Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000

Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000
Model no.	1482 (KU-1079)
Part number	X822091-004 (German); X823027-010 (UK)
Branding	Microsoft
Manufacturer	Microsoft
Features	Keyboard shortcut legends; Media keys
Layouts	ISO-derived, ANSI-derived
Keyswitches	Rubber dome over membrane
Interface	USB
Dimensions	470 × 155 × 34 mm
Weight	567 g
Price	ca. €15

Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 is a fixed-position ergonomic keyboard from Microsoft.

Description

Design

The Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 is curved both forwards and upwards in the centre of the alphanumeric cluster, described on the box as "Contour Curve Design". The keycaps are generally the standard size, and square or rectangular in shape rather than laterally tapered as with some Microsoft ergonomic keyboards. The box for the German version notes "Für eine optimale natürliche Handhaltung" ("For an optimal natural hand position"), given in English as "Your Wrists Will Thank You". The box also notes that the design is "Ergnomosist Approved" ("Von Ergonomiespezialisten empfohlen") by Dan Odell PhD CPE, Microsoft Design Ergonomist, together with his signature; this however is a conflict of interest as an independent third party was not selected to ratify the design.

Four media keys are placed above the numeric keypad: calculator, play/pause, volume down and volume up. There is no mute key. The indicator lights are moved down to the bottom right, in front of the numeric keypad.

The navigation cluster has only five keys, with the Delete key occupying two rows and displacing Insert. Insert is moved up to where Print Screen would normally be, and Print Screen occupies the position used for Pause/Break. The right Windows key is removed, and in place of the menu key is an Fn key. The menu key is found as Fn+right shift, and the Pause key (displaced by the relocated Print Screen) is Fn+Scroll lock.

Due to the curved shape, there is no space between the cursor keys and the adjacent keys on either side.

Some common keyboard shortcuts for Windows are provided using front printing. To save space, the Ctrl keys are also labelled with a symbol (resembling some sort of blend between a cog and a six-pointed star), and this symbol is used for the control-key shortcuts. Windows key shortcuts (E for Explorer, L for lock, D for desktop) are given with the Windows logo. The tab key is labelled as selecting windows with the Alt key, with the word "window" (or below, "Fenster") replaced with an icon.

Build

To ease reliable assembly, due to the curved shape, the individual keycaps have different mounts, so that each one only fits into the correct position on the keyboard. It's not clear whether every keycap has a separate mount, or whether some of the mounts are re-used.

With the LEDs and controller board at the front right, and the cable exiting at the back left, the cable is routed around the inside of the case.

The Korea Certification details on the label on the back name only Microsoft in China as the manufacturer, listing no other OEM. The UL File Number on the label is E145346, as found on seemingly all Microsoft peripherals (including those with "RT" model numbers made in Thailand that appear to be sourced from NMB), but this is not a known number.