The Microsoft Internet Keyboard: Another Answer to One of My Prayers for Peace

Author's Rating:

Pros: Soft touch of the keys, hot keys, control key functions

Cons: not USB compatible

The Bottom Line: 
The Microsoft Internet Keyboard is incredibly comfortable to type on as I am on the computer all day long. It is a great buy and one I highly recommend.

Author's Review
I think it was a few days ago that I had mentioned about my printer going on the blink on me. Well since we had an extended warranty with Staples, we were refunded the money through a card that allowed us to purchase another printer or any other item in the Staples store. Since my fiancé will be starting at CompUSA in a week, we decided to wait on the printer since he would be able to get one at wholesale value. It also would probably be nicer than the cheapest one we could afford on that Staples Card. So instead, we walked around Staples today to see what we could find to spend with that card.

I am one for bargains and whenever I see a “Clearance Bin” anywhere I always check it out. Some of my nicest items in my house are from those “Clearance Bins.” So when one caught my eye in Staples I was all over to it immediately. There it was and sitting right on top of everything in open view. It was the Microsoft Internet Keyboard newest edition I believe to the Internet Keyboards that Microsoft has turned out over the years. I touched the keys and looked it over and threw it into our cart. It was only $15.00 for an out of the box purchase which was normally $24.95. It couldn’t get any better than that???

I brought our new stuff home excited that #1) I had once again been able to get out of the house due to my agoraphobia and #2) I had office Supplies and #3) I had a brand new keyboard to try out. It was an orgasmic experience for me being the Office Supply Fanatic that I am and just the fact that I have been getting out of the house more made me tingly all over. It was awesome.

I immediately threw my older version of the Microsoft Internet Keyboard aside and began to put the new one on its’ proper shelf at my desk. I was so excited. See, for the past month ever since I started with Epinions, I have been writing like a lunatic but especially at night. My better half has to be at work at 5:30am and he would be forced to wear a walkman to bed so he could fall asleep due to my hard typing. With this new keyboard, that problem had been eliminated!

The Microsoft Internet Keyboard has a soft touch to their keys even for a hard typer like myself who can at times slam down on the keys unconsciously.

It also has a detachable palm rest which I find most comfortable when I type. I got used to having a gel pad at my old job and have got quite used to my wrists and hands being comfortable when typing. This had also been done away with the comfortable palm rest that Microsoft had installed. If someone did not want it though, it can be taken off very quickly and simply.

There are “Buttons” at the top of the keyboard and they are as follows:
1) Back
2) Forward
3) Stop
4) Mail
5) Search
6) Favorites
7) Web/Home
These “Buttons” (there is probably some computer name for them that I do not know) are used to navigate through the internet easily and simply. You can hit the mail button and your, in my case AOL, internet browser will load and connect to your mail. If you hit the “Favorites Button” your favorite folder will open up on the internet and you can click on where you would like to go next. I am sure that you are getting the idea of this by now.

Near the 10-key touch there are 3 “Buttons” above that which are as follows:
1) My Computer
2) Calculator
3) Sleep
The “My Computer” brings up what your “My Computer Logo” would on your desktop. A “Calculator” is at your fingertip and you can put your computer to “Sleep” at any time you would like. I just realized that I believe all these “Buttons” are called “Hot Keys” so maybe I am more knowledgeable than I thought I was.

The Control Key Shortcut is still available and the letters (“C” or “V”) are tagged with “cut, paste, copy, bold, etc.,” on the keyboard making it easier to find each one should you forget.

There is a three year warranty that comes with the Microsoft Internet Keyboard should anything go wrong for you.

You can contact Microsoft through their website at :
www.microsoft.com

There is also a “Download Center” at www.microsoft.com if you should need the software “IntelliType Pro” that happens to go along with the Microsoft Internet Keyboard. We already had it installed from our former Microsoft Internet Keyboard and the disc wasn’t needed. I would think if you buy the Microsoft Internet Keyboard in the box, the software for the keyboard automatically comes with it. I was just letting you know should you happen to fall into the same situation as me at the “Clearance Bin” where the software was not available.

The System requirements for the Microsoft Internet Keyboard are as follows:

*PC with Pentium 133 MHz or higher
*32 mb of RAM on the Windows 98 or Millenium Edition
*64 mb of RAM on the Windows 2000 Professional, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation or Server with Service Pack 6 or better
*Hard disk space of 35 mb available on your hard disk
*Operating system of Windows 98, Millenium Edition, 2000 Professional (Windows NT 4.0 Workstation or Server Pack 6 or later), Windows XP, Windows XP Professional
The Microsoft Internet Keyboard only supports PS/2 Port and no USB

Overall I am very pleased with this new addition, The Microsoft Internet Keyboard, to my computer station. I have really enjoyed the way the keys feel, as they are still the same size as the former model yet just a softer touch to them. I have yet to really get a good look at the “Hot Key Buttons” but have tried each to make sure they at least work. I will probably have that up and in my memory in less than a week for as much internet time as I use. The detachable palm rest is very comfortable for my hand and is a light charcoal gray like its matching “Hot Key Buttons” while the keyboard itself is off white. I think the best part about this whole deal is that I only paid $15.00 for it and my other half can finally fall asleep without the bother of my typing out another Epinions Review!

Until next time,
K Parsons
© 2003


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