March 29, 2004
Mike Simpson (msimpson at abelsolutions dot com)
Table of Contents
Overview
Description
Customer Experience
Size, Form Factor and Appearance
Ergonomics
Compatibility
Conclusions
Score
Links / Reference
Overview
I am a software architect by trade, and have been programming and typing
for 21 years. After taking a typing class in high school, I was typing at
between 50 and 60 words per minute with bursts up to 100 wpm, and my speed has
improved somewhat since then. I also play several musical instruments, and am a
bit worried about RSI and CTS as I have had friends with related injuries. For
that reason, and to (hopefully) improve my typing efficiency, I switched to the
Dvorak keyboard layout about three years ago.
While this review is not about the Dvorak layout, the layout did fuel my curiosity about alternate keyboards, and I have tried several since switching over. These include the following:
This review does not focus on the differences between the TypeMatrix keyboard and the others, but I use them to illustrate points about the TypeMatrix where appropriate. This review was typed on the EZR-2030. I have no affiliation whatsoever with TypeMatrix and paid the same price for my keyboards that other customers did.
Description
The EZR-2030 (click here for
more info) is the latest ergonomic keyboard from TypeMatrix, and the
successor to the TypeMatrix EZ-Reach. It carries the TCO ’99
Alternatively Designed Keyboard label. The EZR-2030 is
smaller than its predecessor – in fact it’s the smallest non-laptop keyboard
I’ve seen - but it packs all the functionality of a full-size keyboard, and
then some.
Compared to other ergonomic keyboards, the EZR-2030 takes a different approach. TypeMatrix eschewed the common practice of making a large keyboard with a lot of adjustments, and instead built a compact keyboard that is non-adjustable but makes up for that in other ways.
The unit is 12.75” long, 5.5” wide and 0.5” tall; that’s roughly the same size as a laptop keyboard. The keys are arranged on a grid, instead of staggered as on a conventional keyboard, and the Enter and Backspace keys are in the center (although there are secondary keys on the right side of the keyboard). The key layout is inherited from the EZ-Reach, with some modifications. TypeMatrix claims that these features reduce the effort required to use the keyboard, and make it more ergonomic – more on that later. The keyboard is available in both Qwerty- (conventional) and Dvorak-labeled models, and uses a PS/2 connector.
Here is a picture of the TypeMatrix EZR-2030:
The EZR-2030 web page lists five “modules”, or areas of the keyboard offering certain functionality; these include the following:
*The Num key activates the numeric keypad; however this function is separate from the Num Lock key.
Because the modules overlap, I’m not convinced that end users will find the distinctions between them useful instead of confusing; but it’s TypeMatrix’s product, not mine. The keys making up the numeric keypad module are in a putty color, while most of the other keys are white. Functions activated by the Fn key are labeled in blue instead of black, and the Delete key is bright red. The colors serve to visually distinguish the keys and modules from one another, at least on a limited basis.
Finally, certain keys contain bumps and/or ridges so that you can find them easily without looking. The keys are full-size, but low-profile, laptop-style, with a “double-scissors” mechanism, and they do not vary in height or keytop angle (which is flat). This makes the entire keyboard flat.
The keyboard is encased by a tray of good-quality black plastic except for the two areas of the top surface not occupied by keys; these areas are instead covered by rectangular brushed aluminum pieces in a natural color. There are rubber feet on the bottom, but no provision for raising the back of the keyboard to place it at angle. The indicator lights are on the left in a vertical row.
The EZR-2030 has a number of interesting features in addition to those offered by a typical keyboard. It features explicit Fn-key combinations for Cut, Copy and Paste, in the lower left-hand corner of the keyboard. It also includes a “Shuffle” key, which toggles between the last two opened applications. The keyboard also has duplicates for some the commonly-used keys including Backspace and Enter, as well as a duplicate set of cursor arrows that are activated with the numeric keypad.
The most important feature for me (but admittedly not for most users) is the ability to switch between the Dvorak and Qwerty layouts via hardware, using the Fn-F3 key combination. The current status is shown by the green “Dvorak” indicator light. All EZR-2030 keyboards have this feature regardless of labeling. If you type in Dvorak, this means that you will not have to remap the keyboard in software; this in turn means that it’s easy to carry the keyboard with you to different computers, attach it, and type away without having to modify the computer’s configuration. It also means that if, as I do, you have a significant other that doesn’t type in Dvorak, he or she can safely use the keyboard by simply switching it to Qwerty. The only issue in that case (discounting the key layout) is the labeling, and I purchased one keyboard each labeled in Dvorak and Qwerty for this reason.
Customer Experience
I was contacted via email in the summer of 2003, presumably because I had
purchased two DvortyBoards from the company in the past.
In an effort to reduce their risk exposure, TypeMatrix offered a two-for-one
deal on the EZR-2030 if customers would pre-order. This way
they could be sure of selling enough to pay for the production of the units.
I was curious about the new keyboard and placed my order at that time for two
keyboards (one labeled in Dvorak and one in Qwerty) for $99 (note: the list
price of the keyboards is $119 each).
