The keys often failed intermittantly and sometimes wouldn't work at all for stretches of time.

There is no function key -- instead there is a function switch -- you toggle the switch to activate 'function' mode, then press the appropriate function key, which are all tied to the F keys

is that the detached 10-key is clunky

I love this keyboard for: shallow and quiet keys, good key layout, wireless connectivity, long battery life (when the keys are not sticking)

The keys are very soft and each keypressing is very gentle and precise at the same time

The keys are fantastic, the design is good and the detachable keypad is useful

Instead they put worthless keys (like a context menu button)

Things that still can be awkward is hitting the wrong modifier keys, such as caps lock instead of shift, where the profile of the keyboard dips lower below the plane of the other keys where they are not where you'd expect them, which is why I will frequently hit the key above, since it's like the key I was wanting to hit ducked down and hid below lower than where I intuitively expected it to be

The one at work is sued more often, and it's showing signs of wear, but it still functions well (keys are a little slippery at this point, but I don't know of any keyboard that holds up perfectly this way)

I can't figure out how to remove the keys (didn't come with a key puller) and I am afraid t break a key permanently if I force the issue.

Second, the extremely low profile of the keypad as well as the keys makes the 0 key, for me, difficult to hit.

, I would have preferred a modifier key the enable the blue utility, similar to how it is done on OSX keyboards

The keys are quiet (especially compared to the Natural Ergonomic 3000), everything feels normal.

It also has "sticky" keys.

The split in the middle meant I was always mistyping those keys -- like the "y" and the "t" And worse than that, it seems to have triggered an error message on my computer

I think mine was so old that the keys were becoming hard to press, and it was becoming painful to hit them hard every time

Silent is good, but mushy is not, and the keys on this feel mushy to me

On month number 4. Had to return the first one due to an issue with dead keys, but the second round has gone well.

I also miss the shortcut keys that the 4000 had.

It is so natural and comfortable that in future the position of the right Alt key becomes an important factor to filter keyboards.

My right hand especially is forever striking all the wrong keys

The separate 10-key is a little difficult to get used

Love the wireless feature and the separate 10-key as well

Very annoying since I have been using those hot-keys for years.

Good key feel even discounting the scissor switches

The extreme right layout is poorly designed (Backspace/Delete, Page up/down), so you will keep hitting the wrong key and constantly having to look down as you type.2

I particularly love the quiet keys and how small the keys are (height wise).

Uses cheap keys for the top row - not sure

Always miss the first key like many other reviews.

I had no squeaky keys in my keyboard

Also I like that the keys on this are more like a laptop keyboard in look and feel.

The shift and control keys on this keyboard are setup in a little different positioning than my old keyboard, and the control key on this one is quite large (square as opposed to rectangular on my old keyboard).

* Solid, fast response, quiet keys.

But the keys are responsive, and I like the clicks made when depressing them

Otherwise, the keys are quiet, the keyboard is light

All other key are reasonable.

No significant difference — the key

I quickly get used to the fact that the F keys are split like the actual number keys – between 6 and 7 – instead of between 5 and 6

The keys are a very soft touch so my hands don’t hurt after 8 hours of keyboarding.

The keys are nice and quiet, so my clicketty click isn't disturbing the my coworkers in this rabbit warren of an office.

There are a total of 6 keys that can be changed, and almost all of them just disable the key not actually change its function.

The split keyboard design takes a week to get used to it (during which I was often hitting the wrong keys), so don't get discouraged on that account

I find myself smacking the wrong keys because they aren't where I think they should be

Additionally, it is often a little "glitchy" -- you have to be sure to press each key fully for it to work.

The keys are a little stiff at first but they eventually wear in and have great feedback and travel.

My muscle memory is based on the Microsoft Natural Keyboard and I kept hitting the wrong keys.

The keys are smooth and there's no noise while typing

It also helps me write in the right way, each hand for their own set of keys and no mixing them as you have a space in the middle that prevents you from using the wrong finger for the wrong key

It's literally almost twice as loud as the other keys.

I also love the chiclet keys, it's more responsive.

