Rating: 
Summary: Logitech vs Microsoft
Review: I¡¯ve purchased many of the Logitech natural wireless keyboards and one of the Microsoft version (I leave a keyboard in each country I work). Microsoft keyboard (without ¡®programming¡¯) seems to work better with my software (i.e. controls volume well and can skip to next song on my musicmatch radio). I prefer the feel of Logitech keys. I will continue to use and enjoy the Microsoft product, but my next wireless natural keyboard will be Logitech.
Rating: 
Summary: Love it--easy push buttons & kind to wrists
Review: Love the Microsoft Natural MultiMedia Keyboard. At the top, you push a button to start music playing, call up documents, mail, etc. There's even a volume regulator within a finger span reach. I've gotton lazy, and I love it! The only improvements could be a 2nd usb port that another MS model has, but I wouldn't give up my keyboard-I lay a gel wrist rest and just drop my hands down for stress-free typing! Try one in the store--you'll either love it or hate it--it seems to be a quick reaction. I agree with an earlier comment about the touch of typing on the Elite natural model--it's type touch is softer, while this MultiMedia model is crisp. If you like your gadgets, this one is for you!! PS the blue is true medium blue at the top--if you're color coordinating, this can be difficult.
Rating: 
Summary: Warning, this [item] has nothing to do with MS NaturalKeyboard
Review: The original MS Natural Keyboard was the best thing MS ever made, and probably their only product that actually worked. Unfortunately, they seem to have dropped it and concentrated on useless, user-unfriendly "updates", such as the "Natural Elite", "Natural Plus", and now this piece of [work], the "Natural Multimedia".First of all, it's flat. To get it at the proper angle, I had to remove the small "legs" from underneath and reinsert them upside-down to make the keyboard's anglement good. Second, the keys are hard to press and pop back too often. Third, a lot of space is occupied by some stupid "multimedia" buttons that I will never even look at, much less use. If [people] want to have "play" and "rewind" buttons, they can use a remote controller. But fourth, and worst of all, THE FUNCTION KEYS ARE DISABLED BY DEFAULT!!! Yes, you read it right. Unless you press some... new key named "F-Lock" (OFF by default!), the function keys will act like the numeric keyboard!!! Listen, Microsoft, when I press F8, I want to press F8, NOT to see a letter "h" on screen! I use the FAR Manager and Windows Commander, and function keys are crucial to me. You can take the whole numeric keyboard from the right for all I care, but DO NOT MESS WITH THE FUNCTION KEYS! I would never buy this piece of [work] but my original MS Natural Keyboard Pro broke after many years, and I thought this would be a good replacement... BIG MISTAKE. This is MS's worst product since Windows Millennium. Stay away from this [item]. Are there any stores that have some dusty supplies of the original MS Natural Keyboard stored in some old warehouse? I'll buy three of them... or trade you this unused MS Multimedia [item] for a used MS Natural in good shape!
Rating:
Summary: Forgetaboutit = Only certain typists can use this thing
Review: The proliferation of the "split" keyboards has, thankfully, been limited in recent years. I cannot use these things. I can't touch type, but I can knock out 35-40 wpm on a standard keyboard. I use my right index finger for the "f" an "t" keys while using my left ring finger to hold the shift key (odd, but we all have our own way of typing). I cannot type on a split board. My wife used one (a fine touch-typist), but was faced with the impossible reach required for certain control and function key combination keystrokes; she wears a size six (6) glove. Even my large hands (glove = 9.5) don't allow me to make use of all of the control key functions. I want a straight keyboard with the function keys on the left of the board (as my ancient IBM AT keyboard has) for my PC / WINTEL boxes. On my Mac machines I can use the pro keyboard for the boxes, but have found the tactile feedback I love (if cramped) in my 12" TI Powerbook - albeit at the loss of the function keys' full use. I'll not own another split keyboard and I'd pay a lot for a keyboard that was cross platform, had the tactile feedback of the original IBM keyboards and had the function keys in two columns on the left!
Rating:
Summary: Solid Keyboard
Review: This is a solid keyboard (quite literally). the keys require effort to push, and accordingly the noise is quite loud. The upside is that the keyboard can take abuse. I am not a hard typer, but I made the adjustment fairly quickly. The F-Lock is off by default, which is very annoying. The included software allows you to see the sound card master volume on screen when you adjust it, which is the strongest selling point of this keyboard (though Logitech also has a similar feature). The extra function keys are not so helpful, there are many shortcuts through windows. One thing I do not like is the lack of programmable keys, you can remap any key, but there aren't ones to launch Word/Excel or free keys to launch some other program. The Intellitype Software is fine, and reconfiguring keys is not a problem. I would have given this keyboard 5 stars if the keys required less effort.