The original ship date for the keyboards was originally to be in October 2003; however this date slipped, and the keyboards were eventually shipped on March 22, 2004. During this time Henry and Mary Webber, the proprietors of TypeMatrix, emailed me several times to let me know the status of production and to answer a billing question I had. Though there was a considerable delay before I received the units, I can sympathize with the frustrations a small company like TypeMatrix might have dealing with manufacturers (in this case in China). I do get the impression that Henry and Mary take their customer service seriously and make every effort to respond quickly and appropriately to questions and complaints.
The keyboards arrived via USPS Priority Mail in a cardboard box with a foam insert. The brushed aluminum pieces were covered with a protective plastic coating to prevent scratches. Here is a picture of the packaging:
In addition, the unit came with a printed brochure describing the keyboard and the included typing tutorial software, and a flyer about the TCO ’99 Alternatively Designed Keyboard designation.
Size, Form Factor and Appearance
As mentioned above, the EZR-2030 is very small for a non-laptop keyboard
that has full functionality. TypeMatrix claims that it will
actually fit on top of my built-in laptop keyboard. This
is technically true, as the EZR-2030 is the same width as my laptop, but in
practice it doesn’t really work, because the EZR-2030 ends up resting on the
keys of the keyboard underneath. The effect is that I end up
depressing the entire keyboard and generating random characters while I type. Plus
it’s too high that way.
Don’t get me wrong – I love the size of the keyboard, but I prefer to put it on the desk in front of my laptop. This gets it down lower than the laptop keyboard, which makes it more comfortable for me. The only issue I have with this is a very minor one, and not one I can blame on the EZR-2030: my laptop display resolution is UXGA (1600x1200), which makes everything tiny. Putting the EZR-2030 in front of it means I have to push the laptop back a few inches, which in turn sometimes causes me to lean forward to see the display. I suppose this isn’t a very ergonomic arrangement, but again, it’s not TypeMatrix’s fault, and I could address it with a separate monitor and stand in any case.
Did I mention this keyboard is small? It’s barely bigger than the horizontal surface area required for its keys. I’m really nitpicky about conserving desk space (and screen real estate), so I really appreciate the lengths to which TypeMatrix went to pack this keyboard into a small space. The EZR-2030 will easily fit into any keyboard tray, and should fit in almost any laptop bag; in fact, my bag accommodates two of them, plus laptop and accessories, with space to spare. Here’s a picture of the EZR-2030 alongside a few other keyboards:
Clockwise from bottom left: TypeMatrix EZR-2030, IBM SK-8811, DvortyBoard, Dell QuietKey, Logitech Cordless Keyboard.
Notice the size difference between the TypeMatrix and the supposedly “compact” IBM keyboard - never mind behemoths like the Logitech or (shudder) Microsoft Natural Keyboard (not shown).
The weight of the unit is about what you’d expect for a keyboard of this size, which is to say, light but not too light. It's somewhat lighter than other keyboards, but the rubber feet on the bottom keep it firmly planted on the desk despite its small stature.
Aesthetically, the keyboard is classy and pleasing to the eye, in a modern but understated kind of way. The black case is unobtrusive, and the brushed aluminum pieces on the top are simple rectangles with no other styling. Overall, if I were to compare keyboards to cars, the EZR-2030 reminds me of an Audi or recent Volkswagen, especially compared to units like the Logitech. By comparison, the Logitech is styled like a Pontiac, which is to say gratuitously swoopy and overdone. I much prefer the simple clean approach, but your mileage may vary.
Fit and finish are good, with the very minor exception of almost imperceptible blurring of the printed numbers on one or two keys (the labeling seems to be printed or painted onto the keys instead of applied with decals as on my laptop). The unit feels pretty durable.
If I had one suggestion for aesthetic improvement, it might be for TypeMatrix to round off the corners of the brushed aluminum pieces on top - as it is, they are square-cut, and this doesn’t quite jibe visually with the rounded corners of the keys or of the outer corners of the case. This is very minor and some people may prefer the sharp corners on these pieces anyway.
Ergonomics
The EZR-2030 sports a number of features (described above) designed to
improve usability and ergonomics. The bumps, ridges and
color coding on the keys do help me to find my way around the keyboard, and the
unit has more of them than other keyboards. Ridges mark the
inner and outer boundaries of each hand’s typing space, and set off the center
Backspace and Enter keys quite well.
The home keys (under the index fingers) have bumps, as in many keyboards, but
bumps are also present on Fn, Alt, Delete, Caps Lock, and the numeric keypad. I
expected the keyboard to be tricky to navigate because everything is packed
together and overlapped, but overall it’s easier than I expected due to
thoughtful touches like this.
I was a bit apprehensive about the grid layout of the keys, and anticipated missing a lot of the keys during my transition period. I looked at the orientation and natural motion of my fingers when placed on a flat surface, and said to myself, “hmm, that’s not a grid”. However, in practice, I must say that I adapted to the layout very quickly (a few hours), and it does seem to require less motion to reach the keys – they feel closer together. The only exceptions were the Shift keys (especially the right one), which I kept missing because they’re vertical and not horizontal, and the row of number keys across the top. It took me a few days to learn their new locations, probably because they are farther away from the home keys and more affected by the grid layout. However all in all, I’m pleased to report that the grid layout is surprisingly comfortable, and an added bonus is that it enables the integrated numeric keypad to be laid out on a grid instead of staggered as on my laptop.
