Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard Elite - Black | Comfortable Split-Key Design for Office, Gaming & Long Typing Sessions

In combination with a good ergonomic mouse (I use a thumb style), this ergonomic keyboard has salvaged my career as a workaholic. I love my work and never run out of things to write about; but after a few decades of heavy usage, my wrists and fingers were showing all the classic early warning signs of repetitive motion injury. The hand position on this keyboard is much more comfortable than on a standard keyboard and puts a lot less wear and tear on hands, wrists and fingers. For the first time in years, I can write to my heart's content, pour out my soul, meet all my deadlines, and work virtually pain-free.As to ease of use: I had no trouble at all getting used to the split configuration. I use it in conjunction with my laptop so that I get the best of all possible worlds: the portability of a laptop, plus the full functionalities of a regular keyboard. It is also very attractive. I ordered the white, which looks very crisp with its sleek curvilinear design in my high-tech office.A few minor tweaks would bump this keyboard up into the five-star category:1. USB ports should be available on both sides to allow for multiple connections. This keyboard hasn't any. Rather, I have to connect both it and my mouse directly to my laptop, which has only two USB ports. That means any time I use my flash drive or some other device, I have to unplug the mouse. A better design, and one we have on our ancient keyboard at home, allows you to plug in two devices at once via two USB ports -- one on either side of the keyboard. That keyboard then has a third, separate connection to the computer. That way, you can have everything you need plugged in at once (flash drives, etc.), giving full functionality on both the keyboard and computer. (Are you reading this, Microsoft?)2. A scroll wheel or ball to function similarly to the scroll pad on a laptop would be helpful. It's not a huge issue, but it would be more convenient to be able to do all my on-screen navigating via the keyboard.One final recommendation if you're planning to buy this keyboard: Invest in a good custom-made keyboard skin. It keeps crumbs, dust, and other residue out of the keyboard, it keeps the keyboard itself a beautiful pristine white, and it is much easier to clean up the inevitable spills and crud that do happen in a work situation. It took only a little getting used to before I was back to my regular typing speed; and it was well worth the money to protect my investment.Would I buy this product again? Absolutely! It allows me to work 'round the clock if I wish, and not only has it prevented further damage to my hands and wrists, it actually seems to have reversed much of the damage that was already under way. Ultimately, that is the reason you would buy an ergonomic keyboard in the first place, and on that score this keyboard truly hits the mark. I would be just as enthusiastic in recommending this keyboard to a friend or colleague. Particularly for those who are already experiencing hand and wrist pain, it's a godsend.