For those who are office users, the keys are pretty silent - honestly the only key that I hear is the space bar

I love the tactile click of the chiclet style keys - very reminiscent of typing on an Apple

Awkward key placement on some of the bottom right keys but got used to itMouse - very subjective, but this is my favorite mouse

I wish they would make other improvements like the Truly Ergonomic Keyboard, such as laying keys out in a straight line up and down the columns

I don't miss the taller, more clicky keys of the Ergo KB 4000.

A couple months later, and the new one has a bad key as well

A simple keyboard without all the frippery, that centers on the screen, that has the "natural" ergonomic shape without being the size of a bus, that has large backspace and delete keys, that has a mobile number pad to clear space for the mouse, that has excellent tactile keys allowing my big fingers to type without so many errors, that is well-priced, that works out of the box flawlessly, and has an innovative battery compartment cover that simple adheres magnetically.

The first one had a defective U key that feels like something is stuck under it.

Great keyboard, very stylish... the only issue is the "function key"... which is not a key but a switch, very annoying

It is also the only one I can find with the low profile keys like you find on a laptop (I don't like the big clunky keys), in any price range.

After some time, it became un-usuably slow and unreliable (keys I hit didn't have any effect often)

Nice to have: Backlit keys

I know a lot of people love media keys, but I loathe them

every single one lasted 3 to 4 months and then keys would quit working, receiver would die or the mechanics would wear out

In a shared office environment - quiet keys are critical.

In addition 3 or 4 programmable keys between the two halves where the opening is would be wonderful.

Nice, definitely beats a $10 keyboard but mechanical keys would have been better.+ The delete and insert key switched places; the insert is now below the delete button

I love the quiet keys and the new compact smaller design.

I'm a programmer, but I favor low-travel keys because I don't like pounding on a keyboard for 10 hours straight

Lately the enter key doesn't always work.

(the most annnoying feature is that you lose the + key in some applications, if they do not recognize the use of the SHIFT key to make the = key become the + key.

The keys themselves are flexible and quick.

Love the layout and the keys are much better than my old Natural 4000.

The lack of Mac friendly keys--which, really, I don't understand

The keys were comfortable, and the magnetic negative-tilt attachment was great, but the wireless interface was unacceptable

Very loud keys for office use.

the split feels good, the keys are comfortable and reliable, they aren't loud, so people can't hear you clicking away on a call

It's very comfortable to type on, and keys are very responsive, with just the right amount of clicky-ness to them.

The keys are fairly quiet, especially compared to some other keyboards I've tried (I've returned keyboards for being too loud)

When typing there's a small bit of vibration from the keyboard bouncing when I strike the keys

The function toggle switch is annoying, would've prefered an FN key as well

The keys are pretty quiet

Not only is that keyboard cheaper, the keys are properly responsive.

I do find myself missing the separate Function and media keys

For those that may think that having to constantly reach for it may be a problem, for those instances where you need to input a few numbers, there is a row of number keys across the top of the keyboard

The keys are fine and the mouse is fine but I will be getting something else.

The keys and wrist pad are very comfortable.

I found ALL the prior ergonomic Natural keyboard replacements from MS (from the Natural Elite to the 4000, 5000 and 6000) to have far too many flaws (from useless Internet keys, media keys, non-split keyboard ergonomics and excessive desk foot print) for my taste

Some keys just don't even work anymore

Only negative to the keyboard is the size of the "F" keys and escape key (all the keys on the top of the keyboard).

The keys are quieter than my old Microsoft Natural, with less travel (how far down you have to push to get a key to 'fire'), and even though there is less travel, the shock absorption at the end is quite good--better than my old Microsoft Natural.

The number 5 and number 6 keys didn't work on the second one I received.

Sticky keys

In addition, on my sample the "N" key didn't always work.

The 10-key died in my bag, new batteries and it was fine but makes me not want to carry it with me.

the keys are very smooth and it's relatively quiet.

