Microsoft WTA-00001 Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000

UPDATE: 11/6/2017 In spite of my 1-star review I continue to use this keyboard because, when it works, it is great. However, the times when it suddenly becomes unresponsive and limits my ability to type I want to throw it out the window. I've been reading somome (see! That is what happens when the keyboard stops communicating with the transmitter!) some of the other reviews of the newer keyboard and may have to try it out. I can't bring myself to return to wired as I still like to type from my lap at times, and now use a standing desk. I wish Microsoft had made this keyboard with a better transmitter. Anyone know of an after-market USB transmitter that would improve the keyboard's communication? That would be wonderful. Here's the original review. I work from home and am on the phone constantly. I take notes when I speak with people and touch-type fairly well. I have an old ergonomic keyboard that was sooo loud I just couldn't take it. I had instead been taking notes on a notebook PC since they tend to have the quietest keyboards. Well, the notebook became unreliable and I had to switch back to the desktop PC and wanted to upgrade my keyboard. After many trips to different stores where I could type away on different keyboards I decided this one seemed to have the quietest profile. I then proceeded to read MANY reviews and became skeptical of the quality and some of the noise issues people mentioned. I even went back to some stores and tried again. Ultimately I decided to purchase this keyboard/mouse combination to give it a try myself. I plugged in the USB transmitter less than 12 inches from the keyboard. For the most part communication is fine, but sometimes there is an odd lag and it drops for a moment. Not sure what that's about but I'll be typing away and suddenly there is nothing on the screen. Hmmm. Sometimes it's just a lag and suddenly the letters will appear, other I get nothing until it reconnects on it's own. No idea what that's about. The space-bar on this keyboard is MUCH louder than any of the other keys. Since the space bar is probably the most commonly struck key something should have been done to reduce the sound profile of that key. I hear it constantly as I type and have even tried to adjust the way I strike the key. Interestingly I've discovered that it is the sound of the space bar returning to its resting position that creates the sound. I think the center of the key strikes the bottom of that center column on the keyboard. I may try some modifications to see if I can silence this noise. Since this noise is noticeably louder and different than the sound generated by the rest of the keys it stands out and people have commented on hearing my typing when we're talking. Also, shortly after using this keyboard the space bar actually became stuck while typing. Just stopped partway down and wouldn't return. Suddenly I was typing without a functioning space bar. Fortunately, I still had my old keyboard connected so the breakdown didn't disrupt my call too much. All that said, I love the mouse. Took me a while to get used to it, but since then I've been thrilled with how comfortable it is. I can live with the issues above and hope once I fix the space bar noise this keyboard will last for a while. Why can't somebody manufacture a great, reliable, nearly soundless, wireless, ergonomic keyboard? If you know of one please let me know! For now, I'll live with this one and it's flaws. UPDATE June 2013: I've found a solution to the sticky space bar problem. The problem occurs only when the elevated stand is connected to the front of the keyboard. It seems the weight of my hands on the hand-rest causes the keyboard to bow just slightly. This bowing causes the spacebar to catch in the depressed position very frequently hence making the keyboard useless when elevated. When the front stand is removed and the rear-legs lowered the spacebar no longer sticks. Not at all. This is clearly a design flaw and more rigidity needs to be integrated into the stand or the keyboard. Were this an inexpensive keyboard I could tolerate the cheap design, but at this price-point it should function equally in all configurations. I am now using the keyboard flat on my desk. It is harder on my wrists in this position but I don't see any alternatives for now. The space bar also is not as noisy when the keyboard is flat on my desk. Don't get me wrong, It's still the noisiest key on the board and not yet satisfactory. I'm still working on quieting it down.