New with this keyboard is a massive row of programmable shortcut buttons along the top. Many of them replicate your web browser's buttons like back/forward, stop, and so on. Others are quick launch buttons for applications like e-mail, web browser, and the calculator. The calculator is probably the most useful shortcut button because it would normally take four mouse movements to launch the calculator from the Accessories Programs Start Menu folder. Believe it or not, the calculator launch button is right above the numeric keypad--good deal!

Another bonus feature of this keyboard is the common shortcut keys printed on the front edge of the respective keys. The CTRL key has a star-like symbol next to it, and you'll find the same symbol printed on the front of several keys like C, X, and V with the shortcut names "Copy", "Cut", and "Paste". These cues are good for helping users learn the keyboard shotcuts to eliminate slower mouse movements.

What's left to improve on? Well, how abot a set of buttons that correspond to the common buttons found in every window? There's the minimize, maximize/restore, close, and scrollbar up/down/left/right. Arrange these buttons on the keyboard in a layout that represents their visual arrangement on screen.

The keys are responsive and fast, but they still seem to lack a feel that provides good tactile feedback for fast typists. Good keys tend to spring back quickly and have a definite threshold point and resistance level; this is more commonly found in more expensive keyboards. I prefer the feel of some Hewlett Packard keyboards I've used that ship with their high-end workstations/servers--other people probably have different tastes for keyboard feel. Overall, the feel of the Microsoft keyboard is comfortable and quiet, but maybe they will work on the keys a little more in a newer model.

The Natural Keyboard Pro is the true successor to the original Natural Keyboard; forget about the Keyboard Elite. This board sports 19 multimedia "hot keys" that launch browsers, refresh web pages, and much more. There are connectors for USB and PS/2 ports; Microsoft recommends plugging the keyboard into both ports although you can use whatever port you want.

Key response is good without feeling mushy and the built-in wrist rest is good for those users who like to relax theirs wrists at the bottom of the keyboard. The IntelliType software that ships with the keyboard is version 1.0; users of America Online will want to download the patch for compatibility with AOL's 5.0 software.

I like Microsoft's latest keyboard. It's a good, sturdy keyboard with cool features that are really useful. Users with small hands might need some time to get used to the board's rather large layout; even still the Natural Keyboard Pro is proof that if Microsoft quit the software business tomorrow they'd have a great future in hardware.

First problem, the extra buttons for controlling internet and Multi-media are a great (though not original) idea. However, the way they are implemented here makes them unusable. All buttons are evenly spaced, small, and blue and are placed with no rhyme nor reason. After 3 weeks with this keyboard, I still couldn't hit the correct button without looking carefully for the small lettering telling me where Volume Up was.

The other great feature idea of this keyboard is that it is a hub for USB devices. The placement of the connectors, however, make it awkward to use. They are located in the center rear of the keyboard and therefore butt-up against my monitor base (which like all monitors I've ever seen is in the center of the viewing area). Due to the fact that the USB connector extends 3 inches by design, you must have a minimum of 4" of space between your keyboard and monitor. Many desks are not big enough for this to happen, especially if you have a now-almost-standard 19" monitor. If Microsoft's hardware designers had done some real-world research they would have moved the USB connectors to one side or at least tunneled into the keyboard so that the connector didn't stick out so far.

The final nail in the coffin for this miserable excuse for a keyboard is that it is unreliable. I used this keyboard on 3 separate computers over a 3 week period and several times on each system, it would simply stop functioning until I rebooted. I replaced the keyboard once and got the same behavior. Others I've spoken with have seen this happen as well. No other keyboard has ever given me this kind of problem on any of my systems so this is just bad design/build quality.

Beware of this garbage. If you want a keyboard with cool extra buttons, try the IBM version which is programmable (the Microsoft one is not). There are lots of ergomomic choices out there, as well. Don't make a mistake and buy the Microsoft Natural Pro.

I didn't find anything particularly "ergonomic" about the keyboard. The curve of the board is just a little too steep for my hands. It's awkward getting to the extreme upper corners, such as the all-important "backspace" key. I found the distorted size of the bottom row of keys hard to get used to as well. And the hand rest can't be detached. Most disappointingly, the key action is awkward and loud. I'm not sure I've ever encountered any keyboard which felt worse under my fingertips. Even the non-ergonomic version of this keyboard has keys that feel better.

Likewise, the much-touted USB ports are a mixed bag. Though prominent among the advertised features, the USB ports aren't sufficiently explained on the packaging. You don't actually increase the total number of USB ports on your system by two. You MUST plug the keyboard into an existing USB port, so you get a net gain of only ONE port. And they're unpowered ports which means you can't plug bigger USB devices--like hubs, printers, and scanners--into them and expect great results. This is not a way to add USB functionality to your system; it only rearranges where the ports are. This redistribution does have its utility, however. Game controllers, microphones, and digital audio player downloads can be moved forward to the keyboard. If you find yourself crawling under your desk all the time to switch out your smaller USB devices, this keyboard will add some needed convenience to your life.

In sum, I strongly advise anyone who's thinking of buying this keyboard to test it first. Find a demonstration model in a computer store and try typing on it. If you like it, fine: come back here and buy it. As long as you understand the limitations of the USB ports and can deal with the key action, the keyboard is actually a good value for money. But while you're testing keyboards, make sure you try a whole range of them. Get one that's really comfortable for your hands-not just one that seems to be cool.