It misses key especially the space bar

The keys are quiet and actuate consistency with a nice amount of resistance

I would recommend the Perixx over this in most respects (price, keys, function keys that work!), but it fails by having a horrible cursor cluster

I really like the small footprint and the QUIET keys

After 5 months of using this keyboard, the keys on the left side aren't working.

While I wish Microsoft had opted to go with mechanical switches for their keys, the scissor switch keys a great improvement over the squishy plain rubber dome keys of the old Natural 4000 keyboard

The keys are very responsive to such a light touch - I have been looking a keyboard with this kind of feel for 23 years!!

Very disappointed because I cannot find another keyboard with this similar layout with good keys.

Smooth and quiet keys

The wrist rests are well placed and the keys are easy to reach.

I don't know what it is about a detachable 10 key, but she was all over it like a fat kid on cake.

Now, just 6 short months after purchasing for $80 plus dollars, the 10-key has stopped working

the keys are smooth as eggs :p and is not as bulky as the previous generation

I have remapped the right Alt key to Control and use my right thumb to hit it.

I would strongly recommend against this keyboard for sys admin type work, or basically any work that a stuck key or a missed key could cause significant problems.

I would recommend the Perixx over this in most respects (price, keys, function keys that work!), but it fails by having a horrible cursor cluster

However, it is a shame that the escape button (it is not really a key per say) is so flimsy and the receiver can't be replaced if lost.

Furthermore the keyboard has sticky keys some of which get stuck regularly.

I still miss these keys from time to time and I've been using this keyboard for several weeks now

They don't ruin the arrow keys to get the compact layout

I also like the separate 10-key which enabled me to position it wherever I wanted.

The keys are nice, it is a solid build and it looks good

The keys are more like laptop keys - the travel distance is short, which makes it quick to type

Didn't think I was going to like the chicklet style keys because I type

The keys use scissor switches, which have much better action than the mushy Ergo 4000 keys

I tried to fix them and in the process broke the key.

The first one I purchased had a couple of keys go bad within a year, and the second one has a bad key from the get-go

The keys are much easier to press so they don't tire out my fingers as much, and having separate space bars for each thumb is an improvement over the 4000.

Unfortunately, the top-row function keys aren't keys at all: they're buttons.

Like others have said, the top row (esc + f keys) aren't great, but otherwise the keyboard is ok.

The keys are soft and fairly quiet

The chiclet keys are alright, but I much prefer regular keys.

Initial thoughts:- Love how quiet the keys are

Your fingers strike certain keys at an angle and you don't want them to slide even the smallest amount

I love the soft keys as well

The writing on the keys is reflective, and will likely wear of fast, the non-main keys are bad, the layout on the right side a bit weird, would have preferred a tiny gap between the main keyboard and the additional keys to the side (delete, insert and so on).I don't use the number

I spent an hour trying to find a way to disable this useless key through terminal commands or 3rd party utilities but was

Then I switched back to the MacBook Pro keyboard....and I started hitting the wrong keys

You would had guess that a 70 dollars keyboard wouldn't have this(i have a 5 dollar keyboard with no sticky key

The keys are fine and I have no problem using the small Fn keys

In a shared office environment - quiet keys are critical.

The keys are quite, shallow and responsive, it is reminiscent of a Lenovo laptop keyboard.

I would prefer the home key in the center of the cross formed by the arrow keys

These keys would be fine if they were consistent in pressure and feel to the rest of the keyboard

Since it is not always in the same place relative to the keyboard, it's hard to strike keys without looking to make sure your fingers are lined up.

I had never used an ergonomic keyboard so for the first couple of days I've been struggling to find the layout and my biggest error is hitting the 'B' key

The keys are smooth, the typing volume is much lower, and i feel there is much less stress on my wrists now.

The keys are quiet (don't think quiet means "silent" -- but they are quiet) and the detachable number pad -- something I didn't care for when I looked at it -- is really nice

Now that I have used a third keyboard like this, I have observed one major thing: all of them have consistently sticky F-keys (they stay pressed because half the button gets stuck in the pressed position).

I wasn't sure about the separate number pad, or that I'd even use it since my fingers are long enough to easily use the number keys along the top of the keyboard

I read in some review that the keys were quiet - they are certainly not

A couple months later, and the new one has a bad key as well

It will not handle the hot-keys like ctrl-alt-insert/end properly.

