Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsA once-great low-end ergonomic keyboard, gone sour
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2014
REVIEW UPDATED May 29 2017: Just under three months from purchase, the keyboard is dead. About a quarter of the keys on the keyboard just stopped working this morning and cannot be revived.
That's my last straw. Do not buy this keyboard. It has some *design* improvements from the previous version, but in terms of reliability and functionality, it is NOT acceptable. I have never had any other non-Microsoft keyboard die this fast.
NOTE: This review was originally written for the Periboard 512, the previous version. I have now updated it for the Periboard 512-II.
I've tried a variety of Natural-type ergonomic keyboards since my last remaining MS Natural Pro wore out. Fellowes, Adesso, Microsoft's current Natural 4000. Honestly, they're all pretty much junk ... except for this one.
The Periboard 512B is a clean, compact design, VERY similar to the long-discontinued Microsoft Natural Pro. It isn't quite as smoothly rounded in profile as the Natural Pro was, but in all other respects it is pretty close to as good. It's comfortable and quiet, with positive key feel — very good feel, in fact, for a membrane-switch keyboard — and clearly marked, readable keys. Unlike the Microsoft 4000 or the Adesso PCK-208, the key caps are not decals or silkscreened, and are showing no sign of wear after four months of use. [Update: After two years on my Windows gamebox, only the WASD keycaps are beginning to show the barest perceptible signs of visible wear.] On a Microsoft Natural 4000, with my usage patterns, at least some of the keys would be mostly blank by now. The keyboard seems well constructed, and is light, but strong and rigid, not flexing when used like some cheap keyboards do. It doesn't have the perfectly repeatable crisp, positive key feel of a mechanical-switch keyboard, but mechanical switches at this price are probably out of the question.
The Periboard 512 provides the typical set of "common application" keys above the keyboard — browser, search (why is that a separate button?), email, and volume controls, plus a dedicated Sleep button; they do require a little firmer press than some to activate. The LED lock indicators are centrally located and clearly visible. (Why we still have a scroll lock key on keyboards is a mystery to me. Does anything actually ever use it?)
About the one minor downside of the Periboard 512, to me, is that it uses the alternate layout of Home/End/PgUp/PgDn and cursor keys first used by Microsoft on their Natural Elite, intended to save half an inch or so . It's something that can be gotten used to, but I've been using the conventional layout for so long that it has not become reflexive yet, and honestly it's not worth it for the half-inch it saves anyway.
Now, on to the Periboard 512-II. The 512-II returns to the traditional layout of the cursor and Home/End etc keys. It's physically very similar, with a few minor changes. The palm rest is deeper and more gently curved, and the spacebars are subtly differently shaped. It's a bit noisy to type on, sounding somewhat hollow and plasticky. (But not really any worse than, say, a Kinesis Maxim.) Don't expect any mechanical-keyboard feel here. The keycaps are clearly marked in brilliant white instead of the Periboard 512's muted tan, with white backlighting available. (I wish I'd noticed the backlighting option before I bought mine, but it may well require Mac or Windows to control the backlighting anyway, and I'm using it with Linux.)
The Periboard 512-II is extremely comfortable to use; Perixx has gotten the shape closer to ideal. The outline in general is rounder, smoother and more organic. The function keys are fractionally smaller, and all of the keys seem to have moved very slightly towards the back of the keyboard (helping contribute to the deeper palm rest), but you really won't notice that unless you're comparing the two side-by-side and looking for it. Perixx supplies a bag of self-adhesive rubber bumpers, intended to be used under the front edge of the keyboard if you are NOT using the provided folding legs to raise the back of the keyboard.
The Periboard 512's application keys have been replaced on the 512-II by audio control keys. Volume up, down and mute are unchanged, as is the Search button (does anyone use that?), but the browser, email and sleep buttons have been replaced by Play/Pause, Next Song, and Previous Song. Instead of being little shiny chrome buttons, they are now conventional keys with embossed keycaps. You may find them a little difficult to read depending on the light.
If you're looking for an ergonomic conventional keyboard, rather than something further out there like a Kinesis, I'd say this is the one to buy. If this doesn't get the job done for you, you're probably going to have to spend a lot more money.
POSSIBLE PROBLEM:
I did encounter an issue with a couple of the non-standard size keys (the T and N keys) beginning to bind within about a week of buying the keyboard, leading to missed keystrokes. If you experience this problem, go to the plumbing department of your local hardware store and buy yourself a pot of plumbers' silicone grease for a couple of bucks. Carefully pop off the keycap that is sticking and, using a toothpick, apply just the tiniest smear of the silicone grease around the keycap shaft, then pop it back in place. The key should now slide freely.
Silicone plumbers' grease is safe for use on synthetic materials and will not damage the keyboard. However, I can't guarantee that this remedy will not void your warranty.
DO NOT use "dry" lubricant sprays or "silicone three-in-one" oils with an organic-solvent carrier for this purpose. The volatile carrier will permanently damage the plastic of the keyboard and cause premature failure.