I was eager to try out the most obvious design feature of the keyboard, the center Backspace and Enter keys. Though it took me a couple of days before I no longer had to think about where they were, I am used to them now and find that their position works well. A major advantage of this layout is that you can use these keys from either hand, which allows for faster typing; however at present I find I use my right index finger almost exclusively for Backspace and Enter. One concern I still have with this is that my right index finger already gets stiff from using the mouse, and this extra duty may worsen the problem. I haven’t noticed a problem along these lines so far, but the jury’s still out. TypeMatrix might consider placing Enter and Backspace (or perhaps Shift?) below the space bar in a future model – this would get the stronger but underworked thumbs more involved. In the meantime, I may attempt to train myself to use my left index fingers for these keys.
The keys themselves are low-profile, but full-size and similar to what you’d find on a decent laptop, with a subtle texture (I hope it doesn’t wear off like the texture on my laptop keys). They use a “double-scissors” mechanism with a nice solid feel and not much wobble. The key depression force is medium to light, and slightly heavier than my laptop keyboard, so I found myself not pressing the keys quite hard enough during the first day or two, and the keys need to be depressed all the way to get a response. When making the purchase, I asked about the force required to press the keys, because my DvortyBoards were awfully stiff. Mary assured me that the problem had been addressed, and sure enough it has; the key depression force is almost perfect, though it could be a shade lighter.
The impact of the keys when fully depressed is another thing that hasn’t been overlooked. I don’t like keyboards that have a hard impact at the bottom; the EZR-2030 avoids that problem, but neither is it mushy or spongy like some other keyboards. The key action is quieter than on most keyboards, but does have just enough noise that you get audible feedback. My mouse buttons are about twice as loud as the keyboard. TypeMatrix appears to have gotten this one right as well.
As far as posture is concerned, I had thought that the grid layout might cause me to orient my hands straight up-and-down, and that this might cause to bend them sharply at the wrist. However, the layout doesn’t seem to have had this effect, and my wrists are not overly bent. In fact, I don’t notice any difference in hand position from my normal keyboard, with two exceptions: the center Backspace and Enter keys separate the two halves of the keyboard so my hands are farther apart, and the keyboard itself is lower because it is so flat and thin. Because the numeric keypad is integrated into the keyboard, my right hand is also much closer to the mouse than with a conventional keyboard.
These all combine to make for some increase in comfort over my laptop keyboard as well as the other desktop keyboards I've tried. I don’t suffer from many posture-related problems, so I can’t quantify that much further, but subjectively the EZR-2030 is pleasant to use for me.
On the down side, the keyboard is all in one piece, and it is not possible to split the two halves of the keyboard apart, or tilt them. This is not a particularly big issue for me, as I’m perfectly comfortable with a flat design, but for some people it might be a drawback.
As stated above, the keyboard has earned the TCO ’99 Alternatively Designed Keyboard label. In addition to meeting ecological standards, the keyboard must meet ergonomic standards to receive this designation. These include usability studies, key depression force limits, tactile and auditory feedback, and other requirements.
Compatibility
The EZR-2030 comes with a PS/2 connector. I tried the
unit on both Linux and Windows machines with no issues noted. I
have not yet tried it with a USB adapter but look forward to doing so; in the
future I’d like to see a USB model, preferably with a pass-through USB port, or
ports, on the keyboard so I don’t have to reach around to the back to plug in
peripherals.
In addition, I tried the unit with my Belkin KVM switch, with no real problems. One minor drawback here is that the keyboard does not have a stand-alone Scroll Lock key – it is implemented as the Fn-F5 combination. This makes it harder to switch computers using the KVM switch’s double-Scroll-Lock trigger combination. It does work, but requires an extra keypress.
Conclusions
A few other features I’d like to see include a slip-on aluminum cover (two
of my coworkers independently suggested this idea) and a retractable cable. Both
of these features would facilitate travel by protecting the keyboard and
managing the cable. Even better, I’d like to see this
keyboard actually integrated into a laptop, so I don’t have to carry it
separately.
One last feature I’d like is a Save key – I use the Ctrl-S
combination all the time, and a dedicated key would make life easier.
All in all, the EZR-2030 contains a number of good ideas and is a well-executed design. I believe it will appeal to technical types, Dvorak typists, those suffering from ailments introduced by poor, more conventional designs, and business travelers who dislike their laptop keyboards. At a list price of $119, the keyboard is not cheap, but in this case I think you get what you pay for.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
Note: this is my first keyboard review, and so this number is in some sense
pretty arbitrary.
I can’t think of another keyboard I prefer to this one, but still felt there
was room for improvement; hence a score of 8.5.
Links/Reference
TypeMatrix Main Site: http://www.typematrix.com
EZR-2030 Page: http://www.typematrix.com/ezr2030
TCO Development: http://www.tcodevelopment.com
Dvorak Keyboard Layout: http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak