Maltron Keyboard Review
The Maltron keyboard, made by a company in UK.
This is the first ergonomic keyboard with bowl shaped concave typing surface. It was first sold in 1970s.
Here's the Maltron in action.
If you type a lot, do not buy the flat version. Because you'll get wrist pronation problem. 〔►see Is Keyboard Tenting Important?〕
The Maltron comes with QWERTY or Dvorak keyboard layouts, but also available is its own Maltron keyboard layout.
Note that the Maltron layout may in fact be better than Dvorak, simply because it placed E on the thumb. See:
Following is a Maltron review, by a professional typer (the stenography typer in the video above). This means, if you are a programer, even if you work 60 hours weeks, the actual typing done by this guy is probably 10 times yours. (i myself was once a data-entry clerk) His article is a very good one.
〔 Most Ergonomic and efficient keyboard By Joe. At http://mostergonomickeyboard.blogspot.com/〕
See also: How Many Keystrokes Programers Type a Day?
Maltron vs Kinesis Size Comparison
Maltron and Kinesis are about the same size. See: Ergonomic Keyboards Size Comparison
Maltron vs Kinesis
The Maltron is similar to Kinesis Contoured Keyboard.
Maltron is about twice as expensive than Kinesis, because each Maltron is individually ordered and crafted, not mass produced. Maltron is also ugly.
If price doesn't matter, i think Maltron is functionally better than Kinesis. It has good function keys. because:
• For each thumb cluster, it has one more key.
• Full-sized function keys. (above the number row)
• The middle keypad gives you 28 extra keys! You have multimedia keys and number pad if you need it. If you don't need it, you can remap them as extra function keys. All single button press to switch to {browser, emacs, workspace, windows, apps}. 〔►see Why Function Keys F1 F2 Are Useful〕
Here's a review, more about the physical characteristics of the keyboard. 〔 Review of Kinesis vs Maltron By Hoggy. At http://deskthority.net/photos-f62/some-more-ergonomic-keyboards-t1731.html〕
Another review, by a programer. 〔 Change is Good (Maltron vs Kinesis review) By Brian Fitzpatrick. At http://fitz.blogspot.com/2007/06/change-is-good.html〕
Who use Maltron?
Many emacs users use Maltron. I know the following:
- Nick Alcock (emacs oldbie from 1980s) 〔►see Emacs Screen Tour: Emacs Oldbie Nick Alcock〕
- Noah Friedman (emacs oldbie from 1980s with code in GNU Emacs)
- Brian Fitzpatrick (at Google)
Maltron Inside
This review is for keyboard connoisseurs.
Where to Buy
Note: as of 2017-04-29, the one on amazon sold by Maxi-Aids is 3 hundred dollars more than the price on the company's site.
Maltron Keyboard Gallery
