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For ergonomic reasons, I am trying to purchase two Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 keyboards, US layout. This has proven to be next to impossible.

I ordered "QWERTY" keyboards from a German online retailer, only to discover that QWERTY does not mean QWERTY - I tell you, UK layout sucks IMHO. (Especially the half-sized left shift, the awkward enter key, the pound on shift-3 that I really don't need, and... you get the idea.)

Then I tried Amazon, thinking that an international business like that should be able to solve my problem. Amazon.com variant doesn't ship those keyboards to Germany, and apparently other, Europe-based spinoffs don't sell US layouts either. (Yes, I asked. No, they weren't able to help me.)

So... does anyone have an idea?

Do you insist on MS keyboard? How about apple keyboard(with online apple store), or one of the expensive mechanical keyboard like cherry?

Last time I looked, neither Apple nor Cherry offered ergonomic keyboards.

Kinesis does offer ergonomic keyboards, and it's mechanical.
http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/benefits.htm
I'm not sure if they ship to German.

Solar wrote:I ordered "QWERTY" keyboards from a German online retailer, only to discover that QWERTY does not mean QWERTY - I tell you, UK layout sucks IMHO. (Especially the half-sized left shift, the awkward enter key, the pound on shift-3 that I really don't need, and... you get the idea.)
...
So... does anyone have an idea?

Just use it and let yourself adjust? You will, trust me. If I can get used to the difference between programming on a PC UK keyboard, and an Apple UK keyboard (AKA "We took the Apple US keyboard, replaced the pound (#) with the pound (£), and relabeled it as a UK keyboard"), where getting a # involves the nasty Alt+3 whichever way you choose to do it, my " is in the wrong place and such...

If you wanted, you could just set the layout in your OS to US and ignore the keycaps. Sure, you would have to adjust slightly to the differing size, but the layout of the keys is pretty similar.

Real programmers just have blank keys and know where the right keys are from their chosen codepage...

AJ wrote:Real programmers just have blank keys and know where the right keys are from their chosen codepage...

I wouldn't have much of a problem with that, I don't look at the keys anyway. But the physical layout is different (sorry, Owen), and it matters to me.

Do you have any friends in the US? If you want one bad enough to pay the ungodly shipping I'm guessing it will be to ship to Germany, you could have them buy one and ship it to you.

If you want, I can do it when I get the money,and you can reimburse me via PayPal or some other secure means you prefer. (Once you get it, of course.)

Edit: To clarify, when I say "when I get the money", I mean when I have enough money of my own, as I'm currently broke. That could be misunderstood to sound like I'm trying to get you to send me money or something, which I'm not.

I'm checking out a couple of alternatives right now (including giving Microsoft a piece of my mind as they don't even offer this option on their very own website), but I might take you by your offer.

Trying to cut out the middle man, though... anyone knowing a US hardware webshop that offers international shipping?

If a used one is acceptable, eBay UK - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MICROSOFT-WIR ... 2201wt_922

...and bought. One (for the office) down, one (for at home) to go. Thanks for the pointer!

Edit: After turning up empty on eBay for the last two weeks, now that I brought up the issue here (and having the first item kindly pointed out to me), I find another one within 5 minutes. Problem solved.

Geeez.

The other keyboard was clearly marked as "US" in the eBay product description.

But the product number in the order confirmation told me I had purchased another UK keyboard. I just called them to cancel the order.

I know the feeling. I can't even properly score a Dutch layout keyboard in my own country.

Edit: On second thought, why don't you take a drive to the first Saturn or MediaMarkt across the border and buy your US layout in the store. Might actually be the least frustrating alternative (google gives it a 2h6m drive one way)

Combuster wrote:Edit: On second thought, why don't you take a drive to the first MediaMarkt across the border and buy your US layout in the store.

Which border shared between Germany and the US do you mean?

Even amazon.co.uk doesn't carry the 4000's in US layout...

Edit: Or are you telling me that Dutch shops do carry US layouts?

THAT border