The best non-mechanical keys Ive ever used.

Quiet keys, aren't "clackity" like a lot of keyboardsCons:- Function key has to be toggled on and off using a switch in an inconvenient location.

I especially like the detachable ten-key that lets me bring my mouse hand in closer

The keys are soft and allow you to type fast and relaxed.

so you wouldn't accidently press them, although I do not use the number keys on the main keyboard frequently, and instead use the number pad

It has huge modifier keys that can be easily reached, especially the right Alt key.

* the keys are chiclet keys, like a

I love that the number keys can be positioned in any position on the desk or stored away if you don't need it

My only complaint is that certain keys have a slight squeak to them

, I like the chiclet style keys, it really worked for

I would rather they left in the right Windows key, as I can't lock the workstation with one hand any longer

I was a little hesitant on this because a: it cost twice as much as I've paid for my other keyboards and b: the average review score was under 4 stars (just barely).But looking through the different ergonomic keyboards, this was about the only one that didn't have an attached keypad and didn't have giant, noisy keys

I quickly get used to the fact that the F keys are split like the actual number keys – between 6 and 7 – instead of between 5 and 6

There really should be a B on both sides, as people like me normally strike that key with the right hand rather than the left

The extra 10 key on the side is great and ideal really

Never thought I would say this, but actually prefer the keys on this keyboard over Apple keyboards.

The keys are very soft and I feel they have the right depth when you press them

The basic functionality of typing will work in OS X, but the only Function keys that work are the volume keys.

I expect to retrain my muscle memory to use these keys without looking down at the keyboard.- I wish that the up/dn/left/right cursor keys had a raised bump to find them more easily without looking at the keyboard.- I wish there was a wired version to plug into my KVM switch.- Right rear rubber foot is 1/8" shorter than the left foot, causing the keyboard not to sit flat

Can't clean it because you will break the keys.

It misses keys on a fairly frequent basis.

It is comfortable and the detached number key pad is nice since I am not an accountant.

I leave the number key off to the side for deskspace, pull it out only when needed.

In summary, aside from the really bad function keys and the floating number pad, this keyboard is pretty darn good.

Because of that, it gets a sad 3 stars, but because of my limitations on price and because I like the low profile keys, I may end up buying the same one and hoping for the best...

It's really comfortable, the keys are nice to press but silent at the same time

Some keys are in different locations, but pretty easy to get used to

Just hope that the battery for the number keys can be a AAA.

A real shame, its a good looking piece of hardware, with nice key

I frequently need to key in values by touch, and I really like that I can just put the 10-key wherever I like (though currently it's sitting where it would be with a normal keyboard - just off to the right)

I already swapped the alt and command/Win keys in keyboard settings

Excellent buttons key feel for a membrane/scissor keyboard.

I like the separate 10 key.

The keys are wonderful to type on and the wrist rest feels amazing

When it flashed, mashing the ALT key would sometimes stop it and clear it from the screen

I actually like the 10 key being removed it allows my mouse to be much closer and therefore more economical--that is until I need

one major and a few minor flawsKeyboard - love the key

If you are a Natural Keyboard user, you won't have much trouble hitting the right keys on the Sculpt keyboard

Love this key

I hate the switch key, but fortunately I never use it - would I use those keys more if not for the switch?

I also noticed the keys feel a bit strange when typing

The top right switch for moving the top row keys from Function keys to laptop style option keys is a nice touch, and keeps the keyboard, with its necessary wrist rest, more compact in depth.- Though the space bar arrangement (and the N key for that matter) are different you still get used to them within a few minutes (however, I wish the standard sized location dimple on the F and J keys was a little bit taller JUST for this keyboard

The only downfall is having a detached 10 key

Second, the extremely low profile of the keypad as well as the keys makes the 0 key, for me, difficult to hit.

At least 2 of the keys don't even work properly - the down arrow key and Esp key are sticky.

