Microsoft ergonomic keyboards - Quiz
  • 1. When was the Natural Keyboard Elite announced?
A) June 22, 1999
B) February 1998
C) October 1999
D) November 17, 1997
  • 2. When was the Natural Keyboard Elite released?
A) February 1998
B) November 1997
C) October 1999
D) June 1999
  • 3. What was the initial retail price of the Natural Keyboard Elite?
A) US$45.00
B) US$128.00
C) US$64.95
D) US$74.95
  • 4. Who manufactured the Natural Keyboard Elite?
A) Microsoft
B) Logitech
C) IBM
D) Key Tronic
  • 5. By what percentage was the footprint of the Natural Keyboard Elite reduced compared to the original?
A) 10%
B) 18%
C) 50%
D) 25%
  • 6. What protocol did the Natural Keyboard Elite's upgraded microchip natively support?
A) USB
B) Bluetooth
C) Serial
D) Parallel
  • 7. What layout did the Elite use for the arrow keys instead of the inverted-T?
A) Circular layout
B) Square layout
C) Cross-like layout
D) Linear layout
  • 8. Where were the adjustable feet located on the Natural Keyboard Elite?
A) On the sides
B) In the back
C) In the center
D) In the front
  • 9. Where were the adjustable feet located on the original Microsoft Natural Keyboard?
A) On the sides
B) It had no feet
C) In the back
D) In the front
  • 10. How many different color schemes was the Natural Keyboard Elite manufactured in?
A) Four
B) At least two
C) Five
D) Only one
  • 11. What color combination was used for one of the Elite's color schemes?
A) White with blue lettering
B) Grey with red lettering
C) Silver with black lettering
D) White with black lettering
  • 12. What color combination was used for another of the Elite's color schemes?
A) Blue with white lettering
B) Black with white lettering
C) Black with green lettering
D) Dark grey with yellow lettering
  • 13. What was the reduced MSRP of the Elite after the Natural Keyboard Pro was introduced?
A) US$30
B) About US$45
C) US$64.95
D) US$74.95
  • 14. Which model was the third iteration in the Microsoft ergonomic keyboard series?
A) Natural Ergonomic 4000
B) Original Natural Keyboard
C) Natural Keyboard Elite
D) Natural Keyboard Pro
  • 15. When was the Natural Keyboard Pro introduced?
A) October 2000
B) November 17, 1997
C) June 22, 1999
D) February 1998
  • 16. When was the Natural Keyboard Pro released?
A) February 1998
B) June 1999
C) October 1999
D) December 2000
  • 17. What was the initial retail price of the Natural Keyboard Pro?
A) US$74.95
B) US$64.95
C) US$128.00
D) US$45.00
  • 18. What cursor key layout did the Natural Keyboard Pro restore?
A) Diamond layout
B) Linear layout
C) Standard inverted-T layout
D) Cross-like layout
  • 19. What terminals did the Natural Keyboard Pro's cord feature?
A) Serial and parallel terminals
B) Only PS/2 terminals
C) Both USB and PS/2 terminals
D) Only USB terminals
  • 20. What was added along the top edge of the Natural Keyboard Pro?
A) An LCD screen
B) A built-in calculator
C) Extra function keys up to F24
D) An added row of program shortcut keys
  • 21. Where were the program shortcut keys located on the Natural Keyboard Pro?
A) Above F1 — F12 and the numeric keypad
B) To the right of the cursor keys
C) Below the spacebar
D) On the left side
  • 22. What feature was included on the side of the Natural Keyboard Pro?
A) A headphone jack
B) A floppy disk drive
C) A memory card reader
D) An internal two-port USB hub
  • 23. Which operating systems can customize shortcut key behavior without additional software using the 'internet keyboard' layout?
A) Windows XP only
B) Vista and Windows 7
C) Windows 95 and Windows 98
D) Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS
  • 24. Which modern operating systems have configuration options comparable to Vista for shortcut keys?
A) macOS and Solaris
B) FreeBSD and most Linux distributions
C) Android and iOS
D) ChromeOS only
  • 25. On what date was the Microsoft Natural Keyboard officially introduced?
A) October 1, 1994
B) September 6, 1995
C) December 31, 1994
D) September 6, 1994
  • 26. Which company designed the Natural Keyboard for Microsoft?
A) Key Tronic
B) Ziba Design
C) Microsoft Hardware Division
D) Honeywell
  • 27. Which division of Honeywell was acquired by Key Tronic in early 1994?
A) Keyboard Solutions division
B) Microswitch division
C) Ergonomics division
D) Input Devices division
  • 28. What key arrangement design did the Natural Keyboard use?
A) Modular design
B) Ortholinear design
C) Monolithic design
D) Fixed-split design
  • 29. What medical condition was the Natural Keyboard ergonomically designed to prevent?
