Earlier this summer, Microsoft Hardware unveiled new mice and keyboards specifically designed to take advantage of Windows 8. Today, they are announcing another addition to that line-up: the Sculpt Comfort Keyboard.
I’m currently using the Sculpt Comfort Keyboard at home with my All-in-One PC. I spend a lot of time in front of this PC writing emails, blog posts, and tweets. And this keyboard perfectly supports that with its advanced ergonomics. It features Microsoft’s Contour Curve design – a six degree bend in the keyboard layout and a dome-shaped arc that allows you to be comfortable while typing and keeps your wrists at a neutral position. It also has a removable palm rest if you prefer a more compact look and feel to the keyboard.
The Sculpt Comfort Keyboard is also the first keyboard to feature a split backspace/spacebar key combo. This eliminates that awkward “pinky reach” to the standard backspace key and keeps your wrists in a comfortable position. This design decision was made based on research that showed 90% of typists use only their right thumb to press the spacebar. This leaves a ton of unused keyboard real estate on the left-side of the spacebar. The width of the spacebar is also increased to make it easier to strike while typing.
And as I’ve mentioned, this keyboard is designed to work great with Windows 8. It features “hot keys” for the Search, Share, and Device and Settings charms. It also has 4 additional hot keys for flipping between apps, switching apps, snapping apps, or bringing up the app bar. I find myself being hugely productive in Windows 8 with this keyboard beyond being comfortable while typing.
The Sculpt Comfort Keyboard is perfect for your desktop or All-in-One PC and will be available soon at the online Microsoft Store and other participating retailers for $59.95 (U.S.).