This keyboard does NOT have mechanical keys, however it does have the fairly responsive keys like the Lenovo thinkpads

very fast - probably the worst part of it is when you use a flat keyboard you may occasionally hit the wrong key.

It's a bit hard to explain and you'd have to try it yourself, but their flatter and don't depress as much as most keys when you're

The Delete key is nice and big, but I'm still not used to its location

It can be a huge problem if you use that key a lot, like with vi or something

The 'Y' key is not as responsive on my unit as the rest of keys, so I have to hit it a bit harder than the rest.

Great keyboard -- keys are very satisfying to press and quite conformate to rest

The F keys are smaller and while some people complained about that I have no issues with them

I love this keyboard for: shallow and quiet keys, good key layout, wireless connectivity, long battery life (when the keys are not sticking)

It is aesthetically pleasing and the keys are nice and responsive

I was disappointed to discover that the keys are flat like the ones on a laptop, with no "push" to them

Unlike the other keys, the F keys are more like buttons - lower and more flush, with none of the satisfying "click" that that rest of the keys give you and none of the depression that really makes you feel like you successfully carried out a keystroke

After switching over from older microsoft ergonomics keyboards, this one has nice keys, but the spacing takes a bit to get used to - especially the right hand (backspace and enter).

Having the detached 10-key is nice too

I like the flatter keys and that the space bar is split, too, so that there isn't a see-saw effect when one thumb or the other clicks on it, as was the case with the former model

I can't recommend it enough if you like the layout of the 4000 but hate the keys

The opening between the split keys is ridiculous

It is sleek looking and comfortable to use, I also like the keys and how they "click"

good handposition, minimal key

The detachable ten key is different but nothing you cannot get used to.

but I love how quiet the keys are compared to the previous generation (the 4000

I am a heavy Vim user and am smashing the ESC key constantly to switch out of insert mode

The regular keys don't seem to have much shape or play to them, and lack a distinctive feel

Works with OS X, but not with the "blue" functions, just as "Fn" keys, everything else works OK, and in OS X you can invert the ALT and WIN keys for this particular keyboard (without affecting your MacBook keyboard) so they would match the OPTION and COMMAND positions

The function keys don't depress in the same manner as the other keys, which I don't like.

I've got them all re-mapped to useful keys.

I have small hands and tend to like lower keys on my keyboards

I love the short key travel, and my co workers love the very quiet keys, as I'm pretty heavy on the keyboard (I learned to type on a typewriter).The magnetic stand is awesome

The top row keys don't click well like the others do

That was years ago and still today we find that we have a keyboard that has a slide switch to enable the function or not to function the top row keys.

I've moved the wifi dongle as close to the keyboard as I can get it, and it still misses keys.

Even though I enjoy mechanical keyboards, I selected this keyboard because of its quiet keys and stylish look

The bad: occasional keypress issues (may be related to a week receiver as others have noted), tough to clean, keys are too soft, fn keys are different from other keys, not too durable (six months in and keys in one are appear to be shorting out)Bottom line: can't say that it's a great keyboard, but there aren't any other decent basic, compact ergo keyboards out there.

Only one Delete key on the main board is sometimes bothersome, as I don't even use the side unit.

The keys don't go all the way down like normal keyboards

The absolute loudest key on this Microsoft Keyboard is the space-bar.

If you have a laptop computer with Win 8, I would suggest hitting the keys and seeing what they do, I love the F10, which gives you a 3-dimensional view of your open applications

This thing is plagued by stuck and unresponsive keys

The keys are responsive and quiet

I remember reading a review by someone else that said they have issues with the right space key, too.

I love the escape and F keys at the top and the difference in the feel between them and the normal use keys.

There are a few keys from the old keyboard that I miss, but it hasn't greatly slowed my productivity

separate ten key was a problem because when you used the stand to give you the reverse angle on the keyboard the ten key was at a different angle

I loathe the CapsLock key

I went looking for its replacement wanting quieter keys, wireless, and an updated

I like the raised sections on the F and J keys, but wish they were larger

It is comfortable, appropriately angled, and keys are easy to press

The top function keys are AWFUL

I quite like the fact that the keys are shallow like a laptop. Feels very similar to me to a mac keyboard (which, for me is a good thing).