A) Arthritis
B) Carpal tunnel syndrome
C) Tennis elbow
D) Tendonitis of the shoulder
  • 30. What feature helped ensure correct posture and further reduced strain on the neck, arms, and wrists?
A) Integrated wrist pad
B) Detachable arm rests
C) Adjustable keyboard feet
D) Palm rest extension
  • 31. Which network operating system was the Natural Keyboard certified to work with alongside Windows 95?
A) Banyan VINES
B) LAN Manager
C) Windows NT Server
D) Novell NetWare
  • 32. What was the name of the software bundled with the Natural Keyboard by Microsoft?
A) Natural Manager
B) IntelliPoint
C) IntelliType
D) Windows Keyboard Utility
  • 33. For Windows 3.1 and NT 3.51 users, what was the Windows logo key mapped to open?
A) File Manager
B) Task List
C) Start Menu
D) Control Panel
  • 34. The Windows logo key shortcut served as an easier alternative to which existing key combination?
A) Ctrl + Alt + Delete
B) Ctrl + End
C) Ctrl + Esc
D) Alt + Tab
  • 35. What distinction did the Natural Keyboard hold regarding its price among ergonomic keyboards?
A) First luxury keyboard priced over $200
B) First free ergonomic keyboard
C) First widely available sub-$100 offering
D) First keyboard under $50
  • 36. What was Microsoft's original sales forecast for the Natural Keyboard by the end of 1994?
A) 100,000 units
B) 3 million units
C) 50,000 units
D) 600,000 units
  • 37. What production rate did Microsoft ask Key Tronic to ramp up to in 1995?
A) 3 million per year
B) 10,000 per month
C) 600,000 per month
D) 100,000 per month
  • 38. At its peak, how many units of the Natural Keyboard were sold per month?
A) Over 50,000 per month
B) Over 600,000 per month
C) Over 100,000 per month
D) Over 3 million per month
  • 39. Roughly how many total units of the original Natural Keyboard were reported sold?
A) Over 600,000 units
B) Over 10 million units
C) Over 3 million units
D) Over 100,000 units
  • 40. What geometry typically distinguishes Microsoft ergonomic keyboards?
A) Gull-wing geometry
B) Circular geometry
C) Flat-plane geometry
D) Linear geometry
  • 41. Which company licensed the Microsoft keyboard product line starting in 2024?
A) IntelliType
B) Incase
C) Compaq
D) Surface
  • 42. What is the approximate slant angle for ergonomic keyboards?
A) 10 to 12.5 degrees
B) 20 to 30 degrees
C) 45 degrees
D) -7.5 degrees
  • 43. What is the slope angle of the keytop surfaces for ergonomic keyboards relative to a horizontal plane?
A) -7.5 degrees
B) 20 to 30 degrees
C) 0 degrees
D) 10 to 12.5 degrees
  • 44. What is the tent or gable angle of each half of an ergonomic keyboard?
A) 20 to 30 degrees
B) 90 degrees
C) 10 to 12.5 degrees
D) -7.5 degrees
  • 45. In what year did Microsoft begin planning an ergonomic keyboard?
A) 1993
B) 1994
C) 2023
D) 2024
  • 46. Which company announced safety warning stickers for their keyboards along with Microsoft in August 1994?
A) Surface
B) IntelliType
C) Incase
D) Compaq
  • 47. How many major revisions have Microsoft ergonomic keyboards gone through?
A) Two
B) Eight
C) Ten
D) Five
  • 48. When did Microsoft announce it would stop manufacturing its own-branded keyboards and mice?
A) 2023
B) 1993
C) 2024
D) 2026
  • 49. Where is Incase located?
A) Redmond, Washington
B) Austin, Texas
C) Tustin, California
D) New York, New York
  • 50. What new color style was used to modernize the aesthetic look of the Natural Multimedia Keyboard?
A) Ocean blue
B) Astral blue
C) Midnight black
D) Silver metallic
  • 51. Which controversial feature was notably included in the Natural Multimedia Keyboard after debuting in 2001?
A) Fn Toggle
B) Media Lock
C) Office Lock
D) F Lock
  • 52. Which key was expanded to double height on the Natural Multimedia Keyboard?
A) Del
B) Ins
C) Enter
D) Backspace
  • 53. Which mouse was bundled with the Wireless Natural MultiMedia Keyboard?
A) Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer
B) Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 7000
C) Wireless Laser Mouse 6000
D) Microsoft Ergonomic Mouse
  • 54. What radio frequency technology did the Wireless Natural MultiMedia Keyboard use?
A) 2.4 GHz super high frequency (SHF)
B) 5 GHz high frequency (HF)
C) 900 MHz radio frequency
D) 270 MHz high frequency (HF)
  • 55. Where were the indicator lights located on the Wireless Natural MultiMedia Keyboard?
A) On the receiver
B) Above the function keys
C) In the middle gap
D) Below the space bar
  • 56. What term did Microsoft use to describe the 14-degree gable design of the 4000?
