Microsoft is a Natural Fit for Those with Carpal Pain (Kim Gentes / Worship Tech Blog)

Monday, February 14, 2011 at 12:43PM
Kim Gentes in Device, Hardware, Natural, carpal, keyboard, keyboards, kim gentes, microsoft, pain, support, technology, tunnel, typing, wrist

Several years ago, I began to have carpal tunnel symptoms from working hours on a keyboard. I went to a doctor and he looked at what I had and recommended I look at better workplace /desk/typing equipment. As a solution, I asked my company to change my old flat keyboard to something ergonomic. The solution that I found (and used for years afterwards) was the old Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro. It saved my wrists/hands literally from constantly daily pain. What really bothered me was not only the pain, but being a guitarist, my music was suffering from the incapicitation of some finger movements from the wrist pain. Let me tell you, once a problem hits a musician in their "music zone", it's serious! :) The Natural Pro literally saved my computer and music careers. I went on to years more of programming, and playing acoustic guitar. After almost 10 years of use, my Natural Pro keyboards (at work and home) both ground to a halt with billions of keys pushed :). 

When I started looking for a new keyboard, I looked at Logitech and MS to start. I kept seeing the New Microsoft Natural Ergo Keyboard 4000 being reviewed well, so I tried it out. I loved the improvement over the Natural Pro when it comes to button softness. Just softer and gentler on the finger tips, but still holding a good tactile feel so you know you've pushed the key. It is also considerably quieter than the old Natural Pro, as well. I was initially concerned with the lower placement of the wrist support, because I always liked the ability lift the wrist support higher to the point where it flattend my wrists out and took all the pain away. But when I "test" drove it, I found the new 4000 made my wrists totally happy. 

Today, I love the softer touch, and love the black finish on the keyboard. It doesn't have the considerable dirt/grime gathering properties that the Natural Pro had. In fact, the 4000 wrist support is a bit of a fabric feel, which really feels good. Once I got one for work, I ordered a second for home. For a computer geek and musician, this keyboard is great! 

 

Happy typing folks,

Kim Gentes

Article originally appeared on Kim Gentes - worship leader and writer (http://www.kimgentes.com/).