Travis Bradshaw

As a favor to Microsoft, I’ve done some photochopping to create a design for the greatest keyboard in the world… or at least my interpretation of what would happen if the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 and the Apple Wireless Keyboard were to have babies and create a supergod of keyboards.

Highlights:

• The same wrist rests, curvature, and keys of the MS 4000.
• Compact keyboard layout strongly reminiscent of the Apple Wireless Keyboard, only two thirds the size of the current MS 4000.
• Bluetooth wireless (nothing non-standard with special drivers, dongles, and annoyance).
• Mostly useless “shortcut” keys removed, function keys moved down near the rest of the keys.
• “Multimedia” keys placed where the completely useless “zoom” slider was.
• Print Screen and Scroll Lock buttons retained, as they are more important to Windows than Mac.
• Number pad eliminated (but could be added with separate device!)  Reduces hand travel from keyboard to mouse up to 80%.

Some additional thoughts:

• This layout genuinely removed three keys.  Num Lock, Pause Break, and Insert.  Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, and Delete were moved to other “secondary” key locations.
• I left all of the “office shortcut” function keys, though they are useless to me.  I’d much rather see them all changed to be more like the Apple keyboard functions
• I know that much of this is just an ugly hack, but I think it would truly be a glorious keyboard.

And Microsoft, you don’t even have to credit me or provide a share of the enormous profits from this keyboard.  Just let me buy one!