POLL: Do you like Natural or Normal style keyboards?

[Heifetz]

POLL TIME

I've been using a MS Natural for quite a while. Occasionally I use a normal keyboard while I'm away from my computer, or using a laptop. I find that I type much faster on a normal keyboard than the Natural. I type especially fast on the laptop keyboard. And when you think of it, it does make sense. Because on a natural keyboard, the distance between the keys are greater than on a normal keyboard, because it is curved. The laptop keyboard is smaller than even the normal keyboard, so it takes less time to reach each key from other keys. And even though the Natural is supposedly better for your wrist, I don't find that much discomfort using a normal keyboard, and the speed increase greatly outweights the ergonomic considerations.

Heifetz

 

[Siddhartha]

I got a natural keyboard about a year ago after I split some beer on my old one. For me it is slightly more comfortable to use.

 

[junthin]

Gotta have my Normal Keyboard...

Who needs those weird Natural Keyboards... :disgust:

I could never get used to the "ergonomic" keyboards, and besides I type a heck of a lot faster on my old trusty IBM keyboard. (10lb sucker... )

 

[GoldenGuppy]

Eh, whatever I'm stuck w/ for an extended period of time I will adapt to and learn to like. I hate it when I place my hand on the naturals... it just feels "different" to me, however, I know that if I were to try it for a week or so, I will have the mentality as to how I ever did w/o it... and when I go back to a normal keyboard, I would be like, "how the hell did I ever like this?"

Keyboards, mice, are all preference based hardware.. you'd like it based on experiences you have w/ it... and if you get used to something, you will automatically like it... not like it from the start persay, but you'll learn to live w/ it


)(GG)

 

[bacillus]

I like a Normal Keyboard!

 

[RichieZ]

normal keyboard, used it for like 3 yrs now. I type much slower on a normal keyboard now. L

 

[Asha'man]

I just love my natural keyboard, I type much faster on it too...

I'm actually getting kinda slow on normal keyboards

 

[Amused]

I'm a two finger typer (I never could learn to type with all my fingers), so natural keyboards are out of the question.

 

[GregMal]

I thought natural keyboards were normal keyboards......oh....you mean "split"
keyboards?  They suck.............
Greg

 

[Blayze]

been using a natural for a long time now, and I don't think I could go back to a normal style keyboard

 

[stingbandel]

I choose normal cause my notepad doesn't have the natural keyboard. Also I type much faster with normal rather than the natural one.





Darno

 

[lilnnjaboy]

I prefer a natural keyboard...works good for my Counter-Strike too =)

 

[Slapstick]

When I type all day a natural, hands don't get as tired. For gaming a normal, faster getting around the keyboard. I guess that's why I have a natural at work and a normal at home.

 

[Dan]

I have used Microsoft's ergonomic keyboards for 5+ years. They are my personal keyboard of choice.

 

[Jiggz]

I started off with a normal keyboard and then went on a Ergonomic Natural Style KB. I got tired of it, it stretches the fingers too far to reach the keys and made me sore on the fingers joints. So I went back to Normal KB. But then when I type on my laptop, I realized I can type faster coz I don't have to stretch my fingers as far to reach each keys. So I bought a semi-miniature kb for my desktop. It's about the size of a laptop kb except it have full size keys and the only section missing is the number pads. I like it alot and would not go back to normal or natural kb's. Of course, at work I still use the normal kb's and I hate them.

 

[veryape]

I ike the Natural but am kind of pissed because I just recently got proficient at typing on a standard keyboard and now have to get used to the key setup on the Natural.

 

[Goldfish]

I can use both very well. I have a natural keyboard at home, and all the computers at school have standard keyboards. I still prefer my natural keyboard.

 

[Ze]

I've been using the natural for two years now and i love it. With the normal keyboard, my hands started hurting after an hour's use, but with the natural i can type all day and not feel anything. I also found the natural forces you to learn to type correctly. WIth the normal, i was using some wrong fingers to type, but since the keyboard is split on the natural, i found i couldn't reach all the way across with the other hand when typing incorrectly.

i do lose about 10 words per minute on the natural, but 10 wpm is a small sacrifice compared to carpal tunal syndrome.

Natural all the way for me

 

[Salvador]

I hate the ergo keyboards, but love the keyboards like the Logitech's with the built in wrist wrest. I guess if I sat and typed all day, I could get used to the ergo keyboard and it would probably be better for me in the long run.

BTW.. I don't care for ergo mice much. I don't mind them, but I like to switch hands once in a while and it's tough with the right handed ergo mouse. Boy.. I feel bad for lefties because the best mice are right hand only.

Sal

 

[Daniel]

I greatly prefer the natural keyboards, took just a bit to get used to but I've been hooked for years.

 

[McCarthy]

Ha, get this - the ergo ones make my wrists hurt. No kidding. Been using "normals" forever, never had a problem until I used a natural and ended up getting into an arguement over it when I was told that's impossible and I had to be imagining it. Some friends are best lost.

Current, and hopefully for many years to come, keyboard, an old IBM model M, design dating back to 1984. Nary a stuck key or problem otherwise and my fingers love it.

Besides, I don't like the name 'natural'. What's natural about sitting around tapping a plastic slab all day? Oh, doesn't bend your wrists, but your wrists naturally bend so that's pretty much a dead line of thinking too

Voted

 

[TRUMPHENT]

I have the MSFT Natural at home and plain jane at work. I can use without adjustment now. When I first got MSFT Natural, it was alien. Now I can type with anything that has a QWERTY layout. The big split in the function keys is the biggest hurdle on getting the Natural.

 

[HansXP]

I prefer Natural keyboards, although I have no problem using normal ones...

 

[whitelight]

it took a little time adjusting to my natural, but now i can't go back!

 

[Popoco]

I use a Natural @ home,
and a normal @ work.

I prefer the Natural