I needed a new keyboard for my new system and something which would be comfortable forlong hours of usage. I saw the microsoft split keyboard which everyone said was very good and comfortable to use, but it looked a bit too weird and large for me. So then I stumbled upon the Microsoft Comfort Curve keyboard and after reading good reviews about it, I decided to try it out.
I must admit I do not particularly like Microsoft software, but after using their Wheel Mouse Optical, I find their hardware to be quite good.
I was initially hesitant to spend Rs. 850 on a keyboard, given that other normal ones were available for Rs. 200 - Rs. 450, but this is what I could recommend to anyone buying a keyboard, Try it out in the shop before you buy it, for what anyone may say may or may not work for you. I liked the feel of the Comfort Curve 2000 and hence went for it.
First impressions are that this keyboard has a slight curve in the placement of the letter keys (as can be seen in the picture below). This makes it halfway between the split keyboard and normal one.
The keyboard conencts to the computer via USB 2.0 and not PS/2, so on an older computer with limited USB ports, you may need to buy a USB to PS/2 converter which costs Rs. 50 - Rs. 100
The keyboard is a bit larger than normal keyboards, but then, the keys are also a bit larger than normal and assist typing. The keys are also slim, as aspect which I quite liked.
I cannot comment on whether the keyboard made me type faster, but it is defintely comfortable for longer usage over a normal keyboard, with the bigger keys and ergonomic design.
The keyboard is also fine for gaming, no complaints here.
I could only find the comfort curve keyboard in black colour, so, if you want this one is white, you may want to look elsewhere.
The keyboard has the normal 104-key layout, and some extra buttons at the top for special funtions.
These include:
1. Shorcut keys for opening net browsers.
2. Keys for controlling playback of media, include play, pause, volume etc.
I did not particalarly care for these functions and have not used them.
The keyboard is also spill resistant, i.e. in case you spill a liquid on it, there are holes to drain that liquid away. Many keyboards have this function today and thankfully, I have not had to try it as yet.
One or two small complaints about the keyboard:
1. First for its price, I wish it had a wrist/palm rest which I like and which would relieve some rpessure while using it, but I am using a palm rest from my earlier keyboard and it works fine.
2. It is larger than normal keyboards, but not too large, in my opinion.
Conclusion: I feel that the comfort curve keyboard is a nice comfortalbe keyboard for typing and normal use. But it may or may not be the keyboard for you, so I maintain, always try out a keyboard at the shop before buying it.