Rating:
Summary: Logitech vs Microsoft
Review: This is an ok keyboard. The keys feel nice, the position of your hands feels more natural. BUT! The way the function keys work really really sucks. The F Lock key may be good for novice users (which Micro$oft seems to be targeting nowadays) but really blows for anyone who has used a keyboard before. And even with the F Lock on, the function keys don't work in some applications. Also, I don't like how the function keys are so close together, or how it's got the 'enhanced' function on the top so you can't read the fn key number. I also used to be able to tell which fn key I'm pressing by the grouping the key is in. I got used to the 'enhanced' home/end/page up/page down/delete (notice no insert) relatively quickly though. Overall, if you've never used a keyboard before, or don't know what a function key is, this keyboard is ok. Oh yeah, after only 2 weeks, the keys don't feel as smooth as when I first got it. So maybe the overall quality is questionable.
Rating: 
Summary: Ok for a novice, but bad for a power user. Poor quality?
Review: This is an ok keyboard. The keys feel nice, the position of your hands feels more natural. BUT! The way the function keys work really really sucks. The F Lock key may be good for novice users (which Micro$oft seems to be targeting nowadays) but really blows for anyone who has used a keyboard before. And even with the F Lock on, the function keys don't work in some applications. Also, I don't like how the function keys are so close together, or how it's got the 'enhanced' function on the top so you can't read the fn key number. I also used to be able to tell which fn key I'm pressing by the grouping the key is in. I got used to the 'enhanced' home/end/page up/page down/delete (notice no insert) relatively quickly though. Overall, if you've never used a keyboard before, or don't know what a function key is, this keyboard is ok. Oh yeah, after only 2 weeks, the keys don't feel as smooth as when I first got it. So maybe the overall quality is questionable.
Rating: 
Summary: Good yet not good
Review: This keyboard is crippled by the so-called "enhanced" function keys. I actually managed to get used to the strange configuration of delete/home/end/pageup/pagedown/insert rather quickly, though. Insert is usually something I hit accidentally and don't notice until I start overtyping things, so I accepted that change. That said, I am still unsure that it is a good idea to change a layout like this. Ergonomic keyboards are usually used by touch typists, since we are hardest hit by RSI, and touch typists expect their fingers to know where the keys are without looking. The multimedia functions are great! The layout and appearance makes them much more intuitive than previous multimedia controls (when they were all the same color and shape). Also terrific is the feel of the keys. The require just the right amount of pressure; touch typing on this keyboard is very pleasant (so long as you stay on the "core" keys, of course). The issue with the function keys is rather severe, however. For anyone who uses them frequently (I'm a programmer) there is significant danger of doing something you really don't want to do - like closing the application in which you're working. I used the keyboard software to disable all of the function key shortcuts - that way, at least, nothing happens if I forget to hit the "F-Lock" key when I boot up.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the purchase
Review: This keyboard is the cheapest feeling keyboard I've ever used. Only after a few days of typing the keys started to stick and requires a little more effort to press some keys. In general it feels more stiff when typing rather than a nice cushy feel. This never happened from the other 5 keyboards I've used. If you really want to get a Microsoft keyboard then try getting the Elite which I also own. As for the ergonomic layout, I've noticed that it's not completely neccesary. If I use a standard keyboard that doesn't try to save money by compacting the keys together then I don't get wrist problems. You have to find a keyboard that provides a good amount of space between each keys. Although you still need to use a wrist pad and the flatter the keyboard the better. But no matter what you do don't waste your money on this keyboard.
Rating:
Summary: Funky Function Fantasy
Review: This would be a great keyboard if either the software did just a bit more, or if Microsoft would leave the function keys alone. The additional "media center" at the top of the keyboard is very handy and conveniently located. The calculator button above the keypad is great as are the logoff and sleep functions. Quick access to My Documents also comes in handy. The downside is that nasty function key redesign. The software has no place to permanently enable the "F Lock" key so that the function keys operate as normal function keys. If you EVER use a function key in any software, use the insert key for anything, or even hit ALT-F4 to close an app, avoid this keyboard... it will frustrate you for weeks to come. I will probably buy another keyboard and try to recover some money in an auction somewhere.
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