Okay, okay, sorry for the sensationalist headline. But I really bought a Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000. My wrist is starting to hurt, so decided to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome before it is too late.

But why Microsoft?

Well, from my head-spinning survey of the keyboards in Sim LIm Square, there are only 4 types of ergonomic keyboards available.

• A standard keyboard labelled "Ergonomic" (Yes, there's really one sold this way)
• A4 Tech Anti-RSI A-Shaped keyboards
• Microsoft Comfort Curve keyboard
• Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard

Of course, the first one is out.

I tried one of the A-Shaped keyboards, and it felt weird. Now, I can touch-type, so the key positioning does not feel out of place. However, the A-Shape doesn't feel ergonomic. My wrists were still skewed, though not as much as before.

That left the Microsoft keyboards. The Natural Ergonomic keyboard costs a hefty $80 dollars!! Typical Microsoft over-pricing, I guess. So that leaves the more affordable Comfort Curve keyboard selling at $28.

Review of the keyboard

The Comfort Curve keyboard basically elongates the middle keys and spreads the keyboard over a curve. This allows a touch-typist (both systematic and non-systematic typists) to keep his/her wrists straight, while allowing two-finger peckers to peck away as usual. Isn't that great? Compare this with the A-Shape keyboard or the Natural Ergonomic keyboard.

A soft tactile keyboard, the keys feel responsive, and they are relatively quiet. Just the kind of keyboard I like. Think I will get another, one for use at home, the other in the linuxNUS clubroom.

The packaging is not environmentally friendly though. The keyboard is packed in 1) a plastic bag, 2) a carton box, 3) a box sleeve. Is there a need to use so much material just for the packaging?!?

Oh yes, not to mention the two product manuals, which states (among other irrelevant things like optical laser precautions (!?!), battery powered precautions (?!?), etc) the keyboard can lead to "serious injuries or disorders". IT also warns one not to "ignore these warning signs", "promptly see a qualified health professional" for these "musculoskeletal disorders". All in good sense, but isn't that why one is buying this keyboard in the first place?!?!

Okay, the other product manual is more applicable, showing how one plugs in the keyboard to a USB port.

Typical of a Microsoft product, the packaging states that:

• it is designed for Windows Vista.
• It supports Vista, XP, Windwos 2000, Mac OS v10.1.5-10.3 (Goosh, there's a difference!? I don't see the Mac key though)
• it needs a minimum requirement of 233MHz processor and 128MB RAM. (Wow!! Even a keyboard requires so much resources?!?!)
• USB port

I guess this means people who are using Windows 9x, Linux, Unix, BSD, Mac Tiger (10.4) should change their operating systems. Or the use of the keyboard on these systems invalidates the warranty? Sheesh...

Altogether, the keyboard is great, but the marketing leaves much to be desired. Sigh.

Some thoughts

As an open source advocate, it's very tempting to paint all and any Microsoft product as "evil", "monopolistic" or "over-priced". However, doing so puts us at the same level as them. Being responsible (and successful) advocates, we have to be very clear on the good and the bad of both camps, and recommend F/OSS when it makes sense to do so. Pushing F/OSS and Linux when it is clearly not suitable just sets up the case for failure, which would not help our cause.

At least, in this case, the Microsoft keyboards are clearly better choices, so why insist on the other products? That's what market competition is all about, isn't it?