While I do still have to adjust to the keys being a bit more sensitive when typing since they're flatter and not raised like most keys, the board itself seems to be working out.

This keyboard, aside from the awkwardness of the "b" key for anyone who is used to hitting it with their right hand, saved me a lot of strain on my wrists and shoulder, and the keys are just as comfortable as the mechanical ones to me

I like the tic-tac keys on the mac keyboards, and was worried I wouldn't like the feel of the keys on the Sculpt

The top row keys (even on the number pad) are NOT the same as the main keys

Some keys simply stopped working after a few months

First impressions: With the MS-Sculpt I started hitting the wrong keys

The keys are not very responsive, so they require a pretty firm press, but there isn't that much key travel

The keys on this keyboard are perfect - just so high so you can feel the difference between the keys, but not so high that you strain your fingers just trying to use the thing

One small gripe is that some of the keys on either end are closer together than normal, causing me to fat finger the wrong keys frequently.

I know it's just me hitting the wrong key as it happens less and less the

The keys are more like modern laptop keys, they have very little travel and they are harder to hit than the ones in the natural ergonomic keyboard.3

The detached number pad makes the main keyboard compact and also makes for easy keying.

The keys are easy to press with quiet keystrokes that are highly responsive

i like it better than the regular microsoft ergo boards for feel, but, as noted, there's a learning curve and you lose some duplicated keys and + can be dicey in some software.

Microsoft discontinued that model and replaced it with another corded keyboard, the Natural 4000--a keyboard that had a fake leather wrist rest, loads of useless "toy" keys, and an even LARGER footprint than the Natural Elite--the Natural 4000 is a keyboard that's so large that it's literally impossible for me to fit it on my desk

Far as the 10-key, it is separate and once you get used to using it and where it is, it works out great.

The keys are very snappy, they feel great and the function buttons are a good use of the F keys with just a flip of the switch

The keys are very responsive still, I got used to not having a caps lock indicator

Also, while I still prefer the tactile keys like those of the IBM keyboards or the contemporary Cherry MX keys, the keys on this keyboard are still much better than the squishy keys of most other keyboards including Microsoft's older keyboards.

The keys are still very responsive

The F-keys are tiny and hard to find, and I miss having PAGE UP and

The keys are quiet, and it’s lightweight and responsive

10+ keys on the keyboard did not work

The keys are much quieter when I type and you can't hear the loud clicking, which was annoying

It’s what I needed, i don’t like that the number keys are alone

Pros:+ Chiclet keys are quiet and comfortable to type on+ Separated numpad with its own backspace key makes for easy 10-key

The little 10 key is pretty sweet too

I like the flatter keys and that the space bar is split, too, so that there isn't a see-saw effect when one thumb or the other clicks on it, as was the case with the former model

Overall it feels great and is at least as comfortable as my previous favorites (see below).The keys are short throw, fast, and quiet, like a good laptop keyboard, but a little noisier

The keys are also more shallow n this KB than in my old 4000

It also has a split spacebar key (finally) unlike the poorly made extra wide spacebar on the MS4000 model

I bought this 2 times and both times the keys just stop working all of a sudden

It seemed to be universal to any key I pressed for longer than a few seconds (like holding down a key to fire a gun or hold push-to-talk).

I love the low profile keys and not having an extra wire on my desk

I only like the slim light touch keys and this was about the only ergonomic keyboard that had them

don't like the fact that the Alt key is moved over about 1" to the left, and I wish the 6 key was still accessible to the right index finger, but I think it will work out ok

The ten key is awesome also

Since I only use F-keys as F-keys needing to switch them on or off does not bother me

My one complaint is the F keys

The first started getting dead keys after a while (a known problem) and while it's expensive, there's really nothing else that is nearly as good.

So, what you'll find is the top row keys will alternate from your common music volume control keys to F1, F2, etc.

This might not be an issue for you, but if you end up in a dark-ish kind of room, you might have a difficult time finding an obscure key