Microsoft has decided to end the production of its ergonomic keyboards, much to the dismay of its fans. The company entered the keyboard business in 1994, and since then, has attracted a dedicated following to its ergonomic offerings. The decision to discontinue these products is part of a larger effort to prioritize growing categories. This move has left fans of these keyboards scrambling to stockpile them or find a replacement.
The Legacy of Microsoft’s Ergonomic Keyboards
Microsoft’s ergonomic keyboards have been on the market for almost 30 years. The first variation of the keyboard was released in 1994 and was split into two clusters, with the left-hand cluster slightly slanted right and vice versa. It also featured Windows keys on either side of the space bar. Despite keyboards not being a major business for Microsoft, the company had managed to attract legions of fans to its ergonomic offerings.
The Natural Keyboard Elite was released in 1998 and had a diamond-shaped arrow cluster that was not well received by users. However, the updated layout of the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 model, which included a taller bump in the middle and certain keys set inward and upward, was preferred by 22 out of 23 people over the older Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro. It became the best-selling aftermarket wired keyboard in the U.S., according to Circana data.
The Impact on Microsoft’s Fanbase
The discontinuation of these keyboards has left fans devastated. Freelance writer Brittany Matter, who has been using Microsoft’s ergonomic keyboard for over a decade, experiences discomfort that prevents her from moving her neck left and right when using a non-ergonomic keyboard. She even brought along her keyboard and mouse when she traveled to Hawaii for a few days earlier this month. Matter is not alone in her dedication to Microsoft’s ergonomic keyboards.
Matt Steinhoff, a systems administrator, became an evangelist for the product after buying it with a coupon. His mother, a retired librarian in Florida, also got one. None of the models have been perfect for Steinhoff, but he appreciates their affordability. Relying on them for all these years might have been a kind of preventive measure as his brother recently had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.
The Future of Ergonomic Keyboards
While Microsoft is still producing keyboards, the company is sunsetting the ergonomic products to prioritize growing categories. Microsoft is focusing on its Windows PC accessories portfolio under the Surface brand. The company spokesperson stated that the Surface Ergonomic Keyboard, which came out in 2016, remains part of Microsoft’s Surface-branded PC Accessories lineup. However, it costs $129.99 on Amazon, twice the price of the discontinued Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard.
Other companies, including Logitech, still make ergonomic keyboards, but that is of little consolation to die-hard fans of Microsoft’s ergonomic keyboards. For Matter, this means she will have to buy another set as a backup before they stop selling them.
Microsoft’s decision to discontinue its ergonomic keyboards has left fans scrambling to stockpile or find a replacement. While the company will continue to produce keyboards, its focus is on growing categories. Microsoft’s legacy of ergonomic keyboards has left a lasting impact on the market, but the end of an era has come for fans of these beloved products.
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