PERIBOARD-524 B - Clavier divisé ergonomique filaire - Angle d'inclinaison réglable

Got this keyboard to replace a very tattered, ailing Microsoft Natural 4000. For those simply looking for a highly configurable arrangement of keyboard and not switching from a very specific keyboard, this Periboard is really quite nice. If you are or were switching from a Natural, here are some things to think about: Key placement and size: not an exact match, and even where the keys are a match for the Natural, the size or angle of the keys are a little off-feeling. Certain keys (for me, Z for instance) take more pressure to actuate, I believe because I'm used to some of the slight radiusing of the Natural). Some are a further reach but a similar grouping (like arrows), and some are near where the Natural has them (Delete, Backspace) but become frustrating because they're not in the identical arrangement. Some keys are smaller, and another reviewer mentions this and indeed it is not only an accurate description, but also the reviewer sounded concerned about getting used to the smaller size of certain keys, such as Enter. This specific point has indeed been a learning curve for me, and I can no longer say I'm an adept touch-typist. I have to look at the thing with greater frequency than I would like, and if the room is dark, this is a strain since the keyboard is not backlit. Adjustability: I reason that the Periboard is highly adjustable, but unexpectedly that becomes a problem at times, if the keyboard halves drift apart or need to be moved and re-positioned. But the ability adjust the keyboard's stance along three axes plus make the halves further apart is quite unique and useful. Stability: Another reviewer noted that the keyboard halves rock and wobble a bit if the desk surface is not perfectly flat. My experience is identical to this and I've ended up folding a piece of note paper under one foot to keep it stable. I also believe I saw in a review that the keyboard feet can collapse if one presses to firmly on the keyboard, and indeed the magnets can separate and become pulled out, resulting in a temporary (and easily fixed) collapse. In my experience this is infrequent and minor, but worth noting. Key function: In most respects, this is an easy keyboard to get used to. Initially, seeing the low keys I had concerns that the key action would have little tactile response like typing on a capacitive screen. Fortunately that is not the case at all, and the key action is similar to the Natural in many respects. Unfortunately as one reviewer noted, some keys seem to have an improper 'click' to their action, and it's unclear if that will affect the long-term functionality of that key; I re-mapped some application keys to avoid using those clicky keys as often. Cabling: As one would expect from a cabled (non-wireless, non-bluetooth) keyboard, there's a main cable, a junction, and a secondary interconnect to the other half. The junction is poorly designed in terms of its size, which seems unnecessarily large -- a disc almost 6x2cm. It does stow under a fully raised half of the keyboard, but I still wonder why do that at all when it could be smaller or nonexistent (meaning, any circuitry in it should be contained in the keyboard shell). Tenting and angling: the included triangular legs permit two stable height configurations, two unstable height configurations, and one additional stable height if you include 'flat' (no use of the legs). The unstable configurations result from having the legs turned inward, which accomplishes little with respect to height adjustment and also permits the weight of one's hands to collapse the legs. So, though the legs are keyed for use in this orientation, I will always avoid it. The height and angle achieved by the legs in full-height orentation is fine for my long-term use and I do not have wrist fatigue, especially if I angle the halves further apart at the spacebar side. No numeric keypad. Including a numeric keypad would throw off the symmetry and change the keyboard angle, and I suspect that weighed heavily on the design choice. Some people won't care, and may welcome being rid of the width. I do care, and ended up buying a bluetooth numeric keypad that I use for number-crunching. It's not the same or as convenient as an attached keypad, but it adequately compensates for the Periboard's design. This also means there is one Enter key. There is no 'big enter key' like one gets with a numeric keypad. This is probably of little concern to most people, but it's worth mentioning in the context of failure -- if that key stops working, several of things we all do on a computer become difficult if not impossible, and having a second or backup Enter can become important. Miscellaneous: F-lock does not seem to stay enabled through a sleep or reboot cycle. That might be my OS, or could be the keyboard. Capslock feels too easy to press. The Windows / Super key feels too far right (toward the middle), in an effort to find somewhere for the Fn key. The keys are all flat (not scalloped), and interestingly this makes by-touch identification of certain important ones (like Enter) more difficult. I sometimes end up hitting nearby keys like backslash and apostrophe instead of Enter. Key point of my experience: key position and size are making the transition from a Natural a bit long and somewhat frustrating.