Microsoft Office Keyboard

OK, no discussions about whether Microsoft is a monopoly or not (they are), whether they stifle competition (they do) or whether they act in the best interest of the consumer (they don't). Based on the above sentence, you can imagine, how painful it is for me to give Microsoft a high rating and praise their innovation, but they truly deserve it with the Office Keyboard. It is appropriate that Microsoft is the most innovative in those markets in which they face heavy competition. They were the first company to come out with the optical mouse (although Logitech quickly one upped them with a wireless optical mouse), and the first to add new features to the boring old keyboard. The Office Keyboard won't be for everyone, and will be less useful if you don't use Microsoft Office. However, it has some great new features that will be useful to anyone, be it in the office or at home. The keyboard is organized into three sections: 1) a traditional keyboard layout in the center, function buttons across the top, and navigation buttons on the left. The main keyboard is the standard 101-key device with one noticeable change. The entire top row of keys has been remapped by Microsoft. This includes F1-F12, the ever popular Scroll Lock, and the Print Screen button. They concluded that no one ever uses the function keys that often, so replaced them with Microsoft Office functions. This makes a great deal of sense for F3-F12, which the average user has no use for, and Microsoft has wisely kept the F1 key as "Help", which leaves F2, in my opinion, as the big troublemaker. Frequent Excel users will have gotten used to using F2 for in cell editing, but now that key goes to the "Office Home" web page. However, most of the changes are refreshing, and for programmers (and Excel Macro wizards), the addition of "(", ")", and "=" above the Number pad is a welcome addition. The top of the keyboard includes some convenient shortcuts, the majority of which you most likely won't use, and are ready to be "remapped". Microsoft allows you to take most of the custom keys on the keyboard and set them to any application or one of many pre-defined functions. However, it is very nice to be able to open the Calculator, Explorer, and Outlook with a touch of a button. You can also control your computer's volume and enter "Suspend" mode from the same row of keys. The biggest improvement is that navigation area to the left of the main keyboard. Capitalizing on the scrolling mouse idea, Microsoft has added a scroll wheel about an inch in width to the direct left of the "Tab" key. This is a great way to scroll through a web page, and is much faster instead of using the mouse scroll button when you are typing. Additionally, the navigation area allows you to move backwards and forwards in web pages, switch between all open applications, and cut, copy, or paste a selection. All in all this is a terrific keyboard, much as it pains me to admit it. :) However, it is the perfect testimonial for Microsoft's lack of innovation; they are at their best when they face competition. The one weakness that I would give this keyboard, is the bias toward Microsoft functionality (surprise!). Do I really care about visiting the Office Home page? Probably not, so Microsoft does need to work on making the assignment of keys more customizable. If there was also a LCD display with the new function of a remapped key that would also be helpful, as visitors to your computer are going to wonder why F1 does open "Help" as it says on the key, if you remapped the button.

This is definetely THE BEST keyboard I've ever used. If you're a Microsoft user, this is the keyboard to go. Pro: 1) Convenient HotKey (eg. word, excelt, calculator), Application (Alt+Tab) key 2) It also have the wheel scroll thingy that you'd normally see in a mouse. 3) It is a quite keyboard. And I didn't expect for that. 4) It comes with UBS, you can use it for your gaming console. Con: I'm not so used to the fact that the "home", "end", "del", "page up" and "page down" key are not placed as usual keyboard. Other than that, there's no major problem. Bottomline...how better deal can you find for a keyboard?

When I first sat down with this keyboard I was in awe and not a little suprised to see so many buttons and the wheel. Now I have to say that it types very well, but to be honest the keys are just to small, and I have small hands. I think Microsoft or whoever they have contracted to build this spent to much time trying to figure out what else to add and not enough on trying to make it more comfortable.

This is my favorite key board...and becoming more difficult to find. Arrived on time, as described and I love it. Thanks :)

This is a good keyboard, but the disc that came with it was defective. I have this same keyboard at work. The seller has agreed to accept a return though!