Microsoft Keyboards 

The Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 is not as outrageous as some non conventional designs I have used in the past. The curve places the main qwerty keys in a slight smile configuration. In fact the main area takes up little more space than a conventional offering. It is a 108 key keyboard with nine extra Internet keys at the top making it a little deeper than a standard unit.

It comes with a sticker on saying spill resistant design and while I am guilty of having a cup of coffee beside the keyboard and have been known to eat an occasional biscuit or three I am not sure about the encouragement to have liquids close to electrical equipment that this sticker will promote.

The G, H and N keys are somewhat enlarged but the only real movement is the gaps between the three banks of four function keys. I am not the worlds greatest touch typist and although I had no trouble adjusting I cannot say I noted any huge improvement.

See also: Keyboards and Mice

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This will work with Macs but it is designed for use on Windows XP. This is a USB offering and just plugging it in should have you working without any problems.

Amazon currently are offering it at an amazing £7.98 link below.

ttp://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000B9OIIU

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=040

The Media Centre offering has no less than 119 keys but a number of those are non typing keys for control of the Media Centre and this even includes the add important 'green button'.

It is 44x14x3cm these are the absolute maximum dimensions for instance the 3cm thickness is mostly half that and only 3cm at either edge. It is designed to sit flat on your knees maybe so those who like tilt on there keyboards are unlucky. Even with all the extra keys the width is slightly less than a standard keyboard and while there are some small keys this does not apply to any letters although the function keys are small. Where there is a big differential is with the front to back measurement a normal keyboard is around 18cm against 13 or 14cm here.

A mouse tends to be used a little less with a Media Centre and the top left of the keyboard has the left and right buttons while the top right has the 'pointer' control. I am not a huge fan of these devices but I can see that resting the keyboard in your palms has the thumbs free to control the mouse movements.

This is wireless and it has 4xAA batteries supplied to power it. I remain sceptical about Media Centres but I must admit that for anyone who uses one then this Microsoft Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Centre Edition is probably the best I have used.

Doing my Internet search found it at £24.49 link below.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B000B78GD0/?condition=new

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=038