A) Wave design
B) Split ergonomic
C) Gull wing
D) Butterfly arch
  • 57. What is the default setting of the F Lock key on the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000?
A) Off
B) On
C) Auto
D) Disabled
  • 58. Where are the indicator lights located on the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000?
A) On the receiver
B) Below the space bar
C) Above the function keys
D) On the right side of the numeric keypad
  • 59. What new addition was placed in the middle gap of the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000?
A) A zoom slider
B) An LCD display screen
C) A fingerprint scanner
D) A trackball
  • 60. In what year was the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 revised with cosmetic changes?
A) 2007
B) 2010
C) 2012
D) 2015
  • 61. Which key on the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 was reported by reviewers to be unusually noisy?
A) The Enter key
B) The Backspace key
C) The F Lock key
D) The space bar
  • 62. What type of indicator light resides on the palm rest under the spacebar of the 7000 keyboard?
A) A single battery indicator light
B) Num Lock indicator light
C) F Lock indicator light
D) Caps Lock indicator light
  • 63. When was the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard introduced?
A) August 13, 2015
B) July 20, 2012
C) September 5, 2014
D) August 13, 2013
  • 64. What codename was given to the Sculpt keyboard during development?
A) Manta Ray
B) Nautilus
C) Blue Whale
D) Stingray
  • 65. What does the Sculpt keyboard replace the solid wedge with?
A) A thin, hollowed-out dome
B) A flexible rubber mat
C) A flat wooden panel
D) A thick metal base
  • 66. What type of switch mechanism does the Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard use?
A) Low-profile scissor-switch mechanism
B) Buckling-spring mechanism
C) Membrane dome mechanism
D) Mechanical cherry-switch mechanism
  • 67. How is the arrangement of the six-key nav/edit cluster described?
A) Symmetrical
B) Reversed
C) Nonstandard
D) Standard
  • 68. How do predecessors typically elevate the back of the keyboard?
A) Using built-in springs
B) Using magnetic wedges
C) Using feet
D) Using inflatable air bags
  • 69. What does the Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard use instead of feet to elevate the back?
A) A screw-in wooden block
B) A thicker rubber base
C) A reverse-tilt riser
D) A folding metal kickstand
  • 70. What level of encryption is used between the receiver and keyboard?
A) 64-bit DES encryption
B) 512-bit SSL encryption
C) 256-bit RSA encryption
D) 128-bit AES encryption
  • 71. How are the receiver and keyboard paired at the factory?
A) Manually paired by the user
B) Temporarily paired
C) Paired via software drivers
D) Permanently paired
  • 72. What is a limitation regarding the dongle due to factory pairing?
A) The dongle requires external power
B) The dongle only works on Windows 10
C) The dongle drains the battery quickly
D) The dongle cannot be replaced
  • 73. What alternative connection method do critics suggest would free up a USB port?
A) Thunderbolt
B) NFC
C) Bluetooth
D) Wi-Fi Direct
  • 74. What optical device came bundled with the Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard in 2013?
A) A namesake optical mouse
B) A numerical keypad mouse
C) A trackball peripheral
D) A laser presentation clicker
  • 75. How is the navigation block arranged on the Surface Ergonomic keyboard?
A) Four-row arrangement
B) Two-row, three-column arrangement
C) Three-row, two-column arrangement
D) Single row arrangement
  • 76. What material covers the wrist pad of the Surface Ergonomic keyboard?
A) Leather
B) Alcantara
C) Gloss black finish
D) Vinyl
  • 77. Who criticized the Surface Ergonomic keyboard for dropping the front riser and increasing width?
A) PCMag reviewers
B) Paul Thurrott
C) CNBC journalists
D) Jon Stokes
  • 78. What is the business version product code for the Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard?
A) LXM-00013
B) MSK-2019
C) LXN-0004
D) ERG-8888
  • 79. Who originally designed the Compact Ergonomic Keyboard before Incase inherited the blueprint?
A) PCMag
B) Microsoft
C) Apple
D) Ars Technica
  • 80. What caused the delay and prevented the release of the Compact Ergonomic Keyboard by Incase?
A) Manufacturing issues
B) Battery failure
C) Legal copyright disputes
D) Lack of demand
  • 81. Since what year has Microsoft continuously been the best-selling maker of ergonomic keyboards worldwide?
A) 1994
B) 2005
C) 2019
D) 2016
  • 82. Which publication described the Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 as being 'like the keyboard we've always been waiting for'?
A) CNBC
B) Ars Technica
C) The Verge
D) PCMag
  • 83. Who described the Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 as the 'Best. Keyboard. Ever.'?
A) Jon Stokes
B) Paul Thurrott
C) Bill Gates
D) Satya Nadella
  • 84. Which news outlet reported in 2023 that users expressed sadness over plans to discontinue Microsoft's ergonomic keyboards?
A) Ars Technica
B) PCMag
C) CNBC
D) Reuters
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