14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just launched the so-called Sculpt Comfort Keyboard, a brand new piece of hardware specifically designed for the new Windows 8 that goes on sale next month.
Priced at $59.95 / €46.10, the keyboard features Microsoft's Contour Curve design, which relies on a six-degree bend in the keyboard layout and a dome-shaped arc, as Brandon LeBlanc explained on the official Windows Experience Blog.
Besides the fact that this design makes it easier to type and keep your wrists at a neutral position, it also comes with a removable palm rest.
In addition, the keyboard features a so-called split backspace/spacebar key combo.
“This eliminates that awkward ‘pinky reach’ to the standard backspace key and keeps your wrists in a comfortable position. This design decision was made based on research that showed 90% of typists use only their right thumb to press the spacebar. This leaves a ton of unused keyboard real estate on the left-side of the spacebar. The width of the spacebar is also increased to make it easier to strike while typing,” LeBlanc explained.
And because it was designed to work with Windows 8, it comes with dedicated hotkeys to take advantage of the newly-developed and yet to be launched operating system. You can easily access features such as Search, Share, Device and Settings, while 4 additional keys help you flip between apps, switch or snap apps or simply bring up the app bar.
As it usually happens with hardware designed by the Redmond-based firm, the keyboard is sold through the Microsoft Store and the other retailers for $59.95 / €46.10.
Here are more photos with the newly-launched keyboard.
