Being a software developer, the keyboard is the most important tool to interact with the computer. Thus, the layout and placement of buttons is very essential. Especially the grouping of the escape-button [ESC] and functional buttons [F1] - [F12]. On a Standard Windows Natural Keyboard Layout the buttons are placed the way I've learned:
The palacement of the buttons on my old Windows Media Keyboard where the same, so I bought me a new one, not paying enough attention to the layout. Yes, It's my fault, because I didn't realize how important the layout is. Happy about my new Windows Media keyboard, I plugged it in and started working. The user experiance was horrible. Every time I hit the [ESC] button a new instance of Microsoft Outlook emerged on the screen. And trying to find the functional buttons just wasn't possible. They were missing. I couldn't find them because they were half the size of a normal button and being at a lower level than standard buttons. So I needed to look down on the keyboard every time to find them.
Two weeks later, I gave up. Now, I use the companion keyboard which was delivered with the computer. It works, but it is not what I want. I really need a new keyboard, with standard windows natural keyboard layout and silent buttons. Microsoft have the curved keyboard. Logitech also uses the half-size functional buttons and Razor have additional buttons above the row of functional buttons.
Where do I find a keyboard for developers?