enter key on some keyboards, which makes for a smaller and less accessible Backspace key.

3. The built-in shortcut keys for My Documents, My Pictures, Calculator, etc., are handy, and programmable.

Cons:

1. The layout of the Home, End, Page Up and Page Down keys is a bit unusual, and takes some getting used to. Once you get used to it it works pretty well. The Delete key is so big you can reach it with the pinky of your right hand.

2. Have to press F Lock to activate Function keys instead of using them with Office. Not a big deal.

3. Doesn't work right with USB. I managed to get mine working on a new computer with no PS/2 ports using a Tripp Lite KVM PS/2 to USB adapter, but the multimedia keys no longer work. I'm considering requesting a PS/2 card instead.

4. There's no separate Insert key. You have to use the Insert key on the number pad. I never used it much anyway, but some people might see this as a problem.

Overall I've been pleased with the keyboard. I do a lot of typing and can normally type pretty fast, and this keyboard makes both a lot more comfortable and a lot easier.