Not many people find their keyboard an exciting piece of hardware, worthy of revolutionary redesign but leave it to the folks at Microsoft to create a keyboard that can spark your interest. Microsoft has developed a line of keyboards that are user friendly, comfortable and make accessing your favourite programs and commands as convenient as...well...touching a button. As a cousin of the ergonomic Natural Keyboard Pro, the Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro offers easy access and custom control in a comfortable standard keyboard design. The Internet Pro is snappy and responsive with convenient hotkeys that can be customized for launching and controlling your favourite programs.

How it's different

The Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro offers a convenient pair of USB ports and 19 timesaving hot keys for Internet, e-mail and multimedia access along with a standard-geometry keyboard design. Preset controls make the Keyboard Pro easier for novices to use and offers experienced PC users new levels of system customization.

Keys -- Above the main set of 104 keys lay 19 hot keys that act as quick links for easy Internet, email, multimedia, accessory, file, and sleep function access.

Internet hot keys allow users with Internet access to launch a browser and surf the web directly from the keyboard using Back, Forward, Stop, Refresh, Search, Favourites and Web/Home buttons.

The E-mail hot key opens your choice of almost any POP3 or corporate e-mail program with the touch of a button.

Multimedia hot keys allow users to control music CDs and PC audio and video directly, from mute, volume up and down, play, pause and stop to previous track, new track and media.

There are 2 custom hot keys that can be programmed to link to frequently visited documents, applications, web sites or the default settings of My Computer and Calculator.

The sleep hot key suspends power or activates a built-in screensaver, depending on the power management capability of your system.

Design

The Internet Pro (palm rest attached) is rather large compared to other keyboards on the market, but it still fits comfortably in most workspaces. The soft white keyboard has a sleek curved shape with blue hot keys and palm rest. Control commands are marked on the side of task keys to remind you of common control key functions such as cut, paste and copy. Number lock, caps lock and scroll lock commands have a typical panel light display.

Software and set up

The Internet Pro connects directly to either a USB or PS/2 port. The advantages of a USB device are that they transfer data quickly, are hotswappable, self powered and can be daisy-chained together. The Internet Pro's palm rest connects with a simple snap to the bottom of the board.

The IntelliType Pro software allows you to customize your keyboard and installs the keyboard online user guide. IntelliType lets you program your Internet, multimedia, sleep and other hot keys for one button access to common programs.

The IntelliType Start menu shortcut to keyboard properties may not work for non-supported languages. The Microsoft IntelliType Pro Setup automatically selects the language version for its software based on the operating system language, should IntelliType not recognize the operating system language, it uses English as its default.

Using it - typing

The main keys have a consistent, soft, quiet action. Feedback is swift, improving accuracy and reducing fatigue. The Internet Pro's standard parallel keyboard design is easy for 2 or 4 finger typists as well those with proper fingering. Hot keys are placed a bit too close together, requiring you to look down for the correct button.

Gaming

The IntelliType software gives gamers the ability to disable the Windows and Application keys so you can't inadvertently hit them and interrupt your game.

Design

The 2 USB ports on the Internet Keyboard Pro let you relocate some USB hookups away from the PC and reduce cable tangling. Unfortunately, the Internet Pro supports only those USB devices with a rating of less than 100 milliamps such as most powered and unpowered controllers, USB hubs, and mice. In most cases, scanners, Webcams, and printers are incompatible. If you're unsure about your requirements, check the device specs.

The keyboard comes with a detachable palm rest for the user to rest their hands or wrists on. The hard plastic attachment offers good support but is not as comfortable as the soft wrist pads available on the market.

System requirements

To use the IntelliType software and hot keys, users need the following.

• A 486 or Pentium computer.
• The Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating system or later or Windows NT Workstation or Server operating system 4.0 with Service Pack 3 or higher.
• 16 MB or RAM.
• 35 MB of available hard disk space.
• A CD-ROM drive.
• Either a USB or PS/2 connection to a PC. A PS/2 to AT (five-pin DIN) adapter is available as a fulfillment item through Microsoft.

Both PC and Mac compatible.

Software compatibility

For software compatibility click here and visit Microsoft's web site for the full scoop.

Warranty

3 year warranty.

How to get it

The Internet Keyboard Pro retails for approximately $64.99 CDN, by no means the most expensive on the market but still a fair chunk of change. You'll find it online at Compusmart and Future Shop.

Recommended

Ranked 4 out of 5 (5 being the highest)

Strong point - the extra convenience is great for shaping up disorganized desktops.

Weak point - for those with an organized desktop and streamlined toolbars the convenience of the hot keys goes relatively unnoticed, especially if you prefer to use a mouse.

Bottom line - somewhat pricey but by no means outrageous. If you need organization and a new keyboard it's a good option. If you are organized and not in NEED of a new keyboard, it's probably not worth replacing your old one.

Glossary

Hotswappable refers to USB devices as they can be plugged in and removed without turning your computer on and off.

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