Do me a favor, look down at your keyboard. Did you know that the basic design of that keyboard, the layout of the keys dates to over 100 years ago? It dates back to the first typewriter, if you are young enough you won’t even know what that it is, a typewriter I mean. So, everything else about the computer is constantly changing and being upgraded, so why not your keyboard? Today for review I have a product that from a company that is trying to change all that, the company is called TypeMatrix, and the product is called the EZ-Reach Keyboard. I’ve been using the EZ-Reach keyboard for well over a week now and I can say that it is much easier to use and it is laid out in more of a common sense way that just makes typing much easier and faster. Continue reading to learn about one of the coolest products I have reviewed in quite a while…
TypeMatrix EZ-Reach 2030 Keyboard
Reviewed by: Kristofer Brozio AkA Dracos
Sponsor: TypeMatrix
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
TypeMatrix EZ-Reach 2030 Keyboard
Features
Small Size
Smallest keyboard with full-sized keys and complete functionality
Footprint 12.75w"x5.5h"x.5d"
Fits over notebook keypads without covering the touch pad
Mouse close to the right hand
Portable fits easily in briefcase, notebook case, backpack
Flat sleek lightweight
Intuitive Design
Grid layout easy to learn and easy on the fingers, hands, arms
Logical, modular design
Large Shift, Backspace, Enter keys
Less reaching to frequently used keys and mouse
Calculator-style Number Pad
Tactile feedback on keys – ridges and bumps
Color-coded for easy use
PS/2 Connector
Ergonomic Solutions
Prevents typing injuries
Reduces or eliminates existing typing symptoms
90% of users get complete or significant reduction of pain
Switchable to Dvorak layout (50% less finger travel)
Keyboard and typist centered on monitor
Terrific design for programmers and power users
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info Continued…
Modular Design
In addition to the left and right hand modules, separated by the center Backspace and Enter keys, the EZR 2030-US contains the following 5 modules:
MODULE 1: The A-Z typing module
This is the complete and standard version of the A-Z keypad layout modified into the more logical and ergonomic matrix design, available in Qwerty or Dvorak.
MODULE 2: The left control module
This module contains:
Left Ctrl-Alt-Shift – the main modifiers for keyboard shortcuts
Function while depressed, all blue-labeled keys are activated
Start same as Windows key
Apps same as the other Windows key
Shuffle toggles between the last two opened applications
Hold shuffle and use tab to select from all opened applications
MODULE 3: The right control module
This module contains:
Num locks the Num Pad and alternative cursor keys into activation
Function duplicate of the lower left Function key
Backspace duplicate of the Center Backspace key
Delete located on home row, tactile bump, colored for easy detection
Enter duplicate for center Enter
Right Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Insert modifiers
Shift + Delete = cut
Ctrl + Insert = copy
Shift + Insert = paste
MODULE 4: The cursor control module
This module contains:
Inverted T arrow keys with tactile bump on the down arrow
Pg Up / Pg Dn easily accessible for editing
Home / End easily accessible for editing
Ctrl + Home beginning of document
Ctrl + End end of document
MODULE 5: The embedded Num Pad module
This module is a calculator-style Num Pad ( with 00 and =).
The inverted T arrow and Home/End keys work with the Num Pad.
Ok, so that was a whole lot of stuff to read, but you learned a lot right? Well just continue on to the next page to see all the pretty pictures of this great keyboard!
A Better Look at Things
:
The EZ-Reach 2030 arrived to me in a plain white box, this is the normal packaging for the keyboard.
When you open the lid you are greeted with the documentation, under that is the keyboard.
The EZ-Reach 2030 is packed very well, it is nestled in a nice snug stryofoam bed, with a piece of styrofoam on top of the keyboard as well. The EZ-Reach is also wrapped in plastic for further protection and even the cord is wrapped separately in plastic as well.
There is an included dual female PS/2 cable with USB connection, this can be used to hook the EZ-Reach up along with a standard keyboard as well so you can take your time getting used to the EZ-Reach as there is a bit of an adjustment period.
The EZ-Reach 2030 is a small keyboard, the smallest I have seen yet for a computer. You can see from the following picture that the layout is very different from any other keyboard out there today. Notice also where the CAPS LOCK key is, at the top in the middle, no more accidentally hitting that key.
The layout is made to make typing much easier, the most used buttons are in and around the center of the keyboard. Notice also that there are two ENTER keys and two BACKSPACE keys as well. There are also two Function (Fn) keys to use the keys that are marked in blue, like the keypad, the Copy,Paste and Cut functions along with all the other keys marked in blue. You can use the keypad by hitting the Num key if you need to enter a lot of numbers in at a time.
Let’s really take a closer look at the keyboard, we’ll start with the left side. On the far left we have the LED indicator lights that you would normally find on any keyboard, but the EZ-Reach has one that is labeled Dvorak as well.
