How are the domes on the Microsoft Natural Keyboard?

ddrfraser1 · 23 Jul 2021, 00:08

Not a ton of info on these things around so was curious what people thought.

: 2D303881-CAA4-4F8F-98DB-ED49C9E69F6C.jpeg (464.18 KiB) Viewed 2290 times

Karmel · 23 Jul 2021, 00:33

I find those a lot at Goodwill but I've never actually bought one. It just feels like a regular rubber dome keyboard from what I can remember, nothing too special.

Findecanor · 23 Jul 2021, 00:51

The ones from the late '90s and early '00s had quite awful switches.
The MS 4000 was a bit better.
Of those I've tried, tenkeyless "Sculpt Ergonomic" with scissor switches felt the nicest.

I have yet to try the most recent ones: the "Surface" and the ridiculously named "Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard"

ddrfraser1 · 23 Jul 2021, 17:37

Sounds like it's a pass then. Too bad, they look pretty neat!

I'm looking for some good Ps/2 keyboards to go with some beige boxes I've got. Most of my boards are 5 din or USB oddly enough. My current favorite is my BTC 5130. I've never tried Scorpius domes so I may give one of them a try.

Yasu0 · 23 Jul 2021, 18:37

The newer sculpt scissors aren't bad. From what I remember of my 1st gen it wasn't too bad either. Its been a while so I can't say much on feel but I used to fly pretty fast on that thing.

The cool thing about the newer naturals is that there are several types.

davkol · 23 Jul 2021, 19:21

The early models were made by Key Tronic; their domes were quite stiff. The multimedia models I didn't like for their overall build quality or rather lack thereof. The Ergonomic 4000 model was infamous for having a terrible spacebar.

ddrfraser1 · 24 Jul 2021, 15:34

Ah interesting, so is it quite similar to the rubber dome model M?

wobbled · 25 Jul 2021, 00:38

These older Microsoft ergo keyboards didn't feel particularly special. As Findecanor pointed out, the Microsoft 4000 (and 7000 wireless model) felt much more refined in terms of their tactile feedback however the spacebars on those two models were extremely springy and loud, and the lower keyboard legs seemed to enjoy vanishing.
I ended up giving away my MS 7000 as there was a disabled kids dad who was desperately trying to find one as it was the only keyboard that didn't cause his son any sort of discomfort? I personally was driven insane by the layout, but to each their own.

ddrfraser1 · 25 Jul 2021, 03:10

Good info. Thanks