The Microsoft Digital Media Pro Keyboard: Usability in a Quality Package

When I originally bought my HP computer several years ago, I had a nice, decent PS/2 keyboard. Unfortunately, I wanted to dock my laptop and be able to switch the keyboard and mouse from my computer to my laptop, and back. So I started hunting for a USB keyboard.

It wasn’t long before I came up with the Microsoft Digital Media Pro keyboard, at Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109137. I looked at the reviews, the options, and the price, and bought it.

It’s been a great keyboard. There is a long row of shortcut buttons on the top, and a zoom slider on the side. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t use any of them, except the volume controls, and sometime the shortcut key for the calculator, but they look great, even unused. They don’t stick out like a sore thumb, as other unused buttons will.

I’ve found that the feel of the keys is easily the best I’ve ever had. I thought my old keyboard was nice, but when I go back to it now, it sounds (and feels!) like the brittle plastic keyboard that it is.

The keyboard is nicely put together, with just the right amount of cushion, and has the right materials to make it comfortable, but not overly posh. The wrist-rest is covered in some type of slightly rubbery material that feels like the top of my IBM X61 (http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Lenovo-X61-Tablet-So-portable--its-almost-a-Netbook). It provides a good gripping surface, but it doesn’t feel cheap either.

I will readily vouch for the volume controls, because I used them regularly, and find them much nicer than either the speaker volume controls or the onboard Windows sound controls. I’ve found that the slider is a nice, but rather useless feature for me. The scroll button is too close at hand to be replaced with a slider, but it does work well, although not in all applications.

So far, the Digital Media Pro keyboard from Microsoft has worked absolutely great for me, and I am very glad I bought it. I can switch easily from one computer to the other, and the keyboard works great for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. I highly recommend it to anyone!