(Do you know what a Dvorak keyboard is? You’ll find out soon, KeyMatrix offers skins to use with their keyboards and I received a Dvorak skin for the EZ-Reach 2030, so that review will be up tomorrow). If you look at the first three rows from the top down they sort of look like a regular keyboard, but the keys are not angled. After the first three rows, things change drastically, first under the TAB key is a large SHIFT button, under that you can see the Fn or Function button and then the CTRL is where it would be on most keyboards.
Now, if you look where the Fn key is, next to that is where you find the Start, App and Shuffle keys, what are these you ask? Well the Start is just the Start key, pressing it is just like clicking on the Start menu in Windows, now the App key is just like Left-Clicking your mouse, now the Shuffle key is actually cool, it is the same as hitting ALT-TAB, to task switch. Also you’ll notice another Shift button as well on the bottom row.
Now moving tot he right side of the keyboard, the first thing you notice is the CAPS LOCK button is at the very top, under that is the Back Space, and below that the Enter key, yep all in the middle of the keyboard.
Now across the top row, we find the normal Function Keys, but they have Blue lettering on them as well. There is a Power button, Sleep or Hibernate button (if you have hibernation enabled), and Wake button. You’ll notice something else very different, the Prt SC, Sys RQ, Pause and Break buttons are all separated instead of combined like on most keyboards. The Num key is located in the top right corner, under that is another Fn key, beneath that is another Back Space key, Beneath that in bright red is the Delete key, under that we find Insert, Alt and CTRL. If you look to the left of those keys you’ll find another Enter key, and another Shift key as well. Next to the Enter is your standard cursor keys, with End and Home on the sides of them. Past the cursor keys are the Pg Up and Pg Dn keys. Now notice the keys with blue lettering on them, they are activated when you activate the Num key, it give you the standard numeric keypad layout to use, along with another set of cursor keys, and another Home and End key as well.
Ok, well that was a lot of explaining to do, but it needed to be done, I hope you followed it all. Now let’s check out the back of the TypeMatrix EZ-Reach 2030, the back is solid black with the exception of a couple labels, there are also four rubber feet to prevent slipping.
Before we get into the next section I have to let you know that the base of the keyboard, the bottom, is metal, and you saw the metal accents on the front of the keyboard as well. The EZ-Reach is made very well, for it’s size it does weigh as much as a full sized keyboard. You can just feel the quality of this keyboard when you handle it, the keys are nice and large, and easy to depress. The layout is interesting to say the least, but yet it is very usable and user friendly after you use it for a while.
Installation, Testing and Comparison
Ok, first let’s see how this compares to a standard keyboard. The keyboard I am comparing the EZ-Reach to is your standard run of the mill office keyboard from AST. Nothing fancy, just a keyboard. There is a huge difference between the two keyboards.
If we look at it from the side view we can really see the difference in size, you’ll also notice the TypeMatrix EZ-Reach is a flat keyboard or Zero-Degree style of keyboard.
Well, I won’t lie to you, there is a major break in period for this keyboard, when you start using this keyboard it is almost as if you need to learn how to type all over again, but really it is worth it in the end. While typing I have found that the keys are very sensitive, so you don’t have to bang on them at all. They are soft-touch keys, that have a spring to them but yet it’s almost like typing on air, that’s the only way to describe it. I have found that having the additional Enter and Back Space keys in the center does make a whole lot more sense, and it does make things much easier. The way the EZ-Reach 2030 is set up is that it is divided in the center by the Back Space and Enter keys, so your hands can stay where they should while typing. The space bar is perfect on this keyboard, it is easily accessible by your thumbs. The EZ-Reach has ridges on the far keys to let you know by touch where the keyboard ends, and there are also the regular bumps on the J and F key. Something I found cool was that the Fn keys, and Alt keys also have the bumps om them to make finding them much easier. Overall the TypeMatrix EZ-Reach 2030 is a very quiet keyboard and very well designed.
I bet you are wondering how it does in gaming, well I’m going to save that for another day, so watch for that article soon as well as the TypeMatrix Dvorak Skin review.
Summary:
In all honesty there is nothing wrong with this keyboard and it has everything right. It is about time we dropped the 100 year old keyboard layout and moved to something a bit more sensible and easier. My time with the EZ-Reach has been a learning experience, a good one though. I’ve learned that there is something better out there, and we don’t have to settle for outdated and underdeveloped technology. Yeah you have all kinds of choices for a keyboard, they may look new, but they are still a 100 and some years old, your computer isn’t that old, so why should your keyboard be? For those brave enough, I can easily recommend the TypeMatric EZ-Reach 2030 to you, for those that aren’t, well can I ask when the last time is that you updated your CPU? Or maybe your DVD drive? So why not update your keyboard?!
If you think the EZ-Reach is cool then DIGG IT please!
DragonSteelMods gives the TypeMatrix EZ-Reach 2030 Keyboard a 5 out of 5 score and our Recommended Award as well.
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Pros:
-Excellent design
-Great performance
-Extremely well made
-Very comfortable typing
Cons:
-Break-in period/Learning Curve
Don’t forget to stop back tomorrow for the review of the TypeMatrix Dvorak skin for the EZ-Reach 2030, you think this layout is wild, then wait till you see the